"Adulthood" is amorphous at best.
As Pamela Druckerman once wrote in the
New York Times, "There are no grown-ups ... Everyone is winging it, some just do it more confidently."
Being an adult, then, might be more about what you can handle than the date on your birth certificate.
"Financial adulthood can come at any age," says certified financial planner Sophia Bera, founder of Gen Y Planning.
"It's being comfortable talking about and taking ownership of your
money. Instead of just letting your financial situation happen to you,
you're using your money to match your values and live your dream."
Need something more concrete?
Bera consulted on the 16 points below.
If you can check them off your list, go ahead and consider yourself a financial adult.
1. Have at least one to two credit cards and a debit card, and be able to pay your credit cards on time and in full every month, without overdrafting your checking account.
2. Know your credit score and check your credit report at least annually. Here's where to find them.
3. Have at least one retirement fund, and contribute to it regularly. Ideally, increase your contributions every year (even if it's only by 1%) until you max them out.
4. Have an emergency fund. As a general rule, that means
about six months of living expenses in a separate savings account to use in case of a financial or medical emergency.
5. Have health insurance — as well as car insurance,
renter's insurance, and homeowner's insurance if applicable. You'll
also need life insurance if you have a child, and disability insurance
if you are working and rely on your income.
6. Have some form of a budget, or at least have a
system for tracking your spending and an awareness of how much you spend
each month. If you could use a hand, here are the
most popular budgeting apps.
7. Know your take-home pay every month. After taxes. This is the number that represents your monthly income, and the cornerstone for your budget.
8. Know your net worth. Your net worth is your
assets minus your liabilities (any debts), and serves as a convenient
gauge of whether things are getting better or worse. Check in with it at
least annually.
9. Spend less than you earn. Don't spend what you don't have — that's how you get into debt.
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