Living N Shit - Tumblr Posts
When you guys have visited potential apartments, what kind of questions did you ask besides the basics like what rent and utilities include?
How to adult on a budget for the lazy and new adulting people (by a not-so-adulty-adult)
learn how to cut your own hair. If it’s something easy like an undercut or just trimming your ends every month, you’ll look clean and put together without shelling out $20 every month. (my hair cutting stuff cost like $20 total)
if you have to go to a laundromat, make your own detergent. Or just in general. It’s about $15 for everything you’ll need and it’ll make you a solid 6-10 batches depending on how many soap bars you get. 1 bar ivory soap or fels-naptha (ivory works just fine tbh. Cheaper and easier to find) Grate that shit. 1 cup borax and 1 cup washing powder. Mix that shit. 1 tablespoon in the wash. Boom. Add essential oils if you so choose.
On the topic of laundry, throw all your clothes in the same load. Use the cold-cold setting and you can put those red shirts in with your whites with no bleeding whatsoever. (read those tags tho. unless it needs special care, most shirts/pants/socks/underwear can all be thrown together)
When money is tight for food, rice, 2 pounds of chicken, some kind of stock or bouillon cubes, and frozen veggies make about 2-3 different meals.
Keep a few bouillon cubes handy tbh. Cook rice in it. Make soup. They’re so much cheaper than stock itself.
Coconut oil for everything from actual oil to chapstick to cracked skin.
Baby powder makes a fairly good dry shampoo. Put it on your roots, scrub around, brush out. Boom.
Make scripts for all phone calls you ever have to make to make them go smoother. (bills, doctors, work, etc)
Fill 1 side of the sink with water to do your dishes and then rinse with the smallest amount of water possible so you dont end up using a lot of water.
Gasbuddy.com helps you find the cheapest gas near you!
Aldi has great cheap groceries
If you live alone or with 1 roommate, you don’t really need more than 12 megabyte internet speed. By yourself? Don’t get more than 6 tbh. You won’t need it.
Freeze all meats and veggies! Let’s be honest. You wont be eating carrots every day or that ground beef often enough for it to not go bad, Throw it in the freezer.
Dollar store cleaning supplies save the world. Everything there besides liquid soap is basically just as good. (glass cleaner, bleach, magic erasers, so on and so forth)
Dollar stores in general. Most things there will do in a pinch. (earbuds and most electronic/battery powered things are a no-no however)
Nail polish remover gets hair dye stains. Hydrogen peroxide gets up blood. Milk for ink. Chalk for oil.
Once you finish using a pot or pan, put hot water in it until you’re ready to clean it. Stuff will just wipe off.
my parents aren’t teaching me life lessons.
#i need some adults to TEACH ME SHIT ABOUT LIFE
Tips to help become a semi-functioning adult
How to Save Money
How to set up a budget (and stick to it)
Saving Money – How to cut out unnecessary spending
College:
Topics to talk about in your college application essays
Interviewing:
What women should wear to a job interview
What men should wear to a job interview
How to best prepare for your job interview
Interview Tips: Questions to Ask Interviewers
Interview Etiquette – the post-interview thank you email
How to Network:
How to survive small talk
Resume vs LinkedIn profile tips
Getting a job:
How to write a good resume
How to write a cover letter that stands out
How to Follow Up on a job application
6 Tips to help you get ahead in your job
Eating Healthy:
Complete Nutrition: ideas for healthy snacks
College is an exciting adventure — you’re moving away from home, meeting new people, and finally getting a true taste of independence (and lots of Easy Mac). For four years, you’ll be cramming a ton of knowledge — both academic and otherwise — into your head. In your eagerness to start this new chapter, make sure to keep in mind some important tips to making the most of your experience, which, in turn, will help you learn lessons that will last a lifetime.
Build bridges, don’t burn them. Make connections that will benefit both your personal and professional life.
Learn how to make coffee. You’ll need it.
If there’s something going on at your school or in the community that you don’t like, change it. Action builds character (and résumés).
Go to office hours! Spending time with teachers after class is no longer weird or embarrassing. In fact, it may be what makes or breaks your GPA.
Just because you can skip most of your classes and get the PowerPoint presentations or notes online, it doesn’t mean that you should.
Get an internship. Then get another internship. Get as much experience as you can, because when you graduate, everyone else will have a little piece of paper saying essentially the same thing yours does, so it’s important to do things that help you stand out.
Use highlighters and note cards excessively.
