Latest news with #adulting
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mitch Albom: Adulting 101? Did we use to take that course at home?
I took a lot of classes at college, but never one in how to become an adult. That I had to learn on my own. Apparently, I was born at the wrong time. Several universities, including Michigan State, are responding to an apparent lack of basic life skills by offering programs to undergrads in how to be a grown-up. No joke. According to Vice: 'They can edit videos in their sleep and build TikTok empires — but ask some Gen Z college students to roast a chicken or figure out a lease, and they're turning to 'Adulting 101' crash courses to fill in the blanks.' Adulting 101? That would have been a punch line 40 years ago. Today, according to the schools that offer them, such classes are amongst their most popular. Topics include cleaning, budgeting, healthy eating, maintaining your living space, even 'how to ask for help.' What? You mean Siri doesn't take care of that? Now the easy thing would be to criticize today's parents for not providing these skills. To criticize today's kids for being too spoiled to learn them. To criticize today's high schools for dropping home economics, shop, bookkeeping. To criticize today's society for creating too many distractions in the name of money, ratings and social media clicks. That would be the easy thing. Also, the correct thing. So I'm going to do it. It's ridiculous that a university has to offer classes in how to sew, make a chicken or balance a basic checkbook. Yes, high schools once taught such things. But the truth is, if you can learn to post a selfie, you can learn to change a tire. If you can discern when to use a dozen different emojis, you can figure out which column means 'deposit' and which means 'withdrawal.' Our kids' inability to master basic adulting skills isn't a lack of intelligence or maturity. It's a lack of examples. Or desire. Let's start with the examples. That means mother and father. Sorry to have to whip out the old 'when I was a kid' card, but there's no better way to explain it. When I turned 11, my father said it was time for me to pull my own weight. Allowance stopped. I was told to get a summer job, which I did, selling programs at a baseball stadium. When I came home with money, I put it in my bank account, which, like so many kids in our neighborhood, my parents had helped me open. Before I had a hair on my chin, I knew how to write down the few dollars I was putting in from birthday gifts, and what I was taking out. Checking the oil in a car? Not hard. All you need is Dad or Mom to show you where the dipstick is, and maybe remind you to always have the car engine off. How to sew? How to scramble eggs? How to apply for a job? These are things that used to be standard knowledge in a family, taught by parents, grandparents, visiting relatives. If they are not being taught now, it can only be because the parents don't insist on it, or are too preoccupied themselves, or are split up and not prioritizing their kids' development, or are worn out from trying to get their children to look up from their phones. Which brings us to the other reason. Lack of desire. Until they reach college, I'm not sure how many kids today even want to grow up. Life is better when Mom, Dad or Siri take care of everything. Back when we turned 16 or 17, we were salivating to drive. Today, you hear about kids who don't want to bother, because they don't want the responsibility. More: Mitch Albom: Don't forget the many who cross the border for all the right reasons When we were young, you couldn't buy anything unless you had cash in your pocket. Today, teenagers can order fast food on DoorDash and actually pay for it on a layaway plan. And back then, the idea of living at home after you graduated high school was embarrassing. Today, a recent 'Jeopardy' winner, a 27-year-old unemployed man with a master's degree in political science, asked to be introduced as 'a stay-at-home son.' A stay-at-home son? What's ironic is that many of these kids who seem miles from adulthood have probably crisscrossed the country playing travel ball or had computers since they were 10 or can overlay music onto a TikTok video of themselves dancing. But they can't work a mop. What's the difference between those things? Simple. Some you want to do. The others you don't. That's not a good enough excuse. As any adult will tell you. I also hear a lot about how this is due to COVID-19, kids staying inside, doing virtual schooling. Yeah. No. Sorry. COVID was awful. But so was the Depression. So was World War II. People who lived through those things came out more mature, not less. Don't tell me that having to do your history class online somehow prevented you from learning how put air in a tire. Mitch Albom: Don't forget the many who cross the border for all the right reasons The truth is, universities are offering Adulting 101 because growing up has become an elective. Yet that hasn't stopped college kids from telling the world how it should behave. So maybe, just as there are proficiency exams for language, math and other disciplines, so, too, should there be a minimum level of adulthood before college admission is granted. For example, no one gets admitted if he or she can't fill a car with gas. Or know what temperature water you use with whites versus colors. Or write a check. Or construct a letter. Or get insurance. Or tie a tie. Or understand minimum wage. Or utilize everything in a first-aid kit. It may not sound like fun, but trust us, kids, this is for your own good. The only person who never had to grow up was Peter Pan. And do you really want to wear green tights for the rest of your life? Contact Mitch Albom: malbom@ Check out the latest updates with his charities, books and events at Follow him @mitchalbom. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mitch Albom: Adulting 101? Did we use to take that course at home?
