Many of us spent our youth wishing we were older: old enough to not have to go to school, old enough to not have to listen to our parents, old enough to do whatever we want. Of course, once we grow up, we realize that “adulting” has very little to do with doing whatever you want.
Learning how to handle money, find a good job and build your career, all while feeding and clothing yourself and keeping a roof over your head — that’s adulting, and it’s not exactly easy. Whether you’re just turning eighteen or you’ve had a little more practice in adulting, it might be time to learn a few tricks that can take you to the next level of grown.
Take your grownup game to the next level
So, you’ve decided it’s time to step up your game and show all your friends how it’s done in adult life. Instead of winging it or simply hoping for the best, put some thoughtful planning into your methods. Follow some of these tips that can save you time, money, and stress, while rewarding you for adulting like a pro.
Grocery shopping
Always go shopping with a list, based on a weekly meal plan, to avoid buying food that will end up in the garbage or other wasteful spending. Need some #mealprep inspo? Search the hashtag on Instagram or browse Pinterest for some easy to make recipes.
Think about buying in bulk when items are on sale. Bag and freeze perishable items and keep a stocked pantry of non-perishables. You’d be surprised how many items you can freeze!
Use a grocery delivery service when you are rushed for time or looking for items on sale. Get exclusive deals on popular products delivered right to your door.
Healthy cooking
Incorporating plant-based foods as sources of protein into your diet, like soybeans, pinto beans, lentils and nuts is not only healthy, but it can also help trim the fat off of your grocery budget.
Make dishes that are easily refrigerated and reheated later. Soups and stews are a good way to stretch your budget and save you on meal prep time.
Eat locally and seasonally. Buying fruits and vegetables that are imported or out of season can cost you a pretty penny. Eating food that is at its peak and the time of picking will also taste better.
Job applications and interviews
Customize your resumé and cover letter for each job you’re applying to. Yes, it’s a time-suck, but one size does not fit all when it comes to potential jobs. Your job application should reflect and understanding of the company, industry, and role.
Show them you understand the company’s position, competitive advantages and challenges, as well as what you can bring to the role. Have intelligent questions prepared for the interviewer that touches on areas that pertain to their area of expertise and interest.
Don’t wing it! Practise your interview by composing answers to questions they might ask you. Just like public speaking, the more you practice, the more confident you will come across in your delivery.
Budgeting and saving
Create a budget that prioritizes your goals. This will help you to live within your means and set aside money to work towards goals bigger than, say, just paying your rent.
Make it easier to pay all of your bills on time—and get rewarded for doing it by using the bill payment app Paytm(opens in a new tab). You’ll earn points for simply paying your bills, and you can redeem them for e-gift cards from brands that fit your lifestyle, like Hotels.com, Uber, Amazon, Instacart, GroceryGateway.com, Esso, Starbucks and Lululemon.
If your previous attempts and budgeting and saving have failed, you may want to try an app like You Need a Budget (YNAB). It forces you to live within your budget and helps you find solutions to balance your budget. You can also take online money management courses with a live instructor.
Paying bills
Pay your bills on time. When you let bill deadlines pass, you impact your credit rating negatively and incur interest charges that eat into your budget further. You can schedule your bill payments automatically using a bill payment app like Paytm(opens in a new tab). Never miss another payment, plus earn rewards points on those brands mentioned above—and more.
Choose a payment method that suits you. Cash or debit are the cheapest but you may have incentives for using your credit cards like additional rewards points. Paytm allows you to choose from multiple payment methods that you can collect points on.
Reduce the amount of money you owe on each bill by negotiating lower packages with service providers and eliminating services you don’t really need altogether.
Stress management
Get enough sleep and rest so that your body can recover from any stresses that adulting puts on it. Eat well and get regular exercise. Taking care of your body will prepare it to handle stress more effectively.
Set appropriate limits for yourself on what you can handle. Learn to say no to friends, family, and coworkers when their requests will add excessive stress to your life.
Seek help from a health professional when the stress in your life feels beyond your ability to manage. Learn more about the resources available to Canadians on the Government of Canada website(opens in a new tab).
Nobody ever said adulting was easy, but with a bit of effort planning and learning new skills, you can take yourself from just getting by to crushing it in no time.
