A few days ago, Reddit user Abject_Analysis_8602 asked everyone on the platform to list the life skills they believe people should know by the time they're 30, and it immediately went viral. From setting healthy boundaries to basic home maintenance, continue scrolling to check out the most popular replies out of the thousands that poured in.
#1
Cooking basic meals. It’s not just about impressing friends; it’s essential for survival and saving money. Plus, nothing beats the satisfaction of not having to rely on takeout every night.
Image credits: spicykittycutie
#2
How to thank others when appropriate and how to apologize when appropriate.
Image credits: chunkyasparagus
#3
How to research topics and vet information sources.
Image credits: montholdsmegma
#4
Set healthy boundaries. Stop letting people invalidate your worth or push you in a direction you aren’t comfortable going. Don’t be afraid to walk away from people, jobs, or situations that are bad for you.
Image credits: Daiiga
#5
How to accept the word no.
I have worked in customer care, all my adult life and entitlement can be seen at all ends of the spectrum. However, the wealthiest people seem to struggle the most with a two letter word.
Image credits: teachmeyourstory
#6
How to choose good fruit, and vegetables at the grocery store!
Image credits: Narrow_Tonight3369
#7
Basic financial literacy.
Shouldn't need to come to reddit to ask if it's better to pay down your mortgage or the micro loan you took out from the Albanian mafia.
Image credits: Live_2_win_
#8
I know this sounds politically charged but by 30, people should be able to still hold a conversation and be respectful while also disagreeing. It's a common thing this era for people to storm off and talk c**p when they disagree. Blocking people, banning people, etc.
The world has over 8 billion people in it. It's pretentious to assume that everyone should always agree with you.
Image credits: Neat_Economics5190
#9
How to be alone. Sometimes it’s good to just be by yourself.
#10
How to have uncomfortable conversations about feelings and defining boundaries. People who don’t have these skills cause more problems than they’re worth.
Image credits: theharmlessshark
#11
Basic car maintenance/knowledge. i.e., changing a tire, checking oil levels, adding oil if needed, changing windshield wipers. A little of preventative maintenance goes a long way.
Image credits: vasedans
#12
CPR.
It's one day out of your life in exchange for all the rest of the days of someone else's.
Image credits: GaidinBDJ
#13
As a chef I’ve got to go with basic food hygiene. Learning how to store your food properly, knowing temperature danger zones, cross contamination & basic COSHH.
The amount of times I’ve had to bite my tongue seeing p**s poor standards in friends & family’s kitchens makes me anxious to eat there.
#14
Household budgeting.
#15
Saying no. Get really good at saying yes in your 20s. It opens lots of doors and teaches you to get outside of your comfort zone to grow. By 30, be ruthless with your time and get good at saying no thoughtfully, politely, and firmly.
Image credits: thisisaredditacct
#16
How to walk away from a situation with escalating tensions. Some guy is getting angrier and angrier for any reason, you need to know how to just raise your hands up, apologize genuinely, back away about 6 feet, and then turn around and walk away. This can save you from getting into a fist fight, to saying something you can't ever take back. You can use this with random people on the street, at bars, or even with friends and family that you might get into it with.
If you want to learn more about deescalating a tense situation, check out Verbal Judo
Image credits: midnight_reborn
#17
How to make a decision based on facts and objective evidence from credible sources.
Image credits: 1ksassa
#18
Listening. Everything doesn’t have to be about you, and you don’t have to have all the answers, sometimes just listening to someone is all they need.
Image credits: shhh-dolly
#19
Swim. Amazing how many people don't know how to swim, go in the water.
Image credits: im-buster
#20
Do laundry.
#21
Being on time. Being late for everything is not an adult activity.
#22
Time management.
#23
How to read a map.
#24
How to advocate: for yourself, your children, your loved ones. Especially when it comes to healthcare, the system is broken and you need to be proactive in getting what you need.
Image credits: infinite_awkward
#25
How not to think everything revolves around them.
Insight and personal responsibility.
Image credits: mario454545
#26
Being able to express your needs, feelings, and boundaries clearly and respectfully.
