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Adulting is Hard

Shirley Jones Luke
3 min readFeb 23, 2025

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Let’s Talk About it

Photo Source: Care Counseling

It’s Sunday, and tomorrow, I return to work. My vacation is over. I had a week (not counting the weekend) away from responsibilities. In hindsight, I wish I had taken a trip to rest and recover from everything. But I have a second job and couldn’t afford to use up my sick time on a journey. I probably shouldn’t even think about spending money on an excursion — everything costs too damn much.

That’s the problem adults (mainly 25 and up) face. You can't afford to live in this economy unless you’re born into wealth or become a self-made millionaire (or billionaire). Of course, there are ways to make ends meet (besides working 2 or 3 jobs). You can clip coupons, scour online for deals, buy off-brand items, hit up the clearance racks and thrift stores, and opt out of anything extravagant — going out to dinner, hitting the club, enjoying a hobby (unless it’s making you money). In short, it’s like living your adult life like a college student — a cup of noodles and cheap beer included.

And while you’re worried about your next meal, don’t forget the rent. Buying a home is literally out of reach for today’s couples. Homes in my neighborhood go for at least half a million dollars. If you’re lucky to snag a fixer-upper, bringing the building up to code will cost you that much. With mortgage payments averaging $3,800/month, you might be better off renting…

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Shirley Jones Luke
Shirley Jones Luke

Written by Shirley Jones Luke

Shirley is a writer. Ms. Luke enjoys books, fashion and travel. She is working on her second poetry manuscript, a collection of essays, and a fiction novel.

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