Grades are NOT everything. When you look back at these years, you probably won’t remember if you got an A or a C in Psychology 101, but you will remember that weeknight you stayed up until dawn, just because you could, making awesome memories with your friends.
Find a balance between fun and work. Grades are not everything, but they are still important. Trust us, it’s possible (we didn’t say that it was easy).
Accept that your college ID photo will be terrible, and know that you will pull it out in four years and claim that you don’t ever remember having that awful hair cut. Face it: everyone remembers, but you’ll treasure laughing at those photos later in life.
Check in with academic advisors every semester to make sure you’re on track and in the right classes for your major.
Don’t forget to use your student discount everywhere! Countless companies and stores — Apple, Verizon, and most movies theaters, to name a few — will often knock down the cost if you flash that college ID card. Most IDs don’t expire for several years after you graduate, so keep it around!
Go to review sessions. Seriously, sometimes professors are essentially going over exactly what’s on the test in these sessions. Why would you NOT go?
Take advantage of having a campus health care center nearby while you have access to it.
Find a “spot” in the library and let yourself get attached to it. When you go to study for a huge test, it will feel more like coming home than like sitting down to do work.
Make sure you know how to do laundry before you get to school, instead of waiting until after your favorite shirt goes from person-sized to baby-sized to figure it out.
Accept the fact that you won’t ace every test or paper. It’s almost an inevitability. Embrace it, and learn from it when it happens.
If you have the opportunity, study or work abroad. A semester or year experiencing a different country and culture, away from everything you know, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Stock your dorm room with food from the dining hall. It’s not open 24 hours a day, and at some point you will definitely be awake and hungry when it’s closed.
If you’re not a morning person, don’t schedule early classes. No matter how much you want to believe you’ll go, you won’t.
Call your parents. You may think you’re doing them a favor, but you’ll be surprised how much good it does for you, too.
Try and avoid the freshman 15. The all-you-can-eat buffets are easy to fall prey to, but you’ll be physically and mentally healthier if you find a way to add a fitness class to your schedule or take advantage of free access to university gyms.
At some point, try to squeeze a good night’s sleep in there somewhere.
Take advantage of anything free your school offers. Swag, free classes, free clubs, free food — take it all!
Piling all of your classes on to Tuesday and Thursday so that you can have four-day weekends may seem like a good idea at the time, but it’s not. It means that all of your papers and projects will always be due at the same time, and if you miss just one day of class, you’ll get very behind.
Be studious.
Be spontaneous.
When you’re working on a paper or project on the computer, press save — A LOT. Back everything up.
Take care of your mental health. If you need something, don’t put it off until things hit a wall or spiral out of control. Ask for what you need, or seek it out yourself.
Don’t miss out on the college experience by going home every weekend to see old friends, families, or significant others. It’s great to maintain ties with people you love, but don’t let it stop you from building a new life where you are.
Allow yourself to change and grow. It’s mostly awesome, sometimes painful … usually a little bit of both at the same time.
I really believe every household that can afford to do so should have a well stocked medicine cabinet of some kind with essential supplies - ideally, not just things you might need, but items that could help others too. A toolbox can be a great way to store whatever you don’t want to keep in your bathroom. Keep it accessible in case of an emergency! Start with things you can afford and things you and your household are likely to need urgently - stuff you need when you get sick, medications you use, etc. Then move on, if and when you can afford to, to the things you’re less likely to need urgently but still think would be useful for you and/or your community. some ideas to get you started:
bandaids in various sizes
alcohol swabs and/or isopropyl alcohol
hydrogen peroxide (less painful way to disinfect cuts but may bleach clothing)
antibiotic ointment
gauze and medical tape
a little bottle of antiseptic/hand sanitizer
aloe gel and/or lidocaine (burn cream)
calamine lotion (for poison ivy etc)
antihistamine cream (for bug bites etc)
nitrile gloves
vaseline
medical shears
tweezers (for splinters etc)
freezy packs, the kind that get cold when you squeeze/crack em
heating pad
hot water bottle (can also be filled with ice)
icyhot
paracetamol/acetaminophen
ibuprofen, aspirin, and/or naprosen/naproxen sodium (any one of these can be taken simultaneously with paracetamol/acetaminophen, but they should NEVER be taken with each other)
baby tylenol/infant paracetamol
antacids
bismuth subsalicylate (pepto bismol)
simethicone (anti-gas/anti-bloating)
lactaid/lactase enzyme (helps lactose intolerant ppl digest lactose)
colace/laxatives
anti-diahhroeal
disposable enema kit
tampons AND pads (guests might need one over the other)
condoms (check expiry date)
lube (some people need this to insert tampons/menstrual cups btw)
contact solution and an empty contact lens case
antihistamine (to take in case of non emergency allergic reaction)
fluticasone (flonase)
cold meds (guaifenesin and dextromethorphan especially, pseudoephedrine if you can afford it. Phenylephrine doesn’t actually do anything.)
