Adulting 101

How to look like an adult who knows what they’re doing

By Bradley Hohulin bhohulin@iu.edu | @BradleyHohulin

Welcome to young adulthood, where you have more responsibility than you want, less money than you need and just enough functioning brain cells to feel anxious about both of those things.

No matter how ill-equipped for adult life you feel, you still have time to learn. Here are ve tips to aid you on your path to becoming a genuine grownup, or at least fool everyone into thinking you’re one.

Building a budget Budget can be a scary word. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to never think about money again. Unfortunately, my aversion to nancial planning is slightly outmatched by my aversion to starvation.

You don’t need to track your every expenditure in an Excel sheet. Consider starting small by checking your most recent bank receipt and making sure you aren’t wasting money on silly things like unused subscriptions, excessive food delivery or government bribes.

From there, set small and exible spending goals for things like eating out, groceries, clothing, illicit payments to local legislators, whatever your heart desires. It’s your money to spend, but spend it wisely.

Grocery shopping

I’m going to sound like a 47-year-old father of three when I say this, but eating out is so expensive. If you develop minimal cooking skills and cut your restaurant visits down a few, you’ll be amazed how much money you save.

Of course, that means venturing into the biblical wilderness that is the grocery store. My best advice is to check the store’s online ad, make a list before you go and never show up hungry. Not that I’m above crushing a sleeve of Oreos in the Kroger parking lot, but you don’t want to make that a weekly a air.

Driving in Bloomington

Don’t.

OK, ne — occasionally you’ll need to get somewhere or transport something that requires a car. If so, please make sure you know where you’re going beforehand. Using your phone GPS is ne for longer trips, but you don’t want to be the person swerving across Walnut Street at Siri’s behest.

Plan out parking before you leave, carpool when you can and never, ever drive on 10th Street during class changes. My roommate drove to pick up milk a week ago and he’s been sitting at the intersection of 10th and Fee Lane ever since.

ILLUSTRATION BY DONYÁ COLLINS

Coping with the rapid dissolution of youth

No idea, but sounds terrifying. Email me if you have any tips.

Furnishing your apartment or house

As someone whose bedroom’s aesthetic might be accurately described as prison cell chic, I am far from an expert on home décor. However, the more cultured people in my life tell me posters, photos of loved ones, small plants and vintage memorabilia really spice up a living space.

Whatever you do, just make true to who you are. If that means lining your walls with empty bottles and a “Saturdays are for the boys” towel, so be it. I still believe you’ll have a real-life personality of your own someday, no matter what anyone else says.