Listen, I’m not saying you need to do everything on your own. In fact, there are plenty of things you should leave to the experts but there are essentials you should definitely know how to do. I once had a roommate who called her boyfriend to ask how to change the batteries in a remote control… yes really. Don't be like that roommate and instead read on to learn some of the things I think are essential to know when you live on your own.

Know the Basics of Resetting outlets and Flipping Breakers

Hairdryers and air conditioners are just a few of the things that will have you looking for your circuit breaker box. If an outlet suddenly stops working the first thing you’ll want to check is if the outlet needs resetting. Bathrooms and kitchens usually have what are called GFCI plugs that are outlets that have the two small buttons (reset and test) on them. It’s a safety feature that causes the outlet to trip itself and cut off power if there’s a scenario that could cause a spark that could shock you — like appliances that use a lot of power. Yes, that’s what those outlets do and they’re usually located in areas where water could be present. The first thing you’ll want to do is unplug whatever you’re using and then hit the red “reset” button. Then plug in said appliance and try it again. Here’s a video if you want to check it out.

If that doesn’t work, then you should go and check the circuit breaker box. It should be located right in your apartment or the house you’re living in, but I had an apartment in NYC where it was locked in the basement. Which, I’m pretty sure is against code, but nonetheless know where yours is. It’s helpful if they are labeled, but when you open it up, you’ll see breakers in the “on” and “off” position. All you need to do is look for the breaker that has been flipped to the “off” position and flip it back on. Here’s a more thorough explanation if you need it too.

How to turn off the water of your toilet

This one is important and can help prevent a lot of flooding damage should there ever be a problem in your bathroom. Heaven forbid, if your toilet gets plugged or if it actually straight-up explodes (this actually happened to me) this is going to be key. Typically, there is a water supply valve that comes up from the floor or from the wall and all you have to do is turn it all the way to the right. Righty tighty, lefty loosely! This will cut off the water supply so that the water will stop until you have the issue resolved. Video for reference.

How to do your own Laundry

This one really comes down to following the instructions on your washing machine and laundry soap but if it’s your first time take some time to read everything. High-efficiency washer and dryers may need less soap so it’s important to pay attention so you don’t end up with a laundry room filled with soap suds. Other things that are important? Listen to your mom and try and do loads with similar colors so your whites don’t start turning other colors (guilty of this).

Oh and REAL important, make sure you clean out the lint filter in between every dryer cycle. If there’s only one thing you remember about doing laundry, let it be this! Lint is a fire hazard and can catch a dryer on fire and even your house or apartment. Talking from experience, my fiancé’s clothes caught on fire at our last apartment because of this! 😱 That fire actually happened because of the back of the vent, which your apartment should maintain, but if you have access it’s worth cleaning that out every so often too.

Changing a Lightbulb

This one isn’t too complicated. Again, righty tighty, lefty loosey to take it out or put a new one in. The important part is to pay attention and make sure you get the right kind of lightbulb to replace it with. Usually the outlet or lamp will tell you the max wattage you can use. Putting anything higher than that can become a fire hazard.

Check Your Refridgerator Dial

Does your fridge not seem like it’s keeping things cool enough? Or maybe it’s the opposite and it’s freezing things? Check your refrigerator dial. Depending on the model of yours, it will be in different places but check at the top inside the door, or on the right or left side panels. Often times, you can skip a call to your maintenance crew just by adjusting these yourself — either turning them up or down. Just make sure you give them a little time to adjust before your next step.

Test Your Fire & Carbon Monoxide Alarms

We grew up doing this at home, but sometimes it slips our minds when we’re adults on our own. Many apartment buildings have annual checks to check both of these but even if they do, make sure you check them regularly. No one wants to be all doom and gloom but it could legit save your life in an emergency. Most alarms have a “test” feature and all you have to do is press them and make sure they beep. If nothing happens that’s when you know you need new batteries.

Change Ceiling Fan Direction

Did you know that most ceiling fans actually change directions? Say what?! I only learned about this when I bought a place. It actually has a purpose too. If it’s set to spin counter-clockwise that will help cool a room down, whereas if it spins clockwise that will actually help keep a room warmer. So counter-clockwise in the summer (or year-round for people like me who like to be cool when they sleep) and clockwise during the winter. To change it, there is usually a small switch on the outside side of the fan that you can just toggle back and forth. This video walks you through one model.

How to flush the toilet if the power is out

Most of the time, if your power goes out you will have a few flushes left in your toilet and then it won’t flush anymore because… no power! There’s a workaround though if you find yourself out of power for a few days. If there’s a storm coming that you’re aware of, what you’ll want to do is fill a bathtub with water. Then if you need to flush, all you need to do is take a cup of the water from the bathtub (or another source) and pour it into the toilet. The force will then cause it to flush.