cough drops
vapor rub/menthol chest rub
More expensive additions that may be worth it if you can access them:
plan B/Ella/emergency contraception (check expiry date)
epipen (check expiry date)
these abortion pills
a TENS unit for chronic pain/menstrual pain
asthma inhaler
i PROMISE YOU ramyun cup noodles are the best tasting and easiest to make right off the bat.
If you like more useful content such as life hacks or DIY’s follow me @forwardstyling.
Broke af?
But still interested in feeding yourself? What if I told you that there’s a woman with a blog who had to feed both herself and her young son…on 10 British pounds ($15/14 Euro) per week?
Let me tell you a thing.
This woman saved my life last year. Actually saved my life. I had a piggy bank full of change and that’s it. Many people in my fandom might remember that dark time as when I had to hock my writing skills in exchange for donations. I cried a lot then.
This is real talk, people: I marked down exactly what I needed to buy, totaled it, counted out that exact change, and then went to three different stores to buy what I needed so I didn’t have to dump a load of change on just one person. I was already embarrassed, but to feel people staring? Utter shame suffused me. The reasons behind that are another post all together.
AgirlcalledJack.com is run by a British woman who was on benefits for years. Things got desperate. She had to find a way to feed herself and her son using just the basics that could be found at the supermarket. But the recipes she came up with are amazing.
You have to consider the differing costs of things between countries, but if you just have three ingredients in your cupboard, this woman will tell you what to do with it. Check what you already have. Chances are you have the basics of a filling meal already.
Here’s her list of kitchen basics.
Bake your own bread. It’s easier than you think. Here’s a list of many recipes, each using some variation of just plain flour, yeast, some oil, maybe water or lemon juice. And kneading bread is therapeutic.
Make your own pasta–gluten free.
She gets it. She really does. This is the article that started it all. It’s called “Hunger Hurts”.
She has vegan recipes.
A carrot, a can of kidney beans, and some cumin will get you a really filling soup…or throw in some flour for binding and you’ve got yourself a burger.
Don’t have an oven or the stove isn’t available? She covers that in her Microwave Cooking section.
She has a book, but many recipes can be found on her blog for free. She prices her recipes down to the cent, and every year she participates in a project called “Living Below the Line” where she has to live on 1 BP per day of food for five days.
Things improved for me a little, but her website is my go to. I learned how to bake bread (using my crockpot, but that was my own twist), and I have a little cart full of things that saved me back then, just in case I need them again. She gives you the tools to feed yourself, for very little money, and that’s a fabulous feeling.
Tip: Whenever you have a little extra money, buy a 10 dollar/pound/euro giftcard from your discount grocer. Stash it. That’s your super emergency money. Make sure they don’t charge by the month for lack of use, though.
I don’t care if it sounds like an advertisement–you won’t be buying anything from the site. What I DO care about is your mental, emotional, and physical health–and dammit, food’s right in the center of that.
If you don’t need this now, pass it on to someone who does. Pass it on anyway, because do you REALLY know which of the people in your life is in need? Which follower might be staring at their own piggy bank? Trust me: someone out there needs to see this.
Real advice
So a lot of you on here are teens and might be getting ready to be out on your own. Here are some things I learned the hard way or that are just good to know.
Never smoke or quit if you are currently. The cost of addictive smoking is more than half your groceries a month AND the bodily cost will surprise you.
Drink water. Yeah okay I know this one sucks but water is much much cheaper than soda, trust me. Your skin will thank you.
Send thank you cards. Don’t have any? Get the cheap ones and send those. It doesn’t matter how nice they are, the fact that you sent a thank you card matters. Send it for gifts, people calling you to check on you, those adults who helped you move, and even people who interview you.
Withhold 1. Okay so speaking of jobs, on your forms (US) where you are trying to figure out your tax withholding, put one. Yourself. It’s an easy way to make sure you don’t owe $2,000 in April and you still get a pretty decent check.
