Transitioning from peaceful living at home with mom and dad to living in a college dorm or apartment for rent can be pretty challenging and overwhelming. For that reason, it is highly important to know all the stuff when it’s time to become an adult. Without a doubt, learning all these adult tricks and hacks will come with time; however, right now it’s better to sit and do some quick research to ensure you’re forearmed. Fortunately, these recommendations will not only help you to survive the college years, but also they will help you to adapt to a changing world of adults once you get your diploma.
Using a Credit Card Irresponsibly Is a Taboo
One of the best decisions you make in your first year at college is to open a credit card. But before you run to do so, ensure to perform some thorough research to find out what type of bank card would be the best choice. If you travel regularly, consider opening a travel rewards credit card. By the time you decide to buy a house or a car, you will have a perfect credit history under your belt. It is important to read all the fine print of the credit card from A to Z in order to ensure things are clear.
Everyone Needs Help Sometimes
You are not a magician, and there are only twenty four hours available for us. As a grown-up, you don’t have anything to prove, not to someone else, not to yourself. If you realize you can’t cope with an assignment or two, do not hesitate to approach online custom essay writing service to find someone capable of helping you with a book report, a research paper or any other academic project. All you have to do to get a professional helping hand is to place your order saying “Could you, please, do my essay within my deadline?”, sit back and relax. There’s nothing wrong in needing help from time to time, you’re just a human being. A very busy one, actually.
Stay Away from Almighty Starbucks
If you spend $5 a day on that color and flavor-changing Unicorn Frappuccino, by the end of the college semester, you will have spent more than $300! Sounds stupid and, unfortunately, real. It’s time to make your own coffee at home and bring it with you in a stylish tumbler. Not only is it more environment-friendly, but it will also won’t burn your pockets. Maybe finally you will get enough bucks to purchase those extra expensive eye-shadows or sneakers you’ve been dying to have.
Doing the Laundry on a Regular Basis
So, here’s the sad truth: you have to do the whole laundry process yourself, starting with sorting out the clothes, washing, drying to folding, ironing and sorting them out again. Now it’s not your mom but you and only you are in charge of making certain your stuff is clean, soft and as white as snow as if you’ve just bought it. Doing the laundry doesn’t bring much joy to your routine, but the regular process is a good sign that you’re a grown-up now.
Understanding How to Manage Time
With all the parties, exams, homework assignments, clubs, courses and workshops you are going to be excessively busy. Not to mention the time that you need to have for yourself exclusively. College is a perfect stage of your life when you can get the concept of time management. Who knows, maybe, you will find out that you can’t party hard every other weekend. From time to time, you have to spend the Saturday night in the company of books, notebooks, online libraries, and notes.
Not Expecting Mom to Book Your Appointments
This one is an important step you have to take to become a citizen of the adult-land. There’s nothing wrong in your mom making your appointments when you’re a high school student. But when you cross the threshold of college, you have to start doing that on your own. Approach your parents for some valuable tips regarding your medical insurance or anything relevant. You know what you have on your to-do list, so you’re the one who should schedule the daily appointments.
Learn to Cook
There’s no need to be MasterChef and cook “haute-cuisine” meals. Still, you have to learn to cook some primitive meals at least. If you give preference to your own meals, you will be able to save your budget and enjoy home-made food a few nights a week. That’s a privilege! Maybe you should invite your boyfriend or girlfriend, or just a couple of pals from your class and check what they think about your cooking talent. It’s not an easy task if you live in a dorm, but when you finally have an apartment with a kitchen, enjoy an opportunity to experiment with some meals.
Get Better at Saying NO
There are dozens of parties, events, clubs to become a part of in college. While it is the right time to get social and make friends, make sure to say no once in a while to focus on things that matter to you. This also means that you have the right not to agree to the request if you are not comfortable doing something. Maybe your friends want to see that movie and eat popcorn, but you don’t feel like doing that. It is totally okay to stay at home, take the most relaxing bubble bath and read the pile of magazines that you couldn’t get your hands on due to the busy schedule. Feel free to pamper yourself and do what you truly enjoy!
Mom and dad aren’t there anymore to wake you up in the morning with a kiss or prepare a yummy breakfast for you. So, it’s time to come up with a plan on how to make the adulating less painful. Just like many generations before you, get ready to be doing all of these adult things, but don’t forget to be a child at heart sometimes.