Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Break Down The Adult Problems No One Prepared Them For

Adulthood has been pretty nice, I have to admit. I quite like it. But it isn't always easy and some lessons are more difficult to learn than others.

It's so important to learn how to budget, for instance, because being an adult can get expensive. Between rent, food, utilities, and other odds and ends, you'd be shocked how quickly money flies out the window. Understanding this (and keeping an eye on your finances) pays dividends in the long run.

But that's also assuming things go well or smoothly – unexpected expenses arise and those come with their own consequences.

People shared their thoughts after Redditor FrequentPilot5243 asked the online community,

"What is an adult problem no one prepared you for?"

"All your young life..."

"Lack of purpose. All your young life you are given a purpose of passing exams and learning, then all of a sudden you are thrown into the world and told to find your own meaning."

Captain_Snow

There is something to be said about how much of childhood was demarcated by time. You lose those markers as an adult and that can be a big shock.

"No one shares..."

"No one shares how to prepare for the death of a child. It's devastating when they are young, but more so as adults. My daughter was my best friend. I poured my life into her, trying to prepare her for life in case I wasn't around. Now, I feel lost, and I can't find my voice."

NoGuest1646

We send you our condolences.

"You can stay up..."

"You can stay up as late as you want. But you shouldn't."

geekfit

Yep, better not do that on a work day. You'll regret it, trust me.

"I didn't know..."

"I didn't know that other adults have the emotional intelligence of teenagers and it's almost impossible to deal with logically."

SuperProgress6386

Try working customer service sometime. You'll deal with these people all the time. I don't miss those days.

"No one really talks about..."

"Almost all of your friends won't be life long. No one really talks about how common it is to lose touch with people or grow apart. Most of your life will be spent either making new friends while losing old ones or being alone."

EmotionalTale1044

This is true and we all go through it. I have already gone through it several times.

"Being able to do..."

"Being able to do so many things because I'm an adult but too tired to do any of them."

London82

It's amazing how much having to work sucks all your time and energy from you.

"You are held to account..."

"You are held to account for bad behaviour for which you are negligent even if you had no intention to cause harm. As a lawyer, I see this all the time. People don't think they're responsible for mistakes. You are."

grishamlaw

This is a big lesson to learn and it's probably important to teach young children that they don't get away with their mistakes so easily.

"The intricacies..."

"The intricacies of workplace politics."

Steve_Lobsen

This is a big one and can be a big culture shock the first time you start working. Not understanding workplace politics can make your life more complicated than you'd like.

"Figuring out..."

"Figuring out what makes you happy. Everyone keeps trying to get you to do things you're good at, or that makes you money, but never to pursue what you enjoy."

eternalwanderer5

Unfortunately, so many of the things that bring people joy aren't necessarily the things that will make them money, and that really gets to the heart of unjust our system can be.

"I always thought..."

"One adult problem nobody prepared me for is how expensive everything is. I always thought that as an adult I would be able to afford the things I wanted, but it turns out that's not always the case! I've had to learn how to budget and save up for the things I want, and it's been a difficult process."

DullDog8126

Learning how to budget properly is a valuable lesson. Those who don't learn it have a hell of a time as adults. It's harder than it looks.

"You may have heard..."

"You may have heard from your older relatives that when you get older, it'll be your turn to take care of them. You never really understand just how much it takes until you're in that position."

WanderingGenesis

As someone who has done it, it was perhaps the most difficult thing i have ever done – and there was little, if any, support. It's a big wake up call.

No one ever said life is easy. Hopefully learning, accepting, and anticipating some of these struggles will make your life easier.

Have some thoughts of your own? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Barack Obama; Malia Obama
Debra L Rothenberg/WireImage; Foc Kan/WireImage

Barack Obama Reacts To Malia Dropping Her Famous Last Name For First Film Credit

Malia Obama has long been known for being the former president's daughter. But now that she has a professional life of her own, she'd like to be known as something else: Malia Ann.

Barack and Michelle Obama's eldest daughter has dropped her surname in her professional work as a budding filmmaker, going just by her first and middle name in order to separate herself from her parents' legacy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mary Trump; Donald Trump preparing to enter garbage truck
Dominik Bindl/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Mary Trump Brutally Rips Her Uncle Over Bizarre Garbage Truck Stunt

Former President Donald Trump's niece Mary Trump tore into her uncle following his Wisconsin garbage truck stunt, likening him to The Village People.

Upon arriving in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for an evening rally, Trump almost fell getting into a campaign-branded garbage truck. He eventually managed to step into the truck, engaging in a quick conversation with reporters as he peered out the window—a scene reminiscent of his recent staged photo op at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania earlier this month.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Donald Trump; Liz Cheney
The National Desk/YouTube; Sarah Rice/Getty Images

Harris Campaign Perfectly Shames Trump For Suggesting Liz Cheney Should Be Shot

After ex-President Donald Trump suggested former Wyoming Republican Representative Liz Cheney should have "guns trained on her face," Ian Sams, the senior spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign, laid out the contrast between their White House bids.

During a campaign rally in Arizona on Thursday night, Trump criticized Cheney as a “war hawk” and suggested she “should be fired upon,” expressing fury toward one of his most vocal critics within the party.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Don Jr. And Eric Ripped For Wearing The Most Self-Own Halloween Costumes Ever

Brothers Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. were widely mocked after dressing up as different versions of "garbage" for Halloween—and their critics really let them have it.

Their costume choices came after their father, former President Donald Trump, participated in a Wisconsin garbage truck stunt.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Brent Terhune; Donald Trump
@BrentTerhune/TikTok; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Comedian Pretends To Be Driver Of Trump's Garbage Truck In Hilarious Video—And Right-Wingers Fell For It

Comedian Brent Terhune had social media users rolling after he posted a parody video in which he pretended to be the one driving "Garbage Force One" during Trump's Wisconsin stunt on Wednesday.

Upon arriving in Green Bay, Wisconsin for an evening rally, Trump almost fell getting into a campaign-branded garbage truck. He eventually managed to step into the truck, engaging in a quick conversation with reporters as he peered out the window—a scene reminiscent of his recent staged photo op at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania earlier this month.

Keep ReadingShow less