No pets. If you don’t have a pet now, don’t get one. It’s super hard to get an apartment that will let you have a pet when you are first starting out. Wait until you are a bit older and can afford to rent more than a one bedroom apartment.
Insurance. You’re young, so why do you need life insurance? Because that’s the best time to get it. Yeah, it’s a dumb expense to pay right now, but if you get it early, you can afford it. The longer you wait, the more expensive it is. Car insurance is going to be high for a few years, but it will drop around 22 and 25 years old. Health insurance usually comes through your job and please don’t ignore it. Renter’s insurance is usually pretty cheap and it covers you if there is a fire or natural disaster and you have to go back home to mom.
Off brand. This goes for food, clothing, makeup, and cleaning supplies and just about anything else you can think of. For food, Aldi’s is your best friend. I can go fill up a cart of just food and it will cost maybe $70. the same amount of food at Walmart is easily over $150. You can of course be picky, but try to get the majority of your food off brand. Hygiene products too. Goodwill is great for clothes, but plan a trip. Save like 60 bucks and drive near a big city where the rich people live. Go to the goodwill there. You can basically get an all new wardrobe for pennies on the dollar. Makeup is tricky. It can be really really expensive but you don’t really have to buy all of it name brand. Pick whats most important to you. I prefer eye shadows and lipsticks name brand and I deal with everything else from the drugstore. With he right techniques, you can make it look expensive. As for cleaning, I always use dollar tree stuff minus my laundry detergent because of allergies. Bleach, stain spray, and vinegar are gonna be your best friends,.
Car. Okay so yeah, that brand new car is nice and sure, maybe you can afford it. For now. Disaster will strike. Something will come up and bam, you’re stuck choosing if you want to walk everywhere or eat. Try getting a slightly used car, such as one of the ones they let people test drive a lot or a car that has previously been leased. Just as nice and much MUCH cheaper. And I have gotten THREE cars with no down payment so don’t let them tell you you can’t. But it is nice to put it down,even $100.
Negotiate. Don’t be afraid to haggle with people. Yeah it’s intimidating but it’s 10 minutes of your life versus hundreds of dollars a year. What can you negotiate? Almost anything. Car payment. Rent. Insurance. Hospital bills. Even due dates for the bills you can’t negotiate on. Also, if something comes up where you have to skip a payment on something, call them. Give them like $25 and explain your situation. Ask if your payment date can be moved with the $25 as a goodwill promise to pay the rest later. It works. They would rather move your date than send you to collections.
Collectors. Okay so this one is tricky. If you have fallen behind and owe a collector, don’t fret. I do too, even as I write this. Owing a collector means that the original service has been paid (health bills, credit card ect) and you are now paying the people who paid your bill. (I know it’s confusing) however, they will usually want the entirety of what they paid for you in 6 months. Meaning if they just paid a bill for you that was $3,000, they are gonna ask for $500 a month. That’s rent. That’s crazy. Tell them outright what you can afford and don’t lie about it either. If you can afford $100, tell them that. If you can afford $50, tell them that. If you can’t afford to pay them anything when they call you, let them know when you can. If you can’t afford it when you told them you could, don’t answer your phone to a number you don’t know. I know that sounds horrible but if you are renting an apartment, renting a car, and literally own nothing, they can’t do much to you. Just pay when you can and try to maybe pick up some extra shifts at work to make a payment. I have been dodging collectors for about three years. I owe I think three right now. I pay ONE of them a month, but it’s a large payment to keep them quiet for a while. I do not suggest this for you, I am just letting you know what I do.
Credit Cards. Okay, the big one. Many adults will tell you to never ever get a credit card and that’s just not feasible in this world. However, it can be addicting to be able to go to Walmart when you are negative in your bank account and get that $10 movie. I mean, it’s just 10 bucks right? WRONG. It will build up fast and soon the one credit card you have will be maxed. So you have to get another for emergencies. And another. And so on. So here’s my advice; Get a credit card through the same bank as your checking and tell them to put a limit on it and not let it raise. Then lock that sucker away and forget you have it until a real emergency comes up like a flat tire, short on money for groceries, or that collector that hasn’t been paid in 4 months. You can make it on one credit card if you are strict with your money, which I am sure you don’t have a lot of.
