Adulting For Dummies

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1 Shifting from Surviving to Thriving
Chapter 1 Experiencing the Thrill and Fear of Running Your Own Life
Taking One Step at a Time
Entering the age of maturity
Understanding that change is inevitable
Mapping Out Your Destination
Appreciating who you are
Thinking big
Making Your Mark
Understanding Character
Navigating the Necessities
Providing the Goods
Stepping Up: You Got This
Chapter 2 Knowing What You Want and Getting It
Setting Achievable Goals
Pinpointing your potential
Considering categories of goals
Creating achievable goals: The short and long of it
Getting gritty
Decision-Making: It’s All You!
Outside influences
A never-ending process
Consequences
Advocating for Yourself: Scary, but Doable
Getting to know you
Being uniquely you
Speaking up
Baby, you’re worth it
Chapter 3 Keeping up in a Changing World
Navigating the Murky Waters of Digital Ethics
Taking it at face value
Understanding rights and responsibilities
Being cautious: Don’t be quick to click
Evaluating Appearances: Social Media Isn’t Always What It Seems
Finding a balance
Capturing your success
Staying linked
Part 2 Dating, Relating, and Communicating
Chapter 4 Making New Friends While Keeping the Old
Recognizing the Importance of Friendship
The work of being a good friend
The art of meeting new people
Squad goals!
A friend in need is a friend indeed
A healthy friendship
Recognizing Fake Friends
Peer influence
The friend/acquaintance paradox
Energy vampires
Time to move on
Chapter 5 You’ll Always Be Their Kid: Family Dynamics
Understanding Roles and Responsibilities in Families
Playing your part
Navigating the family life cycle
Getting Along
The mother of all battles
Rivalry in the family
Appreciating Families’ Uniqueness
Establishing strong families
Appreciating the wisdom of your elders
Navigating Crisis in the Family
Functioning in the dysfunction
Receiving a dreaded phone call
Chapter 6 Bumbling through the Dating Scene
Getting Out of the Friend Zone
Engaging in purposeful dating
Figuring out where to meet people
Getting what you give
Knowing When It’s Time for Those Three Little Words
“Stupid Cupid, stop picking on me!”
Types of love
Acts of love
Chapter 7 Saying What You Mean
Understanding the Basics: Communication 101
Brushing up on conversation starters
Speaking without words
Polishing your email etiquette
Texting, snapping, and chatting
Hearing AND listening
Sending Mixed Messages
It’s all in the delivery
Arguably the best
Peacekeeping
Solving Problems: It’s a Process
Part 3 Earning Enough to Live On
Chapter 8 It’s Called Work for a Reason
Whatever You Are, Be a Great One
Someday is not a weekday
You do you
Aptitude versus attitude
Finding the Best Options for Good Choices
Investigating career clusters
Pursuing the pathway to success
Now Hiring!
Finding the right fit
Dealing with the necessary evils: Applications and other paperwork
Making lasting first impressions
Chapter 9 Impressing the Boss and Succeeding on the Job
You’ve Got Skills
Putting school smarts to use
Performing on the job
Dressing for Success
Accepting uniformity
Demonstrating professionalism
Understanding casual day
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Chapter 10 Champagne Tastes, Beer Budget: Saving and Spending
Getting Paid: Show Me the Money
Wait, what!? Taxes?
I’ve got bills: They’re multiplying
Managing your bills like a pro
Putting your paycheck to work
Securing Your Future
Giving is better than receiving
Saving more and spending less
Putting your money to work
Keeping Yourself out of the Red
Why do I need a budget?
How do I stay on track?
