Now That I Am 18...

Now that I am 18, what are some prudent and productive things I should do first in my life? Adulthood is very different from childhood. What do you recommend?

Drinking.

‘Less you’re american, duh.

Happy Birthday

Register to vote. Be an informed voter.

Thank you. And if you didn't see, I chose one of your songs to be the next piece I learn to play. I wish I knew more songs like "Into the Mystic." Must be a generational thing for me--bombarded with modern music

Yep, 21 is the magic number

1.) I assume if you're asking here you aren't going to university. Smart move, yes some companies will put it on their job requirements; but the problem is that it will now take you 8 years of work to pay for a degree AND they won't teach you much so you still have a high chance of getting fired.

Finally company HR policies today are so ritualized and distant that they won't even tell you that you're being fired because you weren't able to do the job. I have seen companies I work for do this over and over. The bring in some poor sucker who came from a computer science degree and this guy doesn't know what a pointer is. He sits around for six months waiting for someone to tell him what to do.

Then one day he "moves on" and I find out they let him go and said it was general cutbacks. It wasn't general cutbacks, they are just turning over looking for someone to magically solve the problems they (management) can't articulate. It's so sad everyone.

2.) If you want value for money in education go for specific certifications. If you like a skilled trade (like plumbing or welding), do it; the pay is great and the path towards owning a personal company is straight as a laser.

If you like IT get one of those BS code or system certs. System admin. Network technician, etc.. You'll probably never be your own boss but the pay is again excellent and you get almost all the benefits the university nubs get while being half as likely to be fired.

3.) Look at the tax code. It matters! Why? They steal more money the more money you earn. Your quality of life depends on your disposable income. You can't dispose of it when they steal it. To maximize disposable income you need to minimize regular expenses even more than you need to maximize wages.

You can sit yourself in NYC and be making 200k but they will take most of it and the rest you will spend on rent for a closet.

Work remotely if you can and live in the middle of nowhere. If you can't live in the cheapest place you can. Pay down debt fast. Plan your life by expansions not "all up front so long as I can afford the monthly payment". Own, don't rent (unless you're the owner who is renting to someone else).

Land is the most stable of assets. (watch out for property taxes, some states have crazy ones)

4.) Don't invest in stocks. Don't do 401k. Anything tied to the US dollar and stock market is unreliable. They (the fed and the government) will crash it again and they will bail out the banks again, that will blast inflation again, and the real value of your investments will turn to shit.

One exception: health savings account, everybody has medical expenses, unlike 401k you can use the money soon and you will soon(ish) tax free!

Investing isn't something most Americans need to worry about for the first 10 years of their life. Why? You're probably in deep debt because of mortgage, and car, and (hopefully not) education loans.

Do you think you can beat the interest rate on your loans by using a stock broker (or choosing investments manually?) You can't, don't even try. Pay down the debt.

Sure you can spare 10k here and there to take advantage of special panics, but those are not regular, not reliable. You should keep $10k around anyway for emergencies.

5.) Don't store any significant wealth in USD. It drops like a rock, even bonds can end up losing real value. If you have no debt, can't buy land, you can't buy houses, buy crypto and precious medals. Those aren't investments they are just ways to hold on to your wealth. They will feel like investments as the world currencies are steadily diluted but that's an illusion.

6.) Don't have kids until you've found the one, don't have kids until you're net worth is over 80k. When you have kids plan to devote all your free time to them it's what you'll want to do anyway.

7.) Don't say something stupid like "I don't want kids, too much work." Kids reprogram your brain to make you happy. Not having kids (at least somewhere in your life) will cause you regret.

8.) Notice when something isn't working. If you think you'll be in a certain place for three years and it's been five; stop what you're doing and change strategies. You do not have time to spare just because you're 18. You want to be "basically" retired at 40-50. I say "basically" because almost everyone goes stir crazy without something productive to do. I think you should just keep making money till you drop from dementia, but when you're financially secure you can be chill about it. Be an independent contractor. That kind of stuff.

When you are 70, you don't have the body or the energy to do fun stuff. You can't raise kids (even if you adopt them). 70-90 is for cloud watching and obsessing over grandchildren.

I'm not saying all this because I did it all and I'm happy. I'm saying these are the things I've learned from my mistakes and the pain I've had (some of which through no fault of my own).

You aren't really an adult in the head until you're like 25-27. Let your brain mature, don't think you know how to truly be wise until at least 24.

18 is not a magical number for anything. It is a made up number.

Just continue with regular prayers during the night and morning. Ask God for guidance.

Here are some sins to avoid:

1) Sex without marriage

2) Porn

3) Masturbation

4) Drugs

5) Alcohol

6) Bad friends (those who tempt you to do bad)

7) Accumulation of wealth and greed

8) Trading heaven for Earthly goods

9) Ignoring God's commands

Life in today's time is simple:

1) In order to get money, you need a job.

2) In order to get a girlfriend, you need friends and your own place to live.

4) In order to get friends, you need to be willing to help those in need. (If someone asks you to lend him money, do so assuming its a reasonable amount). Dont help too much, but also dont reject when someone asks for help.

Good attracts good. Act good and you will attract good people. Simple, really.

Get a job, budget and save your money.

Get connected or stay connected with good people.

Money's useful,

People are useful.

Though,

Sometimes one likes their time more than money, I know I do.

Sometimes people are draining, or try to take advantage of you, well, can always cut them out.

...Question Mark? 😂 

Ever since Post-Election, you've become an Anti-Troll

Take a lot of risks while you can. You only get to be 18 once.

I have read similar tips such as when you're in your 20s, you have much more freedom to take larger risks because you usually do not have a family to take care of yet. Also, you are in your prime and can work with lots of intensity

When I was 18 this song by Alice Cooper came out and his words are eternally relevant to 18 year olds.

And the tune is very good also.

Skipper,

I would agree with AdreamofLiberty, Rationalmadman and Lemming combined.  

I also agree with debateart that no one told me these things either.  So take the hints from the three above.  It's hard work but worth it.

I would also like to encourage you to not give up.  It is a HUGE learning curve from now until about 25 years old, so keep at it.

I enjoyed spending a number of years not working,

But I sometimes think now and then, how much money I didn't and don't  have by doing that.

I don't budget myself, but I'd save more than I do now if I did,

But I've met so many people who can't seem to save any money,

That I think it's something 'vital for some people.

I've always saved money when I have had a job,

I'm glad for it, as I avoid going into debt because of accidents because of it,

I enjoy being able to help out loved one's in their own temporary financial setbacks (Though this can be bad if loved one's are untrustworthy)

Friends and people connected,

It's good to have people to talk to, vent, ask advice.

Get help moving, ask expertise, sleep on their couch, sometimes they know about job openings.

My advice, try to avoid doing harm and seek out that which gives you pleasure … life is surprisingly short and getting old sucks.

Don't mess up your credit. Otherwise I have no advice given to me at your age that would apply today. You are on your own, do what works for you and no one else.