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Simple tasks Aussies are freaking out over
A vast majority of one cohort of Aussies is freaking out over the most mundane and simple tasks in the home, a worrying new study has found. According to the research from Westinghouse, young Aussies living out of home are struggling with basic household responsibilities and as a result are overwhelmed by the potential and realities of independent living. From the gamut of cooking in the kitchen to cleaning the home and washing their clothes, Gen Z can't manage everyday households tasks like the rest of us. Quite simply young Australians are struggling with 'adulting'. The research found that a massive 72 per cent of young Australians aged 18-30 'feel burdened by household responsibilities' with meal planning and appliance maintenance 'the biggest pain points'. More than two-thirds of those surveyed (69 per cent) use their oven or dishwasher for storage and almost two in five young Aussies (39 per cent) still take their laundry home to mum and dad. Diddums. The study also discovered that nearly half of Gen Z feel underprepared to manage everyday households tasks. Also, a quarter of that cohort have never paid their own bills, prepared food at home for a week or even mowed the lawn. All up the study paints a picture of Aussies under 30 unready or unwilling to face the realities of living out on their own in the big, bad world. HOW THE HELL!? Arguments abound about which generation has had it toughest as they transition to adulthood. There have been struggles and challenges for most Aussies coming of age and there is no doubt that the cost of living and housing affordability crisis has made it difficult for youngsters trying to find and make their way in this world in this day and age. Online forums such as Reddit are full of young Aussies seeking advice on how to cope with adulting issues. 'I have been living out of home since I was 17 in a completely different state to parents/family/any support,' one person posted. 'I have been looking for a job for 6+ months now, absolutely nothing. 'I have my RSA, experience in retail, hospo, customer service, literally just about anything and nowhere wants me. 'How the hell am I meant to do this for the next 60 years?' Last year financial comparison website Finder found that 32 per cent of those aged 18 and over felt financially pressured to look for a supplementary job in 2024. That would leave even less time for chores. HELP NEEDED According to Westinghouse, young Aussies just need a bit of support, guidance and education to get into those dastardly chores. ' Westinghouse is happy to help bridge the knowledge gap with a library of practical and simple guides to help young Australians better navigate household duties,' said Christina Kumcesvki Westinghouse's Head of Marketing ANZ 'It's a small step to help make household management less of a struggle, giving them back time and energy to focus on the good things in life.'