Managing Credit Cards
Giving credit where credit is due
Making the grade: Credit scores and reports
Buying now and paying later
Chapter 11 How Much?! Paying for Housing and Buying a Car
Moving Out . . . It May Be Time
Honey, I’m home
Different types of housing
Renting versus buying
Moving day
Better Living by Design
Designing for your best life
Designing for safety and security
Sitting in the Driver’s Seat
Needs versus wants: Affording a car
You gotta pay for that
Part 4 Maintaining a Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body
Chapter 12 Eating for Fun and Fuel
Nutrition: More Than Taking Your Vitamins
Introducing the team of nutrients
Running on empty
Fueling thought
What Goes in Must Come Out
Soul Food
All-you-can-eat buffet
A Tale of Two Fats
The fine print
Relating to food
The latest fads
Hydration station
Chapter 13 Exercise: Good for You in the Long Run
“Good Good” Feelings
Anti-aging: More than a cream
Weight: It’s just a number
A dumbbell a day keeps the doctor away
The Heart of the Matter
Exercises That Are Right for You
Walking it out
Getting swole
Getting flexible
Taking it one day at a time
Chapter 14 Loving Yourself with Healthy Habits
Getting Some ZZZs
Lying in the bed you made
Dreaming big
Having Some Good Clean Fun
Lookin’ fresh
Staying tight with your BFF: SPF
Getting some breathing room
Coughing and sneezing spread diseases
Protecting Yourself
The best defense is a good offense
After dark
Safe travels
Painting a Picture of Health
Setting a time and date
Handling an emergency
Chapter 15 Minding Your Mental Health
What Is Mental Health?
Stressing out
Finding your happy place
In the Eye of the Storm
The calming effect
People need people
Addiction
Recognizing signs of addiction
Craving technology
Part 5 Completing Household Jobs
Chapter 16 Keeping It All Clean
Taking Control of the Mess before It Takes Control of You
Tidying up
Becoming a chore conqueror
Gathering dust
Decluttering the clutter
Airing Your Dirty Laundry
Caring for your garments
Sorting it out
Doing the ol’ wash, rinse, repeat
Spot cleaning
Drying time
Sharing the secrets of the folding gurus
Giving New Life to Old Threads
Calculating cost per wear
Embracing the reuse, repair, recycle philosophy
Tackling a hot-button topic
Patching things up
Chapter 17 Stirring Things Up in the Kitchen
Knowing Your Equipment
I need coffee!
Is this thing on?
Measure, mix, and cut. Oh my!
Playing It Safe
An accident waiting to happen
Don’t play with fire
It’s all quite shocking
Healthy clean fun
Cookin’ up a Storm
Measuring twice, pouring once
Boiling, basting, baking, and BBQ-ing
Getting on the same wave length
Chapter 18 Preparing for the Unexpected
Caring for Your Home’s Health
The magic of electrons
Flood zone
Take Murphy’s Law to Heart
Brainstorming the storms
Evaluating risk versus reward
Being prepared
Calling for backup
Part 6 The Part of Tens
Chapter 19 Ten Ways to Be a Responsible Citizen
Having Integrity
Being Productive
Helping Make Improvements
Staying Informed
Exhibiting Patriotism
Living up to High Standards
Showing R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Making Judgment Calls
Facing Your Fear
Paying It Forward
Chapter 20 Ten Tips and Tricks for Car Maintenance
Paying Attention to Spare Parts
Going for the Good Oil
Caring for the Car Battery
Breaking for New Brakes
Keeping the Air Clean
Maintaining a Squeaky Clean Windshield
Working Those Shocks, Struts, and Springs
Talkin’ about the Car Wash
Running on Empty
Doing a Tire Check
Chapter 21 Ten Rookie Mistakes
Maxing Out Your Credit Cards
Staying in a Relationship Even When You Realize It Will Not Last
Not Putting Verbal Contracts in Writing
Breaking Up, Then Trying to Remain Friends
Putting Dish Soap in the Dishwasher
Buying Too Much Furniture
Dropping Out of School and Thinking You Will Have Time to Go Back
Moving Locations and Realizing You Haven’t Solved All of Your Problems
Washing a Red Sweatshirt with Your White Clothes
Forgetting to Preheat the Oven
Index
EULA