Budget. Speaking of money, write out a budget for yourself. Don’t know how? Here’s the easiest way. Most people get paid bi-weekly so here’s how to do it. Make two columns, Check 1 and Check 2. If you have a full time job you know about how much your checks are going to be so put the amount at the top of each column. Now that hard part - figure out what is due when. Is something due June 1st? Take it out of check 2 (end of May). Is something due May 14? Take it out of check 1 (beginning of May). That main thought process behind your budget is that you want to have the money for a bill set aside before it’s due. Paying a bill a few days early is a great way to make a good financial reputation for yourself and for some things even build credit. Now if you get paid bi-weekly, you will sometimes have a month where you get 3 checks. DON’T BLOW IT. Put it right back into your budget as Check 1 and keep the flow going. If you prepay bills, like your car or your rent or your credit card, and stay a month a head of those big ones, you may need that wiggle room later. If your car, for instance, is paid ahead 1 month, you can use the car money you would normally pay that month for maybe some extra groceries or some small emergency without using your credit card and you won’t even fall behind! You’ll just be back to owing every month instead of being ahead. It’s like a savings account without the temptation to blow the money.
Simplicity. Enjoy simple things. A gym is expensive, go for a walk instead. Cable is expensive, pay for internet. Phones are expensive, get on a family plan (there is no shame in staying on your parent’s plan, just pay your share). Food is expensive, enjoy leftovers. Movies are expensive, go early and resist any snacks. Shopping is expensive, go to the mall and spend all day trying on cute clothes and taking selfes in the dressing room (makes you feel like a million bucks sometimes!). Time is expensive because you don’t have a lot of it so If you want to stay in bed all day on your day off, do it. If you want to binge on your day off, do it. If you want to just play board games with friends on a Saturday night with a few beers, do it. Simple fun is way better for your pocket and your anxiety.
Mental Health - speaking of anxiety, make sure you take care of your brain. Go outside, even if it means sitting on your steps. Wake up early, even for just an hour. Don’t burn yourself out at work or school because you will suffer the consequences. Make a schedule. If you have trouble with timekeeping, ask for help. If you feel you do have a real mental disorder, see if your employer has what’s called and EAP program (employee assistance program). They usually help you find a mental health provider and give you a few visits for free. This will help you narrow down what exactly you have and after you’re free visits are up you can see who is in your health insurance network that can provide you the mental care you need. if you are prescribed drugs, always get generic. If there is no generic, ask for an alternative. I will not lie to you, mental health is the hardest thing to treat. It took me 8 years and a lot of money to figure out the right medication cocktail for me and my bipolar/ schizophrenia (yes I have both). Turns out I only need two pills, and if I were to refill both of them right now, I wouldn’t even pay $10 thanks to my health insurance (which sucks but at least it’s there) and because I got generics. Also, talk therapy can be pricey but sometimes only a few sessions can change your life. I have literally only been to talk therapy 11 times in my life and that was to deal with PTSD, bipolar, schizophrenia, and suicidal tendencies. 11 sessions. That’s 11 hours. And yeah, I paid over $400 out of pocket for those collectively. But if I hadn’t I would probably be dead right now so it was worth it.
Connections. Calling your friends is awesome because sometimes, it’s free therapy. And okay, maybe you’re 19 and you still have a horrible relationship with your parents. It’s okay. I am 25 and I still have problems with my parents. My whole family actually. Social media is a kind of safety net for me because that’s where I can be myself. Find where you can be yourself, it will help you stay sane.
Clean. Sometimes when I feel crappy, I take a shower. I clean the living room. I do the dishes. I vacuum. I mop. I open the windows. I get the trash out of the house. Change into some clean clothes. Organize my desk. Clean out your closet and put all your unwanted clothes in bags to donate. Just a small amount of cleaning can make you feel like you accomplished something.
Hobbies. This one is a little hard too. It depends on your personality, your budget, and how much free time you have. Drawing , singing, and writing are free. Exercising can be free if you run or walk in the park. But most hobbies do actually cost money. Video games, playing an instrument, painting, sewing, cooking/baking, making things - those all cost money. Some of them lots of money. But you have to have a hobby outside of social network, sleeping, and working. It’s another thing to keep you sane and it’s just a good idea.
Toxic people. Do not be afraid to cut people out of your life that do nothing but make you feel bad about yourself or insult your life. This could mean breaking up with your partner, unfriending a person from your social circle, cutting out a whole circle of people, or even not talking to a relative(s). It’s not easy for some people but if they do not build you up, they will only tear you down.