Forbes
20-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Now The Real Curriculum Begins: Adulting 101 For New Grads
(Photo by) Getty Images Just last week, my youngest son Matt graduated from Baylor University. As he walked that stage—broad smile, degree in hand, future wide open—I felt incredibly proud and a little relieved. After all, this was the same kid who once told his first-grade teacher he'd "rather get drunk and die than learn to read." And while Matt has always marched to the beat of his own drum, I'd like to think that some of my advice helped him get to this point. Not that he has listened to near as much as I'd like. Nor his siblings. But I keep offering wisdom—because every now and again, miracle of miracles, some actually lands. So here are nine things I'd like to share with every newly minted grad embarking on their first post-student chapter in adulting. As simple as it sounds, this is the hard part. Being an adult means taking full responsibility for your life. Not blaming your parents for their short comings, or your lousy boss, or anyone else for what's working or not working in your life. Even when you've been treated unfairly (and you will be at times), refuse to fall victim to a victim mindset that will only siphon the very agency you need to improve your situation. There will be many things you cannot control on your path ahead. But the one thing you can control, is how you show up for life. So show up on time. Treat people well. Don't spend more than you earn. Pay back what you borrow. Promptly. Be polite. Get back to people. Look people in the eye. Extend your hand to shake first. Open the door. Send a follow-up note. Handwritten even better. Exercise your body. Eat good food to balance out the rest. And when you mess up—and you will—own it, clean it up (master apologizing!), learn the lesson and move on. Most of all, be the kind of person others would want to recommend, work with, hang out with, and employ: reliable, respectful, generous, honest, ready to pitch in even when it's not your job. That's the kind of adult the world needs more of. This is all entirely in your control. If you do it (because many your age won't), you'll stand out in every room you enter. Do you remember how stressed you were about choosing the right college? Maybe you got it right. Maybe it wasn't the ideal fit. Either way, you still learned something. And hopefully one of those lessons is that there is no 'perfect' college, job, city, friend or partner. Some of your best growth will happen in places that don't fit. That's not failure—it's feedback. Research by psychologist Barry Schwartz on 'maximizers' (those who try to make the perfect decision) vs. 'satisficers' (those who make a good enough choice and adjust) shows that maximizers experience lower satisfaction and more regret. Translation: don't overthink it. Choose, move, adjust. Make the best decision you can with what you know. Trust yourself to figure the rest out as you go along. No one else on the entire planet has your mix of talents, opportunities, or interests. Nor has anyone had your exact same path. So do not try to walk anyone else's. Ask yourself: What do you want? Not your parents. Not your professor. Not your friends or your social feed. When I interviewed Bronnie Ware, a former palliative care nurse, on my Live Brave Podcast, she shared with me one of the biggest regrets of the dying: 'I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.' Try out new things. Figure out what gives you energy. What aligns with your values. What stretches you. What broadens how you think and see the world and makes you proud of who you're becoming. And then follow that path—even if no one else quite understands it. And if you want to change it, change it and don't lock yourself into one narrow vision. Many of the most interesting careers didn't exist a decade ago. According to the World Economic Forum, 65% of today's primary school kids will work in jobs that don't yet exist. Let yourself be surprised. Stay open to 'plot twists' in the story of your life. Hold onto your plans lightly. Just don't let what other people are doing with their lives determine what you'll do with your own The world is more connected than ever—and yet young people like you are lonelier and more isolated than ever. Why? Because that phone you hold in your hand enables you to avoid the real work and awkward moments that are required to forge truly meaningful relationships. So pick up the phone and make a call, even when it feels awkward. And when you go out, put your phones away and engage in real, sometimes slightly awkward, conversations that build trust and deepen emotional intimacy. Yes, emotional intimacy – it's a thing. It's about being real, not photo-shopped. As I wrote in this previous column, there's a profound difference between an online social network and a real one. I get it—why would anyone want to embrace their struggles? Surely it's better to avoid them, right? Not so. I'm not suggesting you go out of your way to make life harder than it already is. But I am saying that when you embrace your struggles, you expand your capacity to handle them. You build your bandwidth for life. You learn more about yourself. And you grow. Because the truth is, we don't grow when everything goes our way. We grow when it doesn't. There's a reason botanists put young plants in hot houses and gradually expose them to wider variations in temperature. It's how they develop the resilience they'll need to survive in the real world. The same goes for us. As