Yesterday was my 27th birthday.
In some ways, I feel old, in other ways I feel really young. I think I’ve learned a lot over my life, and so for you today I have 27 things that I have learned in my lifetime. (I’ve grouped them into different categories for your convenience.)
Ready? Here we go.
Money
1. Most money is just numbers on a paper (ex. your bank account balance) or theory (ex. your house may be “worth” $500,000, but unless someone buys it, you won’t have $500,000 in your pocket).
2. Budgets really do make you feel like you’re in more control, not the other way around. Seriously.
3. Credit cards are not evil, but even people with the best intentions can get conned by the marketing scheme. (Including Fred and me!)
4. Making more money seems exciting, but once you have more, it’s just more responsibility.
5. There is nothing you can buy that is more satisfying than paying off the debt that you owe.
Kitchen
6. Never microwave coffee tumblers, especially ones that are metal (they will spark).
7. Mold grows the opposite colour of the of the food it’s on (ex. green mold on white bread so you can see it).
8. Rice does not freeze well. It tastes really mealy – not worth it.
9. Making things from scratch almost always saves money, and it tastes better (ex. chocolate chip cookies).
10. Lemon juice cleans rust off of knives.
Work
11. Doing what is expected of you doesn’t set you apart: you need to do more than is expected to be noticed.
12. It’s always better to over-dress than under-dress.
13. Always plan to arrive early, especially for a job interview. Chances are you’ll be running a bit behind, and with that extra buffer, you’ll never be late. (And if you’re like me, it allows time to get lost if you’re headed to a new place.)
14. Talking to and becoming friends with your co-workers is important. Building relationships with them shows that you work well with others, and helps you enjoy your work time more.
15. Working somewhere just for the money isn’t enough to keep you there. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, quit. It might be harder in the moment, but in the long run, you’ll be happier and more fulfilled.
Marriage
16. Being married does not always mean you’ll be happy.
17. Being married means that you’ll always have someone to talk to – even if you don’t like them all of the time.
18. It’s not helpful to have “his” and “hers” money – it creates division and secrecy (except for personal spending money, and only when you both know about the amount).
19. It’s better to over-communicate than under-communicate.
20. Don’t compare yourself to other couples – it will make you unhappy. Your relationship is what it is – work with what you have.
Community
21. Friendships are stronger when you fight and work through things instead of ignoring the issues.
22. It’s important to celebrate milestones with people you’re close to – it builds community.
23. Every member of a community needs to be “all in” and trust the people around them for it to be truly meaningful and transformative.
Random
24. Mason jars are the most versatile containers in the world. You can use them for almost a million things (candles, juice, leftovers, bathroom supplies, craft supplies, flowers, salads, and many more things).
25. Always bring a snack with you. You never know when you’re going to need one.
26. Flossing your teeth every day will save you hundreds (or thousands) in the long run because it will prevent cavities. (Trust me, I speak from super personal experience when I say this. Flossing saves money!)
27. Age is just a number. Your year of life is what you make it, and is not defined by your age category.
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