Drink at home. Okay so this one might sound like a no brainer, but I’ll explain it anyway. Packs of beer and hard liquor bottles are cheaper than a pint and a shots at the bar. Bottles of wine are cheaper than a glass at a restaurant. It’s never okay to drive drunk or even after one bottle of beer. NEVER. Staying at home is cheaper all around and you can drink in your pajamas while watching Finding Nemo on loop. Or invite some friends over and create a drinking game out of a show, a game you already have, or just talk and drink.
Sleep. This one is so important. You need a good bed and a quiet, dark place to sleep. If you are scared of the dark, get a night light. Can’t sleep in silence? Get a fan. I have both of these and they help. You’re brain will feel tired if you ‘slept’ for 12 hours but only got 1 hour of REM. REM can really only happen every night if you are in a calm and dim environment. Quality of sleep will effect your eating habits, your emotional state, your mental stability, and your ability to make rational decisions among other things.
So these are obviously just a few things, but I feel they are important to share. Please feel free to add any and reblog it for those about to enter adulthood.
Masterposts
10 Gift Ideas for The Broke Person: Gift giving can get expensive. Here’s how to work it into your budget. Click here.
Adulting: I make weekly “Adulting” posts that cover food, cleaning, saving money, and living on your own. Click here.
Balancing a Checkbook: How to balance a checkbook (and some relationship advice). Click here.
Budgeting on Minimum Wage: Some tips/tricks to living off a minimum wage budget. I also offer example budgets based on full time and part time minimum wage salaries. Click here.
Car Insurance: Looking into car insurance but unsure where to start? Click here.
First Apartment: Learn how to look for apartments, set up your utilities, plus general first apartment advice. Click here.
Gym memberships: My weirdly popular post about gym membership. Click here.
Jobs: My post with helpful links to cover letter and resume writing. Click here.
Living on Your Own: Transitioning from a roommate situation to living on your own for the first time? Click here.
Living on Your Own (With Cats): My personal favorite post, detailing how to live on your own with cats and not loose your mind. Click here.
Long Distance: Advice on long distance relationships. Click here.
Meal Tips: My quintessential guide to feeding yourself on a student or small budget. Click here.
Paper Organization: Learn how to keep your important documents in order. Click here.
Renting vs. Student Housing: Weigh the pros and cons of renting off campus and living on campus. Click here.
Storage: I get so many storage related questions. Here are some thoughts on storage in small apartments and dorm rooms. Click here.
Tomato Sauce: Here’s a post entirely devoted to making tomato sauce. It’s cheap, easy to make, and so delicious. Click here.
How to Adult: Cover Letter Edition
So I have several followers who are working on applying to jobs right now, and by far the most common concern is “what even is a cover letter??” Now, while this post is funny and accurate, it’s not super helpful if you’re looking for specifics. So I figured I should show you mine. Now, without further ado, allow me to provide to you:
~*~ The Cover Letter of Destiny ~*~
[Name] [Address Line 1] [Address Line 2, etc] [Phone] [email]
[Right Justified - Date] (This is just standard business letter stuff)
To Whom it May Concern, [Or Mr/Ms. Hiring Person’s name, if you can find it.]
I’m delighted to submit an application for the [Job you’re applying to] position at [Company/Institution/etc]. After reading the job description I’m certain I would bring a solid combination of [Skill 1], analytical thinking [or whatever Skill 2 is], and communication skills [This is always my Skill 3] to this position. I’m particularly attracted to this position because I believe it will utilize the skills I have gained through my industry [or research or whatever] experience, and allow me to apply those skills in new areas.
In my role with [Company] as a [Most Relevant Position Here], I managed a project [to do some stuff - flesh out your most important/relevant job responsibilities here]. I specifically focused on [a thing that is the most explicitly relevant to the job posting. In fact, I creatively copy/pasted some of the job posting into this sentence, that’s how relevant it is.]. I was also responsible for [A couple of things that maybe were mentioned in the job posting, or at least show increased responsibility over time]. This gave me the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of different team members [to achieve a goal]. Through these and other job duties, I have gained excellent listening skills and the ability to carry out self-directed tasks in the context of a larger team. [i’m not joking. use this phrasing it’s so great just copy it idgaf]
In my current role as a [Current Title] with [Company], I have continued to build strong skills in project management [or whatever] as well as clear oral and written communication. [Maybe this sentence describes the types of communication (or whatever skill) you do.] [This sentence describes briefly the less-relevant work you do]. [This sentence ties in your less-relevant job to the job you are seeking]. These experiences have prepared me well to succeed in a role as [Name of Position you’re applying to].
