Kids born in 1994 or before, it’s time that we get our shit together

I don’t have a grasp on even half of these, but I know I need to get my shit together. Being an adult is tough but know these things and it’ll be easier.

Have a file with important stuff

• Certificates, copies of your passports and ID’s, letters of recommendation and important receipts.

Know what to do when you’ve had a car accident

• You should be taking photos from all angles, getting insurance information, remembering the details as much as you can and getting a police report as soon as possible.

Job interview

• Know how to dress, understand the company, know which questions are appropriate and which are not.

Quitting a job

• Know how to do it respectfully without burning any bridges. Also be sure to check that you’re not doing anything that contravenes the work contract you have.

Basic understanding of taxes

• Understand customs tax, income tax and other taxes. (I don’t have any idea regarding this adulty thing.)

Basic understanding of excel

• Watch a YouTube tutorial or get some help from a friend. Excel seems like the enemy when you have no clue as to how it works but it’s actually extremely useful in more ways than you can imagine.

Kitchen items

• You should have pots, pans, mixing bowls, whisks, wooden spoons, strainers, colanders, spoon rests, serving spoons and many other tools to prepare a solid dish. If you’re making a meal and you need something, MAKE A NOTE OF IT. Don’t just try substitute it and forget that you need it.

Then you need crockery and cutlery. That’s drinking glasses, wine glasses, mugs, plates, bowls and cutlery (matching if possible).

Wine and food pairing

• Nothing too extensive, just know what complements what.

Here you go: http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/15-rules-for-great-wine-and-food-pairings

Know how to host a dinner party

• Understand the importance of not letting your guests get too hungry, know how to make them feel welcome, get a grasp of comfortable timing between starters, mains and desserts. Have all the necessary cutlery and crockery on hand.

Make a decent cocktail

• Invest in a cocktail recipe book and a blender, you’ll be grateful you did.

Tie a tie

• The days of getting your older sibling to do it should be long gone.

You should know when to keep quiet and genuinely listen when someone is speaking

• Don’t listen just to wait for your chance to speak, people pick up on it. Also, don’t try to guess what the person is saying and try to finish their sentences. It’s rude and it undermines them.

Emergency first aid/level 1 first aid

• Know how to handle burns, know what to do if a child is close to drowning, how to splint a broken arm and how to stop intense bleeding. This is one thing you don’t think you need until it’s too late.

Savings account

• Just go set it up and put small amounts away whenever you can, the money you know you’ll spend on useless crap anyway.

Groceries

• Know what you need on a monthly basis; cheese, butter, bread, pasta, coffee, flour, corn flour, meat, cereal, potatoes, vegetables and other basics that help with whipping up a nutritious meal even when you don’t feel like cooking.

Clean up

• Know which detergents to use where, know when a good cleaning is due and understand the importance of having a clean living space.

Highways

• This can come in handy when you’re travelling long distances, it can help you with shortcuts and knowing which highways lead where will be invaluable when your GPS fails you.

Car charger

• Just have one on hand. Also, you’ll only regret not getting one when it’s too late.

Change a flat tyre

• It’s not that difficult, and as reliable as the instructions can sometimes be, sometimes you just need to watch someone do it so you can pick up on a few things.

Jumpstart a car

• This is too simple not to know how to do.

Know how to use a map and a compass (not gps)

• Be able to do things that don’t rely solely on technology. This is essential knowhow, especially for when the zombie apocalypse happens.

Know how to drive both an automatic and manual car

• When your drunk friend needs you to drive her home in her manual car and you can only drive automatic, you’re in for a bad time.

Basic toolkit

• You can buy prepared toolkits that are good to have on hand when small things go wrong.

How to change a light bulb

• It’s simple enough but make sure you won’t need to call in a handyman for something so trivial.

Change a plug

• Ditto

How to start a braai

• Know how soon it must be started, know how long it takes to prepare, and know what meat to cook when.

Know how to wet shave; and how to apply makeup properly

Know what size your clothes are generally

• That’s shirts, pants, shoes, underwear, and bras.

Go to the dentist and doctor as regularly as you can

• Another thing you’ll only think about when it’s too late.

Know how to make a basic pasta, a basic roast and a basic dessert

• Mac ‘n cheese, roast beef or chicken and chocolate mousse. If you understand the basics, you’ll be able to experiment and change it up from there.

Know how to make coffee and tea properly

• Be able to use a French press and know how long to brew tea for.

Be willing to spend money on good shoes, good jeans, a good coat and a few good t shirts and sunglasses

• It will be worth it.

Learn to grow your own vegetables

• This adds a wholesome, nutritious element to wherever you’re living.

Question things

• Don’t take a single news article without a pinch of salt. Get the same information from 4+ sources before you start to believe that it’s true.

Treat time with respect

• Don’t be late regularly. It’s selfish, thoughtless and rude.

Know how to dress for your body

• Some people can wear anything and get away with it but most of us can’t. Dress so that you’re comfortable in your own skin and so that you feel good about yourself.

Know how to negotiate

• It’ll save you time and money.

Learn how to give a speech

• This is essential for special occasions and people will respect the time and preparation gone into it.

Some self-defence will go a long way

• When someone tries to hurt you, when your brother is being too rough and when you just need some overall protection, this will be imperative.

Create a budget

• And stick to it. It makes it easier not to spend money on random crap you know you don’t need.

Back up your work and data

• If you lose work because you didn’t back it up, you’re an idiot and you almost deserve it. Buy a damn hard drive, make use of drop box and just be proactive.

Know how to construct a respectable document

• This is not optional. So many job requests, formal emails and CV’s get disregarded because of so many people’s unwillingness just to double-check their damn document. You need perfect spelling, grammar and format – this is not negotiable, ever.

That’s it for now, I think.