Adulthood pt 2 – A hood I never asked to be apart of
Life hack time! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I wish someone would have warned me about this whole adulting life.
I still don’t believe that our parents had the same bills as we do. There’s no way.
But one major key that I’ve learned so far on my journey was that. We should share valuable life lessons with each other. To prevent the next person from making the same mistakes as you did. Or to help make someone’s life a little easier. There’s no harm in paying it forward in my eyes.
So here are 11 life hacks I’ve learned along the way:
1. Go to the Dollar Store for all cleaning supplies and plastic tupperware! There’s nothing wrong with shopping at the Dollar Store for your small needs. I’m not ashamed, I’m always down for the cheaper route. I even get birthday cards and gift bags from there too.
2. Make sure to always have a can of beans and a box of rice in your cabinet. It’s easy to make and will fill you up when you’re struggling between paychecks. Thanks for that life hack, momma
3.AARP has free tax services. Retired/active tax aides volunteer to complete taxes for people who do not have much to claim. Every year I used them, I received a healthy tax return amount. The only downside is that these services are by appointment only and they have limited hours.
4. Do you have a 401k with your employer? Are they matching your contribution? Are you even contributing to your 401k? I’m not sure if you’re aware, but your 401k is your retirement money. So if you’re not contributing money into that account because you don’t want your paychecks to be short. I suggest you rethink that idea before you are a 66-year-old struggling to make ends meet.
Have you ever heard of a Roth IRA account? A Roth IRA is another type of retirement account that you can make personal contributions to. Distributions from a Roth IRA are tax-free. Basically, you’re not taxed on your money when it’s time to take it out. This is an account you open yourself. Employers usually do not offer this type of IRA account. Roth IRA’s are also a good idea to open because you could possibly receive a tax break from having that type of account. Yea, your paychecks might be shorter because you’re contributing to a IRA. But it will pay off in the long run.
Contact your bank for more information.
5. After leaving a job that you invested a 401K with. You’ll soon receive a check for the amount of your 401K. Do not put this check into a personal account. I repeat do not deposit this check into your personal account! Do not get money hungry like I did. I had to pay taxes on that check because I deposited it right into my savings. Thinking I was balling.
Make sure you go to your local bank or credit union to open an IRA account. This is where you can choose between an Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, or IRA CD account to open. I, personally would open an IRA CD so that my money could gain interest as it just sits there. Basically, you’ll be investing your money. Then you can just keep rolling the CD over into another CD, profiting from the interest. Or I would just open an Roth account, as I mentioned before.
Also, when HR calls from your previous job asking, who do you want your 401K check to be made payable to. Make sure to make it payable to the bank that you will be opening the IRA account with. If you make it payable to yourself there is a 10% tax automatic deduction from the total amount.
Learn from my mistakes.
6. You save money when you meal prep. You’ll be going back and forth to the grocery store but it’s cheaper and healthier.
Remember, you have food at home!
8. Having good credit is a must in America! If you have a credit card make those payments on time! Even if it’s just the minimum, anything counts. To show good payment history either use your card, and pay it off within a month. Or use your card sparingly, but always make a payment. You cannot hide from creditors. They will always find you. Trust me, I tried to hide from them in my early twenties. But they found my ass eventually.
9. There’s low income housing available for everyone. It’s there to help. Take advantage and stop worrying about what other people will think. This is your life. Make it easier for yourself. Anyone can apply. But there are income restrictions for certain properties. If you google low income housing in your state. You’ll be introduced to a few low income housing properties in areas in the state you reside in, Piazza & Associates is a popular one.
10.Your cell phone has a planner built in it. Use it! It literally saved my life.
11. Don’t chase money, chase what you’re passionate about. We only get one life to live. Living it with a purpose makes living so much more worth it all. I fully did not understand this until last year. Don’t get stuck at a comfortable, yet unsatisfying job, like I did. It delays your progression and makes you miserable when you realize just how much time you let pass by.
Adulting sucks, but there’s better sides to it that makes life worth wild. You just have to look for them.
xox Black Daria
These hacks are dope