Thank you for taking the time to review my materials and consider my application. I am excited at the prospect of applying my skills to a [Name or category of position] with [Company], and I feel that the knowledge and skills I have gained through my experience will be a great benefit to the team. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions as I would welcome a chance to discuss this opportunity more. [After all, they want to hire you after reading this]
Regards,
[First Name Last Name]
I hope you find this helpful in your job search! Just remember to focus on skills you learned rather than specific experiences or titles you’ve had. Don’t be afraid of inflating it too far, either. There are real useful skills underlying every job task if you look hard & get creative with your phrasing.
Feel free to send me an ask if you want any specific advice on how to spin your education/work history into the job you want, or if you want a proofreader or cheerleader or whatever. Job hunting is a bad game designed by and for a certain type of person. It’s dehumanizing and horrible even at the best of times, so I’m more than happy to help anyone find a way to beat the system. <3 <3
Things Nobody Tells You to Bring to College
1. Downy Wrinkle Releaser Spray because ironing is a bitch
2. Earmuffs because your neighbors will be dicks and vacuum at 3 in the morning. The walls are insanely thin and yes, your neighbor can hear you poop
3. Can Opener how else will you open your Chef Boyardee raviolis?
4. A Small Safe for your cash, important documents and just general shit you don’t want your roommate taking
5. Cold Medication and Advil your mom isn’t here to take care of you anymore
6. Office Supplies such as: duct tape, stapler and staples, tabs etc.
7. Laptop Charger Extension Cord whether you’re in the library or in your room, these will save your life
8. Eye Mask while you may want to sleep, your roommate may need to finish working on a paper and will require a light on
9. Silverware
10. Flip Flops in case your college still has communal showers (also, a bucket to carry all your shit in to the showers)
11. Tupperware this way you can steal food from the cafeteria or at parties
12. Extra Sheets and a Sleeping Bag sheets for when you get drunk and throw up on them, a sleeping bag in case your friends decide to spend the night in your room
13. A Disposable Barf Bucket
14. A Plunger at some point, you will clog the toilet
15. A water bottle with an internal filter because college water is nasty
16. A Bank Account in the Town because if anything happens to your account, you want to go there in person and not drive home or have your parents do it
17. A Laundry Basket with Wheels
18. Febreeze your room and dorm will smell like shit
19. Gatorade a good way to re-hydrate after being massively sick or hungover
20. Car if you are a freshman with a car, you will have friends. If you are a freshman with a car and are a decent driver, you will have slaves
ALSO Most “packing for college” lists tell you you’re going to need rolls and rolls of quarters for just about everything—laundry, vending machines, you name it. But before you turn your life savings into shiny coins, make sure your school hasn’t switched over to everything being on your card
Easily Paleo-ified with some tweaks to the stir-fry sauce.
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why is broccoli seen as this universally hated vegetable. broccoli is delicious
ULTIMATE "OH FUCK I JUST GOT MY FIRST APARTMENT AND ALL I HAVE IS ONE CHANGE OF CLOTHES AND A THIRD SOCK" CHECKLIST
CLEANING
Dish soap
Laundry detergent
All-purpose cleaner
Hand soap
Broom
Mop
Wash cloths / rags
Vacuum
Dustpan
Lint roller
Sponges
KITCHENWARE
Plates
Bowls
Spoons
Forks
Knives
Glasses
Mugs
Tongs
Spatula
Plastic wrap
Ziplock baggies
Garbage bags
Paper towel
Tupperware
Ice tray
Oven mitts
Potato peeler
Mixing bowls
Frying pan
Pot
Baking sheet
Whisk
Stirring spoons / ladels
Tea infuser ball
Measuring cups
Strainer
Cutting board
Coffee maker
Kettle
Toaster
Magnets
Dry erase markers
Sticky notes
Microwave
Wire sponge
Trash bin
Recycling bin
Rubber gloves
Silverware organizer
Measuring spoons
Aluminum foil
Wax paper
Can opener
Bottle opener
Containers for salt, sugar, flour, etc.
