5 adulting lifehacks you should know by age 30 – Ladders
Being a grown-up is tricky sometimes. Whether you’re a new grad (congratulations!) or have been working in the real world for a few years, knowing the ins and outs of how to “adult” can feel intimidating. But don’t worry – we’re here to help! Below, we’ve partnered with Fair to put together a guide for a few life hacks to navigate some of the trickiest matters of adulting.
Remind yourself (and others) that you’re worth it.
Negotiating your salary and can be tricky – and almost always is. Know your worth and don’t be afraid to ask for what you believe you deserve – employers actually expect it. Practice pitching with someone you trust, and be sure to include tangible reasons why you deserve a higher salary. Remember that benefits like PTO, flexible hours, resources needed for your job and other perks are always negotiable too. Lastly, expect your boss or prospective boss to say no at first. It is a negotiation, after all. This is where your practice comes in handy – you might not leave with the exact salary you want, but you won’t leave anything on the table.
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Get a car without owning one.
Having a car is the ultimate hallmark of adulthood, right? But buying or leasing a car can be confusing and exhausting. With Fair, you can avoid going into a multi-year debt and getting a car without actually owning it. They let you pick a car, drive it for as long as you want and cancel at any time. Limited warranty, roadside assistance and routine maintenance is included in the monthly fee. And – you can do it all on your phone, just like you do everything else. So simple!
Save for your next big adventure.
We all have dreams for the next big trip (hello, Bali!), but regardless if you’re dreaming about a vacation or that next designer handbag – none of that stuff is cheap. How are you supposed to save when you don’t have any savings? In this case, every little helps – so start small. Banking apps like Chime and Acorns grow your savings automatically, so that you don’t have to stay on top of it yourself. Before you know it, you’ll be on that flight. Bingo.
Stay out of debt.
Okay, so one tricky thing about adulting is that not all debt is bad – you just gotta know which one is which. Buying a home is great – because it goes up in value. Buying a car is not – because it decreases as soon as you drive off the lot (again, check out Fair). Another one you want to stay away from is credit card debt. Free financial services like Credit Karma can help you manage and stay on top of your debt, loans, and payments. Don’t get trapped!
Stay a free agent.
Scrambling to change your whole life around in order to fit your job is a thing of the past. Times are a-changing and even though a 9-5 is still a very common and stable option, over 50% of the workforce will be 1099ers by 2021 – finding jobs that match their flexible schedule and passions. You don’t have to tie yourself down with only one employer. It’s 2019! You can form the way work fits into your life, and not necessarily the other way around.
This article originally appeared on Create and Cultivate.