you step into the world, know this: challenges are guaranteed. But you'll navigate them far better if you don't rail against them. Instead, embrace them as part of your journey—lessons in the grand masterclass that is life. We cannot thrive without the struggle. It's what introduces us to ourselves at the deepest level. It's what teaches us what we're made of. Life isn't linear. Yours will have many twists and turns. More than you might expect. Embrace them with curiosity, not self-pity; with adventure, not anxiety. As I've come to learn, sometimes the storms you think are ruining your path are really just revealing it. But don't just take it from me—research by the American Psychological Association finds that our ability to adapt to what life brings our way is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success and wellbeing. You will fail. Welcome to the club. But here's the secret: the people who look like they're winning? They've failed more than you. They just didn't let it define them and learned to mine the nuggets of gold when they tripped up or life knocked them down. Jerry Seinfeld froze during his first-ever stand-up performance and was booed off stage. He showed up again the next night. J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers before someone finally took a chance on Harry Potter. Greta Gerwig—director of Barbie, Little Women, and Lady Bird (one of my favorites)—was rejected by every single graduate film school she applied to. Just as your worth was no defined by your GPA or SAT score, be careful not to let your identity be too attached to any job or paycheck or perks (or rejection letters). Many do and they spend their entire life feeling insecure because of it. As positive psychologist Martin Seligman found in his research, people who explain their failures as temporary and specific—rather than personal and permanent—are far more likely to bounce back, press on, and ultimately succeed. Failure is an event, not a verdict on your potential. It doesn't mean you don't have what it takes. It means you're learning what it takes. Mine for the treasure when you trip. It's what will make all the difference over the long run. There are many people who know things that you don't because they've lived longer or just had experience you haven't had. Likely both. Be proactive in getting the advice of many people. Not just those with whom you feel a natural affinity, but those who you don't. People who come from very different paths. Who look different. Dress different. Speak different. Vote different. And when you're talking to them, park your opinions and listen - truly listen - for what you can learn and for what you might be wrong about. Despite all your studies, you really don't know very much about the world and likely even less about the human condition. Be curious about people. Be willing to change your mind. Don't let your ego's desire to assert your superior intellect or moral virtue keep you from learning something that might help you chart a wiser way forward. Your worldview is just that. Yours. And I'll wager a large bet that you've got a lot more blind spots than you know. That said, if some well-meaning adult—except me, of course—is giving you advice and it just doesn't fit, pop it on your mental shelf, tune into your intuition, and trust your gut. No one else knows exactly what is right for you. Just don't be pig-headed about it. This may sound contrary to what I just wrote, but be careful not to believe everything you tell yourself. It's not all true. You've been fed a lot of information over many years—online, offline, from experts and influencers, from teachers and parents—and much of it will have served you. But don't park your critical thinking. In fact, now that you're out in adultland during a time when many people gravitate to echo chambers, you need to practice it more than ever. If everyone around you is saying the same thing, go spend time with people who are saying just the opposite. And if you're stuck on a negative talk track about yourself—focused on your deficits, how you are just not smart enough, outgoing enough, connected enough (fill-in-the-blank enough)—then ask yourself what might be possible if you never bought into this false narrative again. Then act on that thought. The biggest barrier you are going to face over the rest of your life is the narrative you're spinning inside your own head. If you catch yourself thinking 'I'm not good enough,' 'I don't belong,' or 'I have to have it all figured out'—pause. Challenge that. Your mind's job is to keep you safe, not to help you soar. That's your job. As I wrote in my latest book The Courage Gap (an excellent gift for any new grad—no bias, of course), our stories can keep us stuck, stressed, and living a smaller life than we have it within us to live. So challenge yours regularly, and if the story you are telling yourself is not making you feel even a little bit better or braver, rewrite it. If there's one thing I hope you take with you, it's this: It's the chances you don't take that you'll regret the most. So be careful that you don't live too safely, and tip toe your way through the next sixty years to arrive perfectly coiffed at your death. Too often, we know what we need to do—speak up, reach out, take the leap, change direction - but we don't act on it. Between the life you have now and the life you could create is a gap. Fear will continually strive to widen that gap —fear of failing, of looking foolish, of not being enough, of falling flat on your face in front of your