Three Resolutions for Adulting in 2018
By: Rose Allen, Up to Us Alumni and Analyst at Associates for International Research, Inc.
Since graduating college, I have been asked to make a lot of decisions about my future that I wasn’t quite ready for: What percent of my paycheck should go into a Roth IRA or a 401K? Do I need an FSA? Who am I going to vote for? When are the local elections? … All these questions while still trying to be a functioning, social, yet independent 24 year old.
With all of these questions buzzing in my head I’ve decided to set three simple New Year’s Resolutions that will encourage me to organize my “adult” life:
1. Ask more questions about my work benefit plans and how to utilize them
In college I participated in a program called Up to Us. The program encourages students to create conversations about the national debt. Since then, I’ve keep a keen eye to issues around tax reform and federal spending in the news. With tax reform and student loan taxability up for debate, I’ve become increasingly worried about how I could afford a possible graduate degree. Utilizing my work benefits effectively now can help me optimize my savings in order to accomplish my future goals. That is why my first new year’s resolution is going to be to ask more questions about how to utilize these benefits.
Despite studying Economics in college and taking classes in accounting and personal finance, I still felt completely lost starting my first job when it came to navigating my benefits. My first week on the job I was given a novel of documents to sign and organize, but never felt that I had a solid understanding on all of my options. Now, going on my second year at my job, it’s time to re-visit these benefits and make sure I am utilizing my work resources effectively.
I’ve kicked off this resolution early by opening an FSA (Flexible Spending Account). FSA’s are pre-tax healthcare accounts that can help you save money on expected health-care related expenses. I can use it to cover doctor and dentist co-pays, along with a few things I need that aren’t covered under my insurance. It could save me up to 30 cents on the dollar and help me boost my savings in the long term.
2. Engage my (non-likeminded) peers in important conversations
Today, talking about politics or government spending is something most people can only endure with people who think exactly as they do. However, these conversations aren’t productive, nor give me any more understanding and empathy for the world around me. When I was in college some of the best conversations I had were at Up to Us events. They brought passionate young people from around the nation into one room and encouraged us to have non-partisan conversations about our future and the national debt. Since then I’ve fallen out of the habit of engaging in conversations like these. I’ve become so accustomed to only talking to people that think like I do, that I feel like- in a lot of ways- I have forgotten how to compromise.
That is why my second New Year’s Resolution is to engage in more conversations that make me uncomfortable. The ones where I have to hold my tongue and find diplomatic work-arounds to express my opinions. I want to find myself in more conversations with people outside of my comfort zone in order to re-learn compromise. I want force myself to just listen, without judgment or interruption, even if I disagree.
3. Get involved at a local level
I know how important it is to vote and get involved in local elections, and I do my fair share of complaining when the MBTA breaks down- yet again- on my morning commute, but I have never voted in either local or state elections here. If there is one thing I learned from my participation in Up to Us, it’s that making my voice heard at a local level is an incredibly effective mechanism for change. I’ve lived in Boston for almost six years now, but I wasn’t a resident of Massachusetts until last year. Over the years, I have moved around to different boroughs within the Boston area almost every year. As a result, I never really considered Boston my community where it was my civic duty to vote or get involved in how the local government funds the amenities I use every day. However, since graduating college, I finally became a Massachusetts resident and moved into a nice apartment that I’ve called home for two years now. I have my community and it’s time for me to start doing my due diligence as one of its members.
The growing pains of entering adulthood can be hard and for the past few years I’ve felt pretty lost in how to navigate it, but it’s not due to a lack of opportunities to learn.
So, here I come 2018! I hope these short and simple resolutions can stay with me throughout the year and help me grow into a more civically engaged and responsible “adult”.
Editors note: This article is part of a series on Fiscal Resolutions for 2018. Join the conversation by posting your #FiscalResolutions on Twitter or Facebook and be sure to tag @UptoUs