Unclog a Drain

Ugh, this one is no fun… but it happens! Especially when you have long hair! The best method is to try and prevent this from happening with a hair catcher if you don’t already have one (here’s my favorite). If that ship has long sailed though, then I recommend using a drain snake. Apparently, draino and other chemical methods can damage pipes and in old buildings, your lease may even say you aren’t allowed to use them! So the drain snake to the rescue. No sugarcoating it, this process is kind of gross but the drain snake really gets the job done! Another option is to bust out your middle school science skills and mix baking soda and vinegar.

Make sure a window is secure

Another thing you want to think about is making sure your windows are secure. Sure, if a burglar really wants to break in they can just break windows but sometimes all they have to do is slide a window open. This is especially an issue if you live in a city like NYC with fire escapes or if you have a window unit air conditioner. I had two friends’ apartments get broken into this way so I know it happens! The easiest recommendation I have is get a piece of wood from the hardware store to make it impossible for someone to just slide the window up. They also have window locks that you can buy that will remedy this situation too.

This by all means is not everything you need to know but it is definitely a start for some of the essentials! If all else fails, Google is a Godsend. If you’re having an issue, I recommend doing a quick Google or Youtube search to see if it’s DIY status or not before proceeding.

Credit scores and credit reports… Oh yeah those things that no one ever taught you about growing up? They run your life now. So you should probably know a thing or two about them.

WTH Are They?

Credit scores are a number based on your credit report that determines your creditworthiness. Basically what that means is your credit score is a number that tells others how likely you are to repay loans you take out or keep up on your bills. And how do they figure that number out? Well, it’s based on your credit report that keeps track of if you keep up on your car payments, credit cards, and other bills every single month. Wait for it… for your WHOLE life. Holy ish, yes they keep track of that! And those payments are what decide where you fall on the scale of 300-850 points — higher scores being better.

Why are they such a big deal?

So other than feeling kind of invasive, why do they matter so much and who can see them? Well, you’ll have to agree to having your credit score checked because they need to use your social security number but here are several instances where they’re used:

• Getting a credit card

• Renting an apartment

• Buying or leasing a car

• Getting car insurance

• Getting a new cell phone

• Getting a loan

• Buying a house

• Even getting a job in some cases

And here’s the thing, where you fall on that scale will determine the interest rate you receive (higher score, lower interest), rates you may pay for services and it can even be the deciding factor on if you are able to move into that new apartment you want or even get hired. Yeah, I think you’re starting to feel the magnitude of how important they are now, huh.

Who Decides these suckers?

So who gets to slap that number on your back? Well, there are three main credit bureaus who keep track of your credit reports Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Then there are two different credit score calculations, the FICO and VantageScore models. Yeah, there are a few players in the game. Here’s the thing too… your score may be a little different on each scale because different factors are weighted differently. You also won’t get to pick which model a lender or rental company goes off either (although in my experience FICO has been used more often).

Okay, okay so what affects my score?

So yeah, there are a few players in the game and it feels a little wishy-washy explaining it but here’s what you really need to know. The things that impact your score! Like I said, they are weighted a little differently for the FICO and VantageScore but both take these things into account (starting from most important to least):

• Payment History (this is the biggest chunk!): This tracks when your accounts are paid on time, late payments, and if things go to collections.

• Credit Utilization Ratio: This one took me a min to wrap my head around. Basically, lenders don’t want to see you maxing out cards or loans. So say your credit card has a 10,000 limit. Your credit score will be better if your average balance is 1,000 out of that 10,000 rather than 8,000/10,000. They want to see that people have given you credit but you don’t use all of it. You can see this one affect your score on a monthly basis too.

• Length of Credit History: I’ll be honest, this one bugged me when I was younger. Luckily, I got on my credit score knowledge early on so I’ve always had a good score but one of the factors is how long your accounts have been open. So when I was 20, obviously my credit history was a whole lot shorter than now at 31. Meaning my score could only go so high there. It’s not just your age though. It goes off the age of the accounts. This is why having accounts open longer (even if you have a zero balance) can actually be more beneficial than closing the accounts. If you close a bunch of accounts, that also affects your overall average which can affect your score. In sum, showing that you have long-term accounts you pay on time each month has more benefits.

• Credit Mix: This has to do with what type of accounts you’ve had — car loans, home loans, student loans, credit cards, etc. Lenders like to see you can be responsible with a variety and that you’ve been given credit in different areas.