friends. It will take many brave steps to close it. This isn't about eradicating your fear. (Nor should you try. After all, you'd have likely done even more dumb things in your teens without it.) Rather, it's embracing your fear as the clarion call toward your growth, defying your doubts, and stepping bravely… nervously… awkwardly… forward anyway. Because the most important bet you'll ever make is the one you make on yourself. Twenty years from now, it's unlikely that the most successful people from your graduation class will be the ones who got the top grades (chances are, they will still be the most stressed). More likely, it will be those who worked hard and backed themselves, again and again, and didn't let their fears, their failures, or their frenemies define them. Your future is a wide, open canvas. And you're holding the paintbrush. Not every stroke will be perfect. Some will be darker, some lighter. But it's the contrast that creates the masterpiece that will one day be your life. So don't wait until you have it all figured out. Brave the awkward. Take the chance. Bet on yourself. We need your leadership. Dr Margie Warrell is a leadership advisor and a keynote speaker focused on equipping leaders to cultivate and scale courage across their organizations. Her latest book is The Courage Gap. Follow on LinkedIn.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Does Anyone Have Money? A Guide for the Financially Confused
You know the feeling — you're scrolling through social media, and someone your same age just bought a house, adopted a golden retriever and casually remodeled their kitchen all in the same week. Meanwhile, you're wondering whether you can stretch your last $23 until payday by surviving off ramen. Money, apparently, is a thing people have. But how? Between rising costs, inconsistent income and the eternal mystery of where the heck your paycheck actually goes, it's easy to feel like you missed out on some crucial adulting class. Read Next: Check Out: If you've ever asked yourself whether you're doing it wrong, welcome. This guide is for the financially confused, the money-curious and anyone who's ever panicked at the checkout line after seeing their crazy bill. Also see the essential components of a solid financial plan. Many years ago, Andrew Lokenauth, money expert and owner of Fluent in Finance, discovered that his seemingly wealthy neighbor was actually drowning in credit card debt. 'He had the fancy car and designer clothes, but it was all smoke and mirrors,' he said. Lokenauth noted that a significant number of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, including people making over $100,000. In fact, Gagan Saini, CEO of We Buy Houses in Central Valley, said he meets families earning $150,000-plus who live paycheck to paycheck because of lifestyle inflation, while others making $70,000 build substantial wealth through strategic habits. The difference, Saini explained, isn't always about how much you make — it's about financial education, money psychology and opportunity access. Learn More: Lokenauth started tracking every single dollar he spent. While it wasn't enjoyable at first, he stuck with it. Cutting recurring subscriptions, for example, can alleviate your wallet significantly. Another important point: Get real about your 'fun money' spending. Most people go overboard with these funds without realizing it until they can't pay their electric bill at the end of the month. 'The biggest game-changer for me was adopting the 50/30/20 rule,' Lokenauth said. Here's a breakdown of what this looks like: use 50% of your income for necessities, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and debt. 'It's not perfect — sometimes life throws curveballs — but it's helped me build $5,000 in savings over eight months,' he said. Something people may not think of when trying to save money and build wealth is having multiple income streams. In fact, according to Benzinga, the average millionaire has seven income streams. Building multiple income streams is crucial. As a young adult, Lokenauth said he started a small side gig doing freelance work that brought in an extra $400 to $600 monthly. 'Not life-changing money, but it all adds up. Plus, it gave me some security knowing I'm not totally dependent on my main job,' he said. Negotiating your salary isn't just a nice-to-have skill. It's a nonnegotiable if you want to build long-term financial stability. Yet, many people avoid it out of fear, discomfort or a lack of preparation. 'I used to be terrible at this — like seriously awful,' Lokenauth said. But after bombing three salary discussions, he said he finally learned how to do it right. He said he received a $20,000 raise by documenting his wins and practicing his pitch until it felt natural. Keep in mind: Negotiating isn't about being pushy; it's about advocating for your worth and normalizing a conversation that should be part of every professional's toolkit. Understanding the reality of wealth distribution — and taking concrete steps to improve your situation — can seriously help break the cycle of feeling perpetually broke. 'Remember this isn't about becoming a millionaire,' Lokenauth said. It's about building stability, creating a buffer between you and disaster, and maybe, just maybe, getting to a place where you're not checking your bank account before every purchase. 'One last thing — comparison is the thief of joy — and financial sanity,' Lokenauth said. That's why you should focus on your own progress. Remember: Those people posting vacation pics from the Maldives might be charging it all to credit cards anyway. More From GOBankingRates What $1 Million in Retirement Savings Looks Like in Monthly Spending These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle 5 Little-Known Ways to Make Summer Travel More Affordable How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State? Sources Andrew Lokenauth, Fluent in Finance Gagan Saini, We Buy Houses in Central Valley Benzinga, 'The Average Millionaire Has 7 Sources Of Income – Here Are 3 You Can Start Building Today.' This article originally appeared on How Does Anyone Have Money? A Guide for the Financially Confused Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Does Anyone Have Money? A Guide for the Financially Confused
