Being an adult isn’t always all about going to work and paying endless amounts of bills. It can be as simple as being independent, taking care of yourself, and being prepared for life in general. It’s really not as hard as it looks - well, maybe sometimes it is. But either way, here’s a list of things that every adult should own, that will at least make you feel and appear more like a grownup, if nothing else!
Find the items below or similar items at Amazon, eBay, West Elm, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Bed Bath & Beyond. Make sure you check out our DealsPlus store pages so you can find coupons and sales to save!
Source: Dot and Army
One super easy way to feel more grown up is to simply have at least one set of solid-colored cloth napkins in your house. If you want, you can even have two different sets: one for formal use when company is over, and one for everyday use for cleaning up spills or messes in the kitchen. Either way, having cloth napkins is pretty convenient and can actually save you some money, too, by not buying paper towels every other week!
Source: One Good Thing by Jillee
If you’ve ever forgotten about a birthday party until minutes before you were supposed to be there, you understand the importance of having extra cards on hand. Having a supply of get well, Christmas, birthday, congratulations, and other special occasion cards makes adult life so much easier. Got a party, event, or holiday coming up? Just grab a card, write something sweet, throw some cash in, slap a stamp on, and send your love without the hassle of having to buy an ill-thought gift at the last minute.
Source: Amazon
Whether it’s actually used to protect your most-important stuff in a fire, or just to keep things where you won’t forget them and where no one else will mess with them, a fireproof box is a must-have in adulthood. They are perfect for storing birth certificates, social security cards, unused credit cards, contracts, and the like in a safe place, where they are protected, out of the way, and in a memorable place.
Source: Super Bright LEDs
You never know when you might lose power, but as an adult, it’s always best to be prepared for situations like these. Keep a small box of candles, lighters, matches, flashlights, and batteries in an easy-to-remember and easy-to-get-to place, such as under the sink, on top of the refrigerator, or in a closet.
Source: DIY Enthusiasts
This is like one of those “you don’t need one until you do” type things. These guys come in all different sizes and styles, and even the different glue sticks have a variety of purposes these days! They’re great for crafting, and especially for fixing broken items. Hot glue guns come in handy much more often than you can imagine, and once you get your hands on one, you’ll find yourself wanting to fix anything and everything in sight - even if it’s not broken!
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Source: West Elm
If you have your own house or apartment, I’m sure you already have towels in the bathroom. This is good; this is step one. But if you really want to be an actual adult, it’s time to say goodbye to those ripped up, tattered, bleach stained towels, because every adult should have at least one brand new set of matching bath towels in their bathroom. Seriously, this is a crucial part of being an adult. Not only will your bathroom look and feel put together, but so will you.
Source: David Cronnin
It’s always a good idea to know those living close by. Knowing your neighbors’ names, and maybe even their phone numbers, is important in case you’re ever in trouble or simply need to let them know that you received one of their Amazon packages in the mail. Not to mention - even if you don’t ever need to talk to them at all - knowing at least the names of the people around you make you feel like you have your adult life together just a little bit more.
Source: Sunset
Aside from plants adding to the ambiance or feng shui of any room, plants also add a little something extra to adulthood. Plants are living things that require care and attention to grow, just like humans do; and just as we can with humans, we can watch plants grow and flourish with time. So even if you’re not quite adult enough to take care of another human being or even an animal yet (or ever), you can at least start with a plant. Having a little bit of responsibility over another living thing goes a long way and can actually be very therapeutic.
Source: eBay
Whether you’re an adult or a kid, things break. It’s just a part of life no matter how old you are. But being able to fix things yourself, without having to call someone else for help, can make a world of difference for an adult. You don’t need an entire workstation in the garage, either. Simply having a power drill, a hammer, and some screws and nails is a great start to being able to fix things like a grownup should.
Source: eBay
Even in the new era where everything is on the cloud, sometimes we still need hard copies of documents. Therefore, a printer is another thing that every adult should own. Not just a printer, either; but a working printer! That means if the ink runs out, you order more. If you’re out of paper, buy more. What good is having a printer sitting around the house if it never has any ink and/or paper in it?!
Source: The Honeycomb Home
Just being plain-old comfortable is an extremely overlooked quality of being an adult. Sitting on the couch, sipping a hot drink, and watching Netflix under a cozy blanket is undeniably a very adult thing to do. So yes, having a throw blanket readily available on the sofa is definitely an adult must-have.
So there you have it, folks! 11 things you must have if you’re really trying to get the hang of this adulting thing. Forget the nice car and the fine china kitchenware. The matching bath towels and the plant is where it’s at these days!
If you’ve got any other specific must-haves when it comes to adulting, please let us know! We - and probably many others - would love to hear about what makes you feel like you have your adult life together!