LIVINGROOM
Sofa
Rocking chair (you know you want one)
Loveseat
Coasters
Blankets
Throw pillows
Coffee table
Book shelves
TV
TV stand
Floor lamp
End table
Stereo system / radio
BEDROOM
Mattress
Box spring
Bedframe
Linens
Sheets
Comforter
Hangers
Laundry hamper
Trash bin
Curtains
Pillows
Pillow cases
Night table
Alarm clock
Lamp
Dresser
Coat rack
Desk / vanity
Comfy chairs
DININGROOM
Dining table
Minimum of 2 chairs
Coasters
Placemat
Tablecloth
Tea lights /candles and candle holders
BATHROOM
Face clothes
Towel
Soap bar
Body wash
Shampoo
Conditioner
Tissues
Toilet paper
Trash bin
Plunger
Toilet cleaner
Cold, flu, pain, and allergy meds
Hydrogen peroxide
Antibacterial ointment
First-Aid kit
Tweezers
Nail clippers
Band-aids
Shower rod
Shower curtain
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Floss
Period products
Bathmat
Air freshener
Trash bin
Towel rod
Towels
MISCELLANEOUS
Elastic bands
Stapler
Stables
Paper clips
Needles and thread
AA / AAA batteries
Light bulbs
Extension cords
Scotch tape
Duct tape
Shovel
Rake (if you have a yard)
Stain remover
Jar of courters for laundry mat
Screw drivers
Hammer
Nails
Sticky tack
Screws
Box cutter / X-acto
Pliers
Wrench
Pens
Paper
Pencils
Pencil sharpener
Eraser
Welcome matt
Shoe rack
Coat rack
Flashlight
Flashlight batteries
Watch batteries
Rechargeable batteries and charger
Safe place to discard dead batteries
Candles
Matches
Lighter
Mini travel fans
Real fans
Emergency Survival kit
Fire extinguisher
Landline phone
Window air conditioner
Carbon monoxide alarm
Fire alarm
FOOD STUFF
Mustard
Ketchup
Mayo
Salt
Pepper
Baking soda
Flour
Eggs
Milk
Bread
Olive oil
Tea
Jam
Peanut-butter
Coffee grounds
Cereal
Rice
Pasta
Vegetable soup
Tomato sauce
Frozen vegetables
Crackers
Chickpeas / lentils
Apples
Oranges
Granola bars
Juice
Hot chocolate mix
Frozen meats
In case no one told you growing up
Bras last longer if you let them air dry. Don’t put them in the dryer.
If you have a problem with frizzy hair, don’t dry your hair with a towel. It makes the frizzies worse. (I recently read an article that said to use a t-shirt? I brush mine out and let it air dry.)
Whites wash best in hot water. Everything else can be in cold - save on your electricity bill.
You can kill 99.9% of germs in a sponge by putting it in the dishwasher for a cycle or by microwaving it for 2 min (be sure to make the sponge damp before microwaving and to put a cup half full of water in with it and please DO NOT squeeze the sponge until it has cooled off)
Airing out your room/house and letting sunlight in every so often can decrease the number of household pests like silverfish and ants.
Black underwear is best during your period as stains are less likely to be visible.
To save money, put aside 10% of each paycheck into a savings account. It’ll add up.
Unless your hair has something on/in it (like grease or mud or something), using conditioner first can actually be the better choice. The conditioner holds in the good oils that help you hair look sleek and beautiful, which shampoo would otherwise wash away.
Speaking of shampoo - if you have long hair, washing just the bits that touch your scalp is generally enough. The rest of your hair gets cleaned with just the run off from your scalp.
If you put a tampon in and it’s uncomfortable/you can feel it, you didn’t do it quite right. A properly placed tampon is virtually unnoticeable by the wearer.
Apply deodorant/antiperspirant a couple hours in advance of when you need it. This gives the product the chance to block your sweat glands. Using deodorant just before going somewhere where you’ll sweat (this means walking outside for people in high humidity places) results in your sweat washing the deodorant off and starkly limiting its usefulness.
After running the dryer, use the dryer sheet from that load to brush out the lint catch - it gets everything off in a fraction of the time it’ll take you to get it clean with your bare hands. Paper towels also work well.
Wash your face everyday, or as often as possible. Forget which brand of cleanser is best. Just washing your face everyday will guarantee you clearer skin. And do you best not to pop pimples, as tempting as the urge may be.
Fold laundry asap after taking it from the dryer to avoid wrinkles. This may seem obvious for dress shirts and silly for things like t-shirts, but you’ll notice the difference even then once your shirts stop looking like unfolded paper balls.
When you guys have visited potential apartments, what kind of questions did you ask besides the basics like what rent and utilities include?
I have $24 to last me til Friday, what should I buy with it?