• New Accounts: Get this, pulling your credit score or getting new credit can also affect your account because it can be looked at like you’re in financial trouble. So your credit score also takes into consideration how many credit inquires you’ve had recently — considered “hard pulls”.

How do I make sure I’m on my Ish

Okay, okay. So how do you stay on top of your ish? Being responsible with your moolah and paying bills on time is number one, but you already know you should be doing that. If you run into probs don’t just ignore them either… call them and see what you can work out because non-payments will plunge your score fast! This is definitely one of those things that it’s easy to plunge your score fast but tougher to improve it. Here are two things you should be doing to keep up on where you’re at though:

• Download your Credit Reports Every Year: Everyone is allowed to download their credit reports from all 3 bureaus once a year. DO THIS! Here’s the link that guides you through getting them. It’s totally free and it’s important to review them each year to make sure they are accurate and only include accounts you have been affiliated with. With cyber-crimes and identity theft on the rise, this is one of the top things you can do to make sure your ish is in order. If you do find an error you can also file disputes. I try to download these each year around my birthday just because it’s easy to remember.

• Monitor your Score: Next up, monitor your score. There are so many services that allow you to do this now that only do “soft pulls” on your credit. Because remember, actually having your score pulled by a lot of people can decrease it… complicated right?! Doing this won’t though. I’ve used Credit Karma for years and really like it. I check it once a month and I’ve found it’s pretty accurate (I always compare my actual score to the hard checks I’ve had done). A lot of banks and my budgeting app Mint.com does as well — so you have options.

The key here is to stay on top of things, make sure things are accurate and know where you stand so there aren’t any surprises when you’re trying to make some adulting moves!

Congrats class of 2020! I know you guys just worked your butts off the last 4 years. Only to have graduation ceremonies canceled, the economy crash and enter the job market during the biggest public health crisis of our lives… but hey, you have a degree now! Listen, there’s no way to sugarcoat it, the situation isn’t ideal… And it’s okay to have a lot of feelings about it. Of course, getting our country healthy again and the virus under control should be our top priority right now but it’s okay to feel frustrated by the situation at the same time.

Instead of applying and interviewing for jobs in a booming economy, you’re left wondering if you’re even going to be able to get a job at all. Plus… if you’re like I was, the realization that you have to start paying on those student loans pretty soon is scary as heck! So yeah, the situation isn’t ideal, but I’m here to tell you that you’re going to get through this. How do I know? Well, I graduated from college in 2009 in the dead of the great recession. Yeah, the current sit isn’t totally the same, but there are definitely some parallels on the economic side so hear me out. Today I’m sharing 4 job hunting tips to help you through, because while there is certainly a lot out of our control, there are still plenty of things you can do to stand out and find work even during the most trying times.

Be Flexible

My first tip is to be flexible. I know you had big dreams for what your first job was going to look like, and that could still happen, but I want you to take a step back and try to look at things a little differently. The reality of it is, your first job is likely not going to be your forever job and that’s okay. In fact, in many industries, employees often only stay a few years before moving onto a new opportunity — especially early on in your career. That’s not saying that you need to settle, but widening your view will certainly give you more options especially right now. Something you’ll notice when you start applying to positions too is a lot of these “entry-level jobs” already expect you to have 1-2 years of experience. This always felt like a catch 22 to me, but the bigger takeaway here is that getting your foot in the door and actually getting some professional experience is of utmost importance. So my recommendation is to widen your scope on companies or types of positions you can apply for.

Take Advantage of Social Networking

Networking has never been so important and it’s time to step up your game networking online! Working in social media, networking online has always felt more comfortable to me and now that it’s the only option, it’s time to work it! I don’t want to say “who you know” is the only thing that is going to get you a job, but it can definitely help. Don’t freak if you don’t currently have any connections in the industry either though. I didn’t know a soul when I started out. It just means you should really take advantage of this tip.

If you have connections in your personal network, start there. You can ask those you know to send an intro email between you and the person you’re interested in connected with. No connections yet? That’s okay too here are some other places to consider:

• Alumni Networks & Career Centers: See if your school has any upcoming alumni events (virtual of course). My alma mater, University of Oregon, put on a great virtual event that was an online chat pairing alumni with graduating seniors. We had 10 mins to chat with each and give them advice (the same tips I’m giving you) and I let all of those I connected with that I was happy to be an ongoing resource for them. Boom, so during an hour each senior made 6 connections how cool is that? People are getting creative right now so definitely check with your school to see if they have anything similar going on and if they don’t maybe you even recommend it!

