So I’m an Adult…Now What?

September 07, 2012

You’ve graduated college. You’ve found a job. Maybe, you just bought your first house. You’ve officially entered the world of adulthood. And oh, what a confusing place it is.

Student loans, 401Ks, and retirement plans (but I’m twenty-something!?). Squeaky doors, running toilets, and leaky faucets (righty tight-y, lefty loose-y?). DIY projects, lawn care, and car maintenance (Rotate my tires when? Change my oil how often?). Health insurance, car insurance, and…there are other ones I need, right? Apartment hunting, home decorating, and house cleaning (Okay, well maybe I’ve got the house cleaning part down—thanks, Mom).

But the rest is all enough to make me throw up my hands up in defeat. This big kid world has its perks, but there is certainly a whole new level of responsibility greeting me on all fronts as well. Most of the time, I’m pretty sure I don’t even know all the things I don’t know yet…if you can follow that. Suddenly, I’m seeking out the wisdom of my parents and other adults in my life instead of rolling my eyes at their previously uninvited advice. But I’m also hedging my bets and getting an outside perspective—who knew that the Library has guidebooks for life? No joke. You can search our online catalog for the Subject "Life skills--Handbooks, manuals, etc." and all kinds of things will pop up.

Some that stood out to me include:

Life's Missing Instruction Manual: The Guidebook You Should Have Been Given at Birth by Joe Vitale

I Didn't Know That!: Taking Care of Your Home, Your Car, and Your Career by Patrick O'Keefe

Other helpful resources include:
Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance In Your Twenties and Thirties by Beth Kobliner

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke by Suze Orman

Home-ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living by Heather Solos

A Householder's Guide to the Universe: A Calendar of Basics for the Home and Beyond by Harriet Fasenfest

Real Simple: 869 New Uses for Old Things by Rachel Hardage

You can also explore our DIY and Hobbies Research Databases, which contain all kinds of articles, videos, and photo guides on home repair, gardening, landscaping, and cooking projects.

Hopefully, these resources can provide you with some new tips and tricks for navigating the adult world!

~Alex R.
Parkville Branch