#27
Tell time on an analog clock.
#28
Not everyone can be your friend, learn to walk away from people that threaten your peace of mind.
#29
Cooking basic meals, budgeting, maintenance (of anything you own that need it), and more importantly, communication.
#30
1- basic home maintenance. Learn how to change a vacuum belt, fix a door hinge, hang curtains/blinds, unclog a drain, ect.
2- basic car maintenance. Learn how to change a tire, change a car light bulb, check/change your oil, ect.
3- cooking. Not just microwaving something or making a hamburger helper meal. Actual cooking, from scratch.
4- how to have a disagreement with an argument. Disagreements to not need to involve yelling or verbally attacking the other person. Get your facts together and present your side logically.
5- how to speak professionally. When you have to talk to professional people (like a landlord, banker, maintenance worker, or your boss) it's always extremely beneficial to use sir/ma'am and avoid cussing or using words that are to casual (like bro or dude). If you go into these discussions speaking professionally yourself they will respect you more and be more willing to listen to you.
6- know your own habits. Pro tip, tidy your house up before you sit down and relax after work. I have a bad habit where if i sit down to relax after work i dont want to get back up and do anything that feels like more work. Ik this and so i have gotten a routine to work around it. So when i get home from work the first thing i do is a quick tidying up of my house before i let myself sit down and relax.
Image credits: li-ll-l_
#31
Manage your healthcare. Booking appointments, getting lab work, knowing how to contact your insurance company.
#32
Stop buying things on credit
Stop speeding in parking lots
Be nice to others
Realize you aren’t as smart as you think you are. Learn from other people
It’s OK to put your phone down and experience and enjoy the world
No one thinks you are cool because they can hear your car stereo…when your windows are rolled down
Again. Being nice and kind to people will help make the world a better place .
#33
Super controversial, but washing your f*****g a*s.
#34
How income tax works.
#35
Dealing with anxiety and panic attacks.
#36
How to manage money.
#37
Basic handyman and home repair skills, like fixing a running toilet, hanging shelving on the wall, etc.
#38
You should have sexual discipline.
I'm not talking about people who have high/low body counts, I'm not talking about people who have a sexual appetite. I'm talking about people who don't exercise *control* over that sexual appetite.
If you're 30+ and you can't go more than 1-2 weeks without having sex with a stranger, or having sex at all, you're not "sex positive" you have a problem.
#39
How to use forgiveness to resolve issues, both with others and with yourself. The ability to forgive yourself will massively improve your mental state.
Also basic life skills: How to live cordially with another person. How to really clean a room. How to cook a few good decent full meals. How to do maintenance and minor repairs on home and cars. How to handle finances.
#40
Conflict resolution.
#41
Not so much a skill but knowing how to admit when you are wrong. Nothing worse than a person that continues to argue their incorrect information.
#42
Discipline and self control.
#43
How to advocate for yourself.
Via knowing your boundaries.
For when you need medical help.
To cutting ties & walking away from harmful people/situations.
Understanding how to be your own support system.
Communicating directly & seeing things from a birds eye perspective, not just your own biased viewpoint.
#44
How to mind their own business/stay in their lane.
Image credits: Vegan_Digital_Artist
#45
Emphathy.
#46
How to make small talk.
#47
Honestly, everyone should know how to budget by the time they’re 30. I mean, I once treated myself to takeout every night for a month because I “forgot” I had bills to pay. Spoiler: I ended up living off instant noodles and regret. ? If you can master the art of not blowing your entire paycheck on snacks and impulse buys, you’re basically a financial wizard!
#48
The absolute basics of car maintenance. How to change a tire SAFELY. What to do in an automotive emergency when driving. What the different warning lights on your dash mean.
#49
Emotional Intelligence. .
#50
Changing a tire.
#51
Common decency.
#52
Budgeting and how to use and not abuse a credit card!
#53
How to pay bills, on time.
#54
Getting along with others
It's amazing how many of us are poorly socialized.
#55
How to humanely euthanize a sick cow with dynamite.
Waste-Bobcat9849:
It’s good practice for dealing with stranded whales
