50 Essential Life Skills Every Adult Should Master to Save Time and Money

What You’ll Need: Patience, a guide
Potential Positive Impact: It’ll save you time when you’re typing 

Even if you’re not tech-savvy or you’re a slow typist, you can still benefit from learning keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts are easy ways to complete a command on your computer. In just a few keystrokes, you can execute a command that would take you a few seconds longer, if you used your mouse.

Learn Keyboard Shortcuts ©bdavid32 / Shutterstock.com

There are some common ones that you should know, especially if you use Word. CTRL + C means copy, CTRL + V means paste, and CTRL + P means print. Those are the most basic of the basics, but you can find a list of the 20 “essential” keyboard shortcuts for windows on PopSci.com 

What You’ll Need: Cooperation skills, interpersonal skills, books
Potential Positive Impact: You won’t always end up arguing with no resolution 

Some people are better than others at negotiating. It’s true that negotiation is often the less attractive option, especially when there are other courses of action, such as threatening or yelling, that feel way more satisfying.

Negotiate Wisely ©Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com

However, life isn’t a dumb back-and-forth argument on Twitter, where the one who wins is the one who gets blocked last. Sometimes, you have to know how to negotiate. Communication, planning, persuasion, and cooperation are all important aspects of negotiating. If you want to learn more about the topic, check out books like Getting to the Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury, which will let you negotiate “without giving in.”

What You’ll Need: Willpower, budgeting apps
Potential Positive Impact: You’ll be able to add to your savings, which will be a lifesaver in an emergency 

Sticking to a budget is hard for a lot of people, but it’s something you have to do. When you stick to a budget, you’ll be able to put aside money for your savings. And, if something happens, like an emergency, you won’t be S.O.L., as you’ll have some cash to fall back on.

Stick to a Budget ©Ariya J / Shutterstock.com

We know that Target is tempting, but never spend more than you have. Stick to a credit card limit that is lower than you absolutely need, and budget to zero. “Budgeting to zero” means justifying every expense, including putting aside a set amount for your savings. Need some help? Budgeting apps like Mint, Personal Capital, YNAB, Goodbudget, Honeydue, and Stash can help.

What You’ll Need: A high-powered alarm clock, better sleep schedule
Potential Positive Impact: No more being late

Chances are, if you’re having trouble waking up in the morning, that has something to do with the quality of sleep you’re getting at night. Parasomnias, like sleep apnea or night terrors, can cause poor-quality sleep. See a doctor if you’re experiencing extreme grogginess in the morning. While a little tiredness is normal, anything overwhelming is not.

Wake up on Time ©Rachata Teyparsit / Shutterstock.com

Also, try moving your bedtime back. It’s possible that you’re going to bed too late. If your wake-up issue is due to a quiet alarm clock, there are plenty of high-powered, extremely loud ones that you can buy on Amazon (just make sure whoever you’re sleeping next to has earplugs).

What You’ll Need: Willpower, a helpful guidebook
Potential Positive Impact: Less stress and anxiety, boundaries will be set

A lot of people have trouble saying no. Maybe they’re natural people-pleasers or they are afraid of making someone they like or love mad at them. The inability to say no often comes at a great price to the person who is taking on extra tasks and responsibilities.

Learn to Say No ©Andriy Solovyov / Shutterstock.com

Saying no takes practice, if you want to do it in an assertive, courteous, boundary-setting way. It’s okay to be selfish sometimes. There are useful books on the topic, if you find that you’re really struggling. The Power of a Positive No, written by William Ury, is a good place to start when you’re trying to set boundaries in your life. You owe it to yourself to start listening to what you want.

What You’ll Need: Willpower (again)
Potential Positive Impact: You’ll pay things on time and avoid late fees

Bills are a bummer. They’re not the Amazon package that we’ve been waiting for, nor are they exactly a letter from a secret admirer. These pesky financial statements are demanding our cash, and it’s the easy option to just act like you don’t see them. Throwing the bills onto a nearby table or shoving them in a drawer is less emotionally painful than opening them right away.

Open Your Bills and Actually Read Them ©Andrius Zemaitis / Shutterstock.com

Brave the pain and open them. No matter whether it’s a hospital bill or a payment due from Visa, not opening the bills might lead to you missing a deadline. Missed deadlines usually equal dreaded late fees. 

What You’ll Need: Access to a computer or Cloud
Potential Positive Impact: You won’t lose any pictures, videos, or other important things 

The digital age is great. You have everything you need, right at your fingertips. The average person spends hours a day on their phone, stalking their exes on social media, Facetuning themselves, and playing Words with Friends ad nauseum.

Back up Your Electronics ©ymgerman / Shutterstock.com

Take a break from your usual phone routine and back up your electronics. It doesn’t matter whether you have an Android or an iPhone, upload your photos to the cloud, your Mac, your PC, or wherever else they can be stored. That way, if something happens, you can easily replace what you’ve lost. This hack is a case of “better safe than sorry” in action.

