Adulting is difficult – it isn’t as glamorous as the movies make it seem. There is no Chandler who is going to pay your rent as you struggle with your job, there is absolutely no job that let’s you chill with your friends and flatmates in a coffee shop or bar on most nights, more often you won’t get along with your flatmate and would want to see them as less as possible, there are no rent controlled apartments in NY just waiting for you and losing your job is traumatic and not funny! I love FRIENDS but why, why these lies? The ONLY real bit is the title track! 😀
Adulting is hard no matter which part of the world you are in! Honestly our education system as well as our families very rarely teach us about how to adult. So if you are in your late teens-early twenties, here’s a list of things you should learn or know about –
HOW TO DO TAXES
Boy, was I confused during my first job about what and how to do taxes. Each country has different rules and all of them are CONFUSING as hell. India has a dozen of different exemptions and allowances and I seriously don’t get it all even now. So before your first job, make sure to gather basic knowledge about doing taxes – the exemptions, how to, when to, documents and forms you need to fill, dates etc. Talk to your parents, research online or talk to an older sibling/friend who is filing taxes to get some basics sorted so that you aren’t overwhelmed later.
ABOUT POLITICS AND VOTING
It is important and imperative to be political! Read about the different political parties, their policies & the leaders. Please don’t pick a political alignment based on your parent’s choices – have an open mind and explore all options before settling in on one. Question everything – don’t blindly follow anyone or anything. and ALWAYS VOTE. I can’t stress this enough. If you are in a democratic country – please exercise the right to vote because it is one of your few rights that can change yours and millions of other’s lives.
HOW TO LOVE YOURSELF
Put yourself first – there is no obligation to anyone else. Use your 20s to find yourself – instead of following the crowd – break free, find your direction and motivation. Don’t be afraid to follow your heart even if other’s don’t approve! Love yourself before trying to find love outside. Focus on yourself in your 20s – your health, your career, what makes you happy, your friends, etc. Don’t be afraid to be uniquely yourself. And don’t be afraid to set boundaries!
HOW TO TRAVEL ESPECIALLY SOLO
You have your 30s to worry about saving money and mortgages – spend your 20s travelling the world! There is nothing else in the world that compares to the feeling of being in a new place and experiencing a new culture. I don’t mean be completely reckless with money – definitely save for a rainy day but spend the rest on only travel. Travel is both fun and therapeutic! And if you can’t find someone to travel with – go ALONE! Instead of postponing plans waiting for a friend or partner to go with you – go on your own. I’d recommend that atleast once in your life you should experience solo travel. Solo travel helps you be absolutely comfortable on your own, in your own skin and makes you more independent.
Check out my guide on ‘HOW TO PLAN YOUR SOLO TRAVEL’.
HOW TO SAVE & INVEST MONEY
I know everyone says ‘save money’ but no one tells you how, how much and what to do with that money. My thumb rule has been – save+ invest 50% of my salary and the rest is spent on living expenses and enjoying. About savings & investing – you need to find what works for you depending on your risk taking appetite but definitely keep some portion liquid for emergencies or big expenditures and the rest invest in the stock market, cryptocurrency, bonds, fixed deposits, mutual funds, futures and options or whatever works for you. But read up and learn about these now and start investing early.
I wish someone had told me about these when I was a teenager – could have saved me a lot of confusion in my twenties! 🙂
Read my other recent posts –
- Weird Things I’d Pay For
- Mission 2024: Getting Healthy (Not Lose Weight)
- Female Friendships Vs Male Friendships: From A Woman’s Perspective
- Vision Board 2024: Goals, hopes & aspirations
- Benefits Of A Vegan Diet: Should You Join The Cult?
Be friends with me on the gram –
Happy Panda 
I too think these are important!
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Oh my word I absolutely loved this post!! Yeah Friends as great as it is really does sell us lies – but this is super informative and so important thanks for sharing!!
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IKR? I saw FRIENDS for the first time in college and I was so convinced that life after was going to be that much fun – but they skipped over all the responsibilities that comes with adulting!
PS: Been so overwhelmed with work and covid situation in India that I didn’t get back to you on that collab – will do so tonight. ❤
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Right?? That really would be the life but sadly that’s just not how it works which is kind of depressing. Hey no worries at all don’t stress about it ❤️❤️
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I liked the points of loving yourself and travelling solo, I especially think that there’s no age to love yourself and travelling solo makes one more dependent and disciplined enough to proceed in life.
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True – there is no age to do them but the earlier you learn to do them the better your life is. Your early 20s – you are more free and have lesser responsibilities – I think it is easier to pursue self development at that age. 🙂
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Great post! I would add not to worry about finding your life partner in your 20s either 🙂
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SO TRUE! Everyone makes it seem like you need to be settled in your 20s and so many people settle with the wrong person in a hurry to just well settle.
