Brief Summary
This video provides a humorous and cynical guide to navigating life after turning 18. It covers essential survival tips, from financial literacy and managing roommates to finding a job and dealing with relationships. The video emphasizes the importance of mental health, friendships, and self-reliance, all while maintaining a darkly comedic tone.
- Financial literacy and investment are crucial.
- Roommates are a necessary evil to be managed assertively.
- Any job is better than being broke.
- Limit phone usage to avoid wasting time.
- Relationships are challenging but manageable with lowered expectations.
- "Fake it till you make it" is a key strategy for adulting.
- Maintain friendships, as genuine connections are invaluable.
- College is a valuable experience for character development.
- Distance yourself from family expectations and seek self-validation.
- Use humor to cope with the inevitable hardships of life.
Financial Literacy
The initial step to financial stability involves tracking expenses to identify and reduce unnecessary spending, such as excessive spending on "fans" over essential needs like food. Instead of risky investments like NFTs or crypto, focus on proven money makers such as index funds or Kleenex stock. Patience is essential, and get-rich-quick schemes like day trading should be avoided, as they are akin to gambling for those unskilled in mathematics.
Roommates
Living with roommates requires establishing firm boundaries to prevent them from overstepping. Avoid giving them an inch, as they will take a mile. To maintain control, assert dominance by employing tactics to make them uncomfortable, such as writing "always watching" on the bathroom mirror. Since leaving is not an option due to financial constraints, it's better to be the one in control.
Find a Job
Securing employment is crucial, and one should be willing to take any available job to pay the bills. Lowering standards and accepting whatever makes money is necessary, as pride doesn't pay rent. Even minimum wage jobs offer valuable lessons, such as how to steal office supplies or suppress the urge to assault annoying customers. Ultimately, survival requires pushing aside ego and doing whatever it takes to earn a living.
Phone Dopamine
Excessive phone usage is a significant time-waster, often disguised as productivity. Spending countless hours scrolling leads to a stiff neck and disappointed parents, with little to show for it. To regain control, it's essential to delete apps, set timers, and take drastic measures to limit screen time. Living life is preferable to watching others pretend to live theirs.
Relationships
Relationships can be challenging and expensive, especially when one is poor. Finding a partner who meets all expectations may be difficult, so settling for someone slightly below one's ideal is often necessary. Avoid settling for someone undesirable, and remember that validation comes from showing off a desirable partner to friends.
Fake It Till You Make It
Adulthood involves a lot of pretending, such as pretending to smile, care, and file taxes. Since no one truly knows what they're doing, it's essential to bluff and make people believe you're more competent than you are. Don't be too hard on yourself for not having life figured out, and remember that pretending to be a winner is better than being a loser.
Friends
Making friends after 18 is difficult, so it's important to hold on to existing friendships, even if those friends are screw-ups. People, not possessions, make life worth living, and the joy of seeing friends suffer is invaluable. Remember, as long as they're breathing, it's fine.
College
College is a worthwhile investment, regardless of the cost, as it provides character development. It's a place to make mistakes, test hypotheses, and learn valuable life lessons. College is more than just academics; it's about discovering who you are and how far you'll go to get what you want.
Family
Stop seeking approval from family members and disregard their often outdated and unhelpful advice. Their attempts to guilt-trip you and compare your life to their past experiences are irrelevant. If you enjoy spending time with your family, that's fine, but don't feel obligated to seek their validation.
Mental Health
Therapy may be unaffordable, so it's essential to develop coping mechanisms, such as laughing away the pain. Adults are often damaged and fragile, so use dark humor as emotional duct tape to hold everything together. Embrace the chaos of life, laugh at the absurdity, and meme your way through the madness.
