From Health Insurance to Buying Your First Home – A Guide to Adulthood

• (Photo : From Health Insurance to Buying Your First Home – A Guide to Adulthood)

Becoming an adult is scary. You might sometimes wish there was a guide to help you navigate all the tasks you need to accomplish. Luckily, there are a few big steps with very simple guidelines. Here's everything you need to know about being an adult and how to get it all done easily. 

Getting health insurance

Millions of people do not have health insurance, and the number one reason is the associated cost. Young people often think they can go without insurance because they are relatively healthy and cannot afford to spend the money. As you get older and are looking to start a family, you'll need to make sure you have some kind of health insurance, whether it's short term health insurance or long term. You might still be nervous about getting health insurance because you're worried about the costs, but there are affordable insurances out there that are not hard to find. 

Take the time to do your research on what type of health insurance you think you might need and talk with experts about the costs. You will be able to find affordable health insurance that will leave you covered, no matter what might happen in the future. As you get older, you need to make sure you're ready what anything, and getting health insurance is an extremely important step in being ready for adulthood. 

Buying a home

As you get older and find a steady job, you will most likely want to settle down in a home that you own. Renting can save you money in the short term, but ultimately, owning a home will save you more money and will give you a space you can call your own. Also, when you own a house, you are able to build equity which you cannot do if you are renting. But buying a home can seem daunting when you don't know what to expect. Here are the basics you need to know about what it means to buy a home.  

First, make sure your credit is in good shape and you have a stable income. These two factors can affect the mortgage loan you get and will help you understand what your budget is for buying a home. Take a look at how much you have saved. This will help you determine how much you can afford to put down on a home and how your future finances will be impacted. Then, you will want to find the right realtor and get pre-approved for a mortgage before you start looking. Your realtor will be able to show you houses within your budget, and if you see something you like, you can make an offer because you've been pre-approved. You will then get your future home inspected and your realtor will work with the seller's realtor to make sure everything is set for the sale. If you have the right professionals working with you, all you'll need to worry about is what color to paint the walls. 

Getting married

When you find the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, you will most likely start to consider getting married. Weddings can cost you tens of thousands of dollars, so it's important that you and your future spouse really take the time to plan the event. Ask your friends and family members to help out with the planning and decide where and when you'd like to have the wedding. This can make a huge difference, as wedding venues are booked very early. You and your future spouse will also want to decide who you're going to invite and who you won't be inviting. 

You may want to check out an etiquette book so you know you're not making any grave errors in your invitations or on the big day. Getting married can be extremely exciting, but it's also a test of your ability to plan a huge event and keep everyone involved happy. You can always hire a professional to plan the event for you, so you can focus on what really matters. 

It might feel like there's a lot to do when you enter adulthood, but remember that everyone tackles different events at different times. You may not even want to get married! What's important is that you're living your life the way you want to and you've got all the tools you need to be happy and healthy.