You know the feeling — you're scrolling through social media, and someone your same age just bought a house, adopted a golden retriever and casually remodeled their kitchen all in the same week. Meanwhile, you're wondering whether you can stretch your last $23 until payday by surviving off ramen. Money, apparently, is a thing people have. But how? Between rising costs, inconsistent income and the eternal mystery of where the heck your paycheck actually goes, it's easy to feel like you missed out on some crucial adulting class. Read Next: Check Out: If you've ever asked yourself whether you're doing it wrong, welcome. This guide is for the financially confused, the money-curious and anyone who's ever panicked at the checkout line after seeing their crazy bill. Also see the essential components of a solid financial plan. Many years ago, Andrew Lokenauth, money expert and owner of Fluent in Finance, discovered that his seemingly wealthy neighbor was actually drowning in credit card debt. 'He had the fancy car and designer clothes, but it was all smoke and mirrors,' he said. Lokenauth noted that a significant number of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, including people making over $100,000. In fact, Gagan Saini, CEO of We Buy Houses in Central Valley, said he meets families earning $150,000-plus who live paycheck to paycheck because of lifestyle inflation, while others making $70,000 build substantial wealth through strategic habits. The difference, Saini explained, isn't always about how much you make — it's about financial education, money psychology and opportunity access. Learn More: Lokenauth started tracking every single dollar he spent. While it wasn't enjoyable at first, he stuck with it. Cutting recurring subscriptions, for example, can alleviate your wallet significantly. Another important point: Get real about your 'fun money' spending. Most people go overboard with these funds without realizing it until they can't pay their electric bill at the end of the month. 'The biggest game-changer for me was adopting the 50/30/20 rule,' Lokenauth said. Here's a breakdown of what this looks like: use 50% of your income for necessities, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and debt. 'It's not perfect — sometimes life throws curveballs — but it's helped me build $5,000 in savings over eight months,' he said. Something people may not think of when trying to save money and build wealth is having multiple income streams. In fact, according to Benzinga, the average millionaire has seven income streams. Building multiple income streams is crucial. As a young adult, Lokenauth said he started a small side gig doing freelance work that brought in an extra $400 to $600 monthly. 'Not life-changing money, but it all adds up. Plus, it gave me some security knowing I'm not totally dependent on my main job,' he said. Negotiating your salary isn't just a nice-to-have skill. It's a nonnegotiable if you want to build long-term financial stability. Yet, many people avoid it out of fear, discomfort or a lack of preparation. 'I used to be terrible at this — like seriously awful,' Lokenauth said. But after bombing three salary discussions, he said he finally learned how to do it right. He said he received a $20,000 raise by documenting his wins and practicing his pitch until it felt natural. Keep in mind: Negotiating isn't about being pushy; it's about advocating for your worth and normalizing a conversation that should be part of every professional's toolkit. Understanding the reality of wealth distribution — and taking concrete steps to improve your situation — can seriously help break the cycle of feeling perpetually broke. 'Remember this isn't about becoming a millionaire,' Lokenauth said. It's about building stability, creating a buffer between you and disaster, and maybe, just maybe, getting to a place where you're not checking your bank account before every purchase. 'One last thing — comparison is the thief of joy — and financial sanity,' Lokenauth said. That's why you should focus on your own progress. Remember: Those people posting vacation pics from the Maldives might be charging it all to credit cards anyway. More From GOBankingRates What $1 Million in Retirement Savings Looks Like in Monthly Spending These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle 5 Little-Known Ways to Make Summer Travel More Affordable How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State? Sources Andrew Lokenauth, Fluent in Finance Gagan Saini, We Buy Houses in Central Valley Benzinga, 'The Average Millionaire Has 7 Sources Of Income – Here Are 3 You Can Start Building Today.' This article originally appeared on How Does Anyone Have Money? A Guide for the Financially Confused Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