What You’ll Need: Calendar, scheduling app
Potential Positive Impact: No more procrastination and feeling rushed to do something

Are you really in a rush, or is that rush not necessary? Procrastination is a common problem. We all do it, to some extent. If someone tells us to schedule a dentist appointment, we might put that off for a few weeks or months. But, if someone tells us to come to their house to pick up a check for $1 million, we’ll be there an hour early.

Manage Your Time Wisely ©ismail lubbad / Shutterstock.com

Budgeting your time is a matter of interest. Getting past that roadblock and making yourself do things promptly, even if they’re no fun, will allow you more time to do fun things. For tasks you don’t want to do, like cleaning the house or grocery shopping at Whole Foods, set a specific time and day that you will do them—no ifs, ands, or buts. 

What You’ll Need: Empathy for yourself
Potential Positive Impact: Less stress, better physical and mental health

Sometimes, we’re our own biggest critic. If we saw someone bullying another person, chances are, we’d be outraged, if not ready to go over there and put a stop to the bully ourselves. But, for some reason, when we say mean things to ourselves, there is no one to tell us to knock it off.

Practice Self-compassion ©popcorner / Shutterstock.com

Practice self-compassion. When you suffer, feel inadequate, or fail, don’t add to the pile-on. Be sympathetic to yourself, and don’t ignore the pain. Tell yourself that yes, it does suck, but it will get better. It’s okay to feel disappointed, but don’t add to your own suffering by being your own bully. While you shouldn’t wallow, you should practice empathy towards yourself. 

What You’ll Need: A job you love
Potential Positive Impact: You’ll feel more fulfilled in your life 

You’ve probably heard the term “work/life balance before.” This means creating harmony between your work life and your personal life. You don’t do too much of either, and you feel fulfilled at the end of every week. The best way to achieve a work/life balance is to realize that you likely won’t be able to get it perfect.

Find a Work/Life Balance ©Black Salmon / Shutterstock.com

But, if you find a job that you love, it’ll make it easier. Don’t be afraid to take a vacation, unplug, and prioritize your health so that you don’t feel drained. Also, get rid of people in your personal life who drain you—you don’t need that toxic energy. 

What You’ll Need: The ability to make yourself talk to someone
Potential Positive Impact: You’ll get what you need quicker

We’ve all been there before. You walk into a store and can’t find what you’re looking for, but, instead of asking one of the people who works there for help, you choose to wander around aimlessly until you find it. It could take minutes, and it really doesn’t have to.

Ask for Help ©FS Stock / Shutterstock.com

Ask for help. You’ll get what you need quicker and easier if you just make conversation with someone. Everyone has had to ask for help before, in pretty much every context there is. You’re not alone. If you’re looking for an answer you can’t Google, speak up—this goes double for medical questions, as looking your symptoms up on WebMD is a way worse idea than asking a real doctor to help you.  

What You’ll Need: Probiotics
Potential Positive Impact: Reduce diarrhea and other digestive ailments that are common during antibiotic treatment 

Antibiotics kill bacteria that cause infections. They’re a life-saving resource, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hard on your body. Antibiotics, most commonly, can cause stomach issues ranging from nausea to diarrhea. A way to fight off the downsides of antibiotics is to take probiotics.

Take Probiotics When Taking Antibiotics ©metamorworks / Shutterstock.com

Probiotics are yeasts and live bacteria that are good for your whole body, but especially your digestive system. If you take probiotics one to two hours after you take your antibiotic, you can reduce your risk of stomach ailments. These probiotics can also help restore gut bacteria that its bacteria-killing opposite might have destroyed.   

What You’ll Need: The food you supposedly dislike
Potential Positive Impact: You’ll expand your palate 

Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern explained how you can acquire a taste for certain foods. Even if you’re not too keen on it at first, try the food at least fourteen times before you decide that you really, truly don’t like it and, therefore, must banish it from your cupboard or refrigerator.

Taste Food 14 Times Before Deciding You Don't Like It ©Stock Unit / Shutterstock.com

Sometimes, you “don’t like” food simply because you’re not acclimated to it. As you try it more often, your tastebuds will become less sensitive to it, and you might actually enjoy the food. This doesn’t mean you need to gorge on it at every meal, but taking a taste at least fourteen times will tell you for sure whether you hate it or not. 

What You’ll Need: Nail polish, paint, or key covers
Potential Positive Impact: You’ll spend less time fumbling and being annoyed

It takes five minutes to color-code your keys, and the result will save you time and frustration. You won’t have to fumble for your keys any longer, and you’ll know which one goes where without having to scrutinize them.

Color Code Your Keys ©Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock.com

You can use nail polish to color-code your keys, or you can buy actual keycaps from Amazon, whichever is easiest. If you often come home late and have to fumble with your keys in the dark, consider getting glow-in-the-dark paint or key covers. That way, there will be no need to get out your phone flashlight and spend precious time figuring out which key is which.