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YES. Yes to all of this.
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Great post!!! This is so helpful. My mom has been telling me a bit about taxes and everything but it’s still soooo confusing😆.
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The first time I had to fill some tax declaration forms 1 month into my first job – I was so overwhelmed because I didn’t understand ANYTHING. A few helpful colleagues tried explaining things to me but it all seemed so alien. I was so pissed at my folks that day. 😀
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wow, didn’t did any of the above mentioned things yet, guess not an adult yet😂😂😂😂 mom you listening 🙄 😉
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Hahha! Indian parents are so overbearing but they forget to teach us ALL of these. They so don’t prepare us for adulting. 😀
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The most important post I’ve read in a while! I’m keeping a sort of mental list of all the things I want to have in order before eighteen. I do need to work on getting some of the practical aspects such as those above down though. Thank you for the timely reminder!
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I am really impressed by how mature you are, girl! 🙂
Definitely get a parent to walk you through how to do your taxes before you leave home.
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Thank you! Yes, that I’ll do.
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I REALLY wish tax basics were taught in school. I’ve read a couple books on Canadian taxes (I know, boring) and there are so many resources that people don’t know about which are super helpful.
Our government has a site where all our tax forms get sent which we can easily make an account and download all of it onto our online tax returns each year. I do my taxes in 20 minutes. I know people who don’t know about this and still do paper returns and mail them. I’ve had to inform a lot of people 😅
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Same – I wish we had a course on taxes in school.
While our government has made it easy to file taxes online – applying for all the exemptions and figuring out what tax savers/allowances work for you – is a TASK. I’m glad you pass on this very useful information to people who need it.
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Omg I totally agree with every point you make, especially about finances and loving yourself. These two things can make or break your sense of independence and dependency on others. Part of what I’m grateful most about my childhood is the thing that I used to resent my parents for which was the fact that we grew up poor. Growing up poor actually taught me at a very early age that it was me and me alone that could change my situation. It definitely shaped who I ended up becoming.
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I feel like this current generation lives more frivolously – living from one paycheck to the other. This behaviour freaks me out so much. I do spend money too but only after I’ve made sure to set aside my savings and done my investments. And loving yourself and putting yourself first – I really wish my folks would have taught me that. 🙂
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Time and time again I’ve seen people talk about how we aren’t really taught about taxes and I agree. That’s something that should be taught in schools.
I am yet to tick solo travel off my bucket list!
These are all important things mentioned here. Adulting isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
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Taxes are difficult to do and understand unless you have some basics sorted out before. It would be so helpful if there was a crash course on doing taxes in your early 20s.
Solo travel is such a great way to grow! I definitely recommend it.
Adulting is difficult and hard. 😦
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Great set of points for every young adult while stepping into the shoes of elders. The taxes thing is always boring yet necessary to understand.
Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you! 🙂
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Welcome!
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I wish we were taught more about taxes in high school because when I finally had to do them last year, it was a completely foreign concept. Anyway, great post!
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I agree – I had a mini-breakdown when one month into my first job I was asked to fill some tax forms and had NO idea what any of it was.
Thank you! 🙂
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The link to your site seems to be broken – please share.
“anxiety8fitness.wordpress.com is no longer available.”
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I have no idea why that is the link – I will have to fix that later. My real link is personalanxiety.com
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Got it! 🙂
Also sorry if I’m being annoying but your link now is “http://personalanxiety.con/”. “.CON.” You may want to correct that.
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Arghhh technology is really not my best area. You are an angel, thank you!
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This post🙌🏽They should teach us about taxes in school -my god, it’s beyond belief just how much things you got to do. I got so depressed thinking about all the things I need to pay for with my own pocket -adulting is hard!
I loved reading this✨🧡 x
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Hello Moksha, this post is very helpful. Thank you for sharing.
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Am definitely saving up to afford solo travels probably from next year. Am super excited to experience new places and cultures which I’ve never been to before. This also is my way of self-love. Taking time out to figure myself out and what I want for my future
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Very well analysed Moksha. For me spending time in 20s to know yourself is the most important . Most of us faulter there. Another important aspect our education system and elders fail to address is to make the child failure / rejection resilient.
Stay blessed always
🙏🌹🙏
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These are so helpful, thanks for sharing!!
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I was nodding all the way through this! And, of course, there’s always something new to do with all of these. Keeps changing
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Loving yourself is sooo imperative! It’s the key to confidence and a great life. I love all of these!!
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I totally agree! But I can only do half of those LOL.. I vote, can budget like nobody’s business lol and save, oh and I can totally love myself fully lol the one things I can’t/don’t do is taxes and invest (bc accountant husband) and travel solo (I’m scared) lol… Clearly I need to work on some things l
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Informative.. yes to all the points
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