• Linkedin: Obviously, LinkedIn is the go-to professional network and it’s a gold mine for finding people you can reach out to. Not only can you reach out to specific people directly, but you can also find groups and connect with others through conversations on posts.

• Instagram & Facebook: Sure, these aren’t “professional” networks but they are still great places to connect with others especially if you already follow business pages or professionals you’re interested in connecting with. Focus on engaging with their Instagram posts regularly for a bit and then I recommend taking it off the platform and sending them a professional email. Facebook Groups are also an awesome way to meet new people. There are groups for just about everything and local groups for where you’d like to live and work can be very helpful.

• Virtual Zoom Meetups: Now that everything has gone virtual, look out for different events you can attend. I’m apart of some local business owner networks that have been hosting networking sessions and virtual happy hours. In some ways, because we have to take turns talking now that they’re online, I’ve actually gotten to know some people better than I may have at an in-person event where you can only talk to so many people over a few hours.

• Companies you Admire: Then if there are companies you admire already, go straight to the source! If it’s a big company like Nike, it will obviously be tougher, but if there’s a smaller business you appreciate reach out directly to them!

The way I look at any social networking efforts is each time you put yourself out there you’ve introduced yourself to one new person. You may not hear back from everyone, but they’re still going to get your message and it will be good practice for putting yourself out there. Next up I’m chatting what you should actually be doing when you reach out to these people too.

Set up Calls or Informational Interviews

So what is the actual point of your networking efforts? To introduce yourself to others and build relationships! I recommend asking specific questions via email, requesting a 30-minute call or virtual informational interview. The more clear and direct you can be the better. Please don’t ask the general “pick their brain” question either — such a pet peeve. If they agree, during that time you can spend it asking them questions about their positions, what it’s like to work at the company they work for, any advice they have for standing out at a company like theirs, and other things that you’re genuinely curious about.

This isn’t time to just ask them for a job. It’s about building personal relationships with others. This is more about setting the groundwork for your professional network and learning about positions and companies you may be interested in. Here’s the thing too, when you’re genuinely interested in learning from others and respect their time, they may actually have someone in their network that they think could help you with your job hunt. Say whattt, I thought I just said this wasn’t about asking for a job. It’s not directly but it can help. It’s really about building those connections so that when you DO see a job posting that you want to apply to, you have a personal connection on the inside. Or, if that person learns of a position that could be a good fit, you want that conversation and connection you made with them to be top of mind for them. Follow?

Yes, this strategy definitely takes some time but it’s one that can benefit you not just now but long-term. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve sent positions or advice their way because we met up for coffee one time. Dang, remember the days we could do that?! Plus, since we’re all stuck at home right now anyways, you might as well meet some new people. I’d even say that people may actually be more likely to reply to your messages or set up calls right now for that very reason.

Be Personal in Applications

Last tip of the day… be personal in your applications! Again, depending on your industry and the company you’re applying for this advice will vary. When you can though, I suggest adding a personal touch when emailing out your resumes and cover letters. I used to do a lot of hiring for a boutique PR firm I worked at and this made such a difference. Yes, you may be sending the same resume and a modified intro email to everyone but if you can add a personal touch it will be noticed. Maybe you call out something about a campaign they did or a client they work with… or how you really appreciated one of their latest Instagram posts. Be authentic about it of course, but these little touches show you’ve actually paid attention! And even if you applied to 50 jobs that day, it makes them feel like you are actually interested in the work they do and not just getting a paycheck and that will help set you apart.

That’s in for today crew! Welcome to adulting. It ain’t always pretty, but if you can learn to be scrappy you’ll figure it out.

BECAUSE SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE TAUGHT YOU THAT

How many times in your adult life have you said, “man, I wish someone would have taught me that”. Sure, learning as you go is great too, but having a heads up on some of the things that are going to be thrown your way has its perks! We thought so too, which is why we put together the Adulting Archives blog series.

After years of exchanging different stories and one world-stopping pandemic, we decided it was time to hit the gas on this project. One because we could all use some comic relief right now and two something about being stuck at home indefinitely gives you a kick in the booty on projects.

On the blog and our Instagram, you can look forward to cheeky commentary and a front-row seat to lessons we’ve learned over the years. One part relatable adulting struggles and one part, “I could have really used a class on this in high school instead of trigonometry…” We’re here to help and share our own stories along the way.

Oh, and a little bit about us? We’re Anna Osgoodby and Faith Hardersen. Two go-getter women from different generations who are sisters from other mothers and have a shared love for buying way too many houseplants. So tag along and share with a friend because it’s go-time baby!