School taught you the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. It did not teach you what renters insurance is, how to read a lease, what an HSA does, or how credit utilization works. Here is the list.
Open a high-yield savings account (not a big bank savings account paying 0.01%). Set up direct deposit to your checking account. Enable automatic savings transfers — even $50/month is a start. Get a credit card and set up autopay for the full balance every month. Download your bank's app and turn on transaction notifications.
Renters insurance: costs $10-20/month and covers your stuff if it's stolen or your apartment floods. Do not skip this. Health insurance: if your employer offers it, enroll. If not, check healthcare.gov. Understand your deductible before you need to use it. You can stay on your parents' health insurance until 26 if they have it.
File your taxes every year by April 15. If you have a simple situation (W-2 only, no investments), TurboTax or H&R Block online handles it fine. If you're self-employed or have multiple income streams, consider a CPA. Set aside 25-30% of any freelance income for taxes — the IRS will want it.
Check your credit score for free at Credit Karma (no card required). Your score is built by: paying bills on time (most important), keeping credit utilization below 30%, and having credit history. Don't open 5 credit cards at once — each application dings your score slightly.
Read your lease before signing. Know what your landlord is and is not responsible for. Photograph every scratch and dent on move-in and email them to yourself (timestamped proof). Know your notice period — usually 30 or 60 days before move-out.
Enroll in your employer's 401k and contribute at least enough to get the full match — that's free money. Then open a Roth IRA. Even $50/month invested at 22 compounds into something real by 65. Time is the most powerful variable.
The full adulting checklist with 47 items specific to moving to D.C. — free when you subscribe to the newsletter.
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