You just turned 18, now what?

Hey, hey, hold it – don’t run off just yet to go skydiving and buy fireworks!

There are other matters to tend to after reaching this milestone, sir.

First things first, celebrate, it’s a birthday. Bring on the cakes and candles, your family and friends!

Relish the fun because soon comes serious business, man.

Once the crumbs have been cleared and the last guest has bid farewell, it’s time to get cracking. As a fresh 18-year-old, there’s some stuff to take care of as you enter adulthood.

Tell me, what to do as soon as I turn 18?

Turning 18 takes you from teenagehood to adulthood. Now’s the time to set some of the foundations of your future so that you’re properly set up for your next stages in life. 

Ready to tackle?

Here’s what you should do as soon as you turn 18.

1. Start building credit

Credit is what you will need as an adult later on in order to buy a house, buy a car, get a loan, and have credit cards. Your credit is what the banks and lenders look at before approving you for the above-mentioned activities.

Being at your earliest stage in life where you can actually start building credit, go for it asap. The longer your credit history is, the better. So if you start building now, you’re being smart and proactive. You won’t need to come whining to your parents a few years down the road to help you get a car lease…

To find out how to start building credit, head on to the next To DO.

2. Apply for a credit card

The easiest way to start building credit is by applying for your first credit card. 

Thing is, you need good credit in order to get approved for a credit card since the credit card issuer wants to know what kind of borrower and consumer you are before lending credit to you.

Luckily, you’re stuck. There are credit cards out there that are excellent for newcomers to credit. You are very likely to get approved even without having a previous credit history. You can try the Capital One Student Journey card or the Chase Freedom Student card

You can learn more about building credit from scratch here

3. Use a credit card

After getting approved for a newcomers credit card, the most recommended manner in which to use it is using it once a month for a minimal amount (think $5). This way, you don’t spend without thinking by just “putting on your credit card”, and yet, your credit card still looks like it’s being used, which is how you come off as a responsible consumer. You’re building nice credit, slowly.

Later on, after about six months, you can apply for more credit cards.

4. Register for Selective Service (Which is mandatory if you’re a male)

Men, ages 18-25, are required by law to register for Selective Service. This does not mean you’ll be drafted to the army, which hasn’t been going on in the US since 1973, but it is still required in case of emergency. Females are not required to register.

You can register here.

5. Register to vote

You are now eligible to register to vote. Do your due diligence as a citizen and register so that you can vote. Besides for voting for president, you may vote for the school board etc.

Next time election day rolls around, you’re in!

Here is how to register to vote 

6. Prepare for a job or career

Although this will not necessarily come to use this minute, at 18 years old you might still be in school (though you are legally allowed to now quit school, just saying), as a young adult on the cusp of real life, it’s good to start setting a path or directing your mind to careers you‘d love to pursue or jobs you’d be interested in taking on.

By putting your mind to it now, you won’t be caught by surprise when the time does come to go out to the work field, or when you need to designate a career/degree path in college.

7. Open a bank account

Open a bank account as yet another way of proving you are to be trusted as a consumer. Having a bank account will show the bank you are a responsible borrower. Make sure to use it right, don’t go into overdraft, and keep on top of the comings and goings.

8. Brush up your knowledge on finances, taxes, and insurance

Taxes are something you can’t avoid and you can’t believe you’ll have to deal with it one day. Better be prepared and start financing like a gentleman, rather than be thrown into the jungle.

Finances, taxes, and insurance will be part of your life big time, so it’s good to try and get familiar with it. Read up on some books, talk to people in your life you respect financially, just to be ahead of the game.

9. Start investing

Now that you can, invest some profit into a trusted fund. It does not need to be much but if you invest it now, there’s ample time for your investment to grow into something substantial. By keeping it low, and being at a time when you’re not dependent on every bit of money, you don’t risk losing much if the numbers don’t work too well after all.

10. Get to know the stock market

Since you can now be a part of the stock market, it wouldn’t hurt to get to know the stock market. 

Get an idea if the stock market is up or down, research current stock trading information, and the like.

You can sign up to free stack trading apps like Robinhood, etc

11. Gather your personal docs

If your parents have been holding on to it now, it’s a good time to gather your legal documents now, for 2 reasons: 1- You are now legally responsible for yourself, 2- You may be traveling more, start college, start working, fend for yourself, so it’s best if you have easy access to your documents. Think; your birth certificate, passport, ID, social security card, visa papers, bank information.

12. Sign durable power of attorney

Being that you are legally responsible for yourself once you turn 18, your parents are not your legal guardians unless you sign the durable power of attorney.

By signing that, you give your parents permission to take care of you in a case where you can’t care for yourself, or become incapacitated. 

Rather be safe than sorry, and sign on it.

13. Sign the FERPA (The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

Also, being 18 years old, your parents no longer have the right to your schooling information. In order for them to have the pleasure:) of the right to see your grades, school schedules, and class information, you should sign the FERPA. 

14. Sign the HIPAA (The Health Information and Portability Accountability Act)

Your parents now no longer have the legal right to see your medical files, make medical decisions for you, schedule your doctor appointments, etc.

So that your parents have the right and ability to step in and make medical decisions for you, either in emergency cases, or to help you, sign the HIPAA. 

Without your signature, they won’t be allowed to do anything medical relating to you. It’s important to have a signed form if God forbid, there’s a medical crisis or emergency.

15. Get a driver's license

Being that you’re mostly able to get your permit a few years prior to turning 18, at 18 years old you’re ready to get your license. What do you say to doing the family grocery shopping?

Getting ready for your exam, and then having the independence to drive around town will likely be nice and good. 

16. Start to look for a house to rent or buy

Your stage in life brings about two connecting situations; one being that you’re eligible to buy a house and get a mortgage and the other being that you can legally move out of your parent’s house.

If you do choose to move out and start living solo or with roommates, you need to look for a house to live in. Ideally, you can start off by renting a studio apartment so as to be more cost-efficient, and as time goes on, upgrade to something bigger.

If you’re ready for a down payment, mortgage, co-signer, and all, you can definitely choose to buy small living quarters.

17. Build an income

Talking about rent and mortgage, it wouldn’t hurt for you to make some income as an aside. You can get yourself a side-job – at the supermarket, delivery services, computer work, or whatever your heart desires. 

You can make nice pocket money or put it aside for your expenses while you venture out into adult life.

18. Make sure you get your own government benefits

If you’ve moved out of your parent’s house, you are eligible for your own government benefits. Make sure you’re getting housing assistance, SNAP, etc.

19. Decide on a college

After school comes college. You’re getting closer to it so think about your college options, which one you’d like to attend, whether you’d prefer to stay local or not. You can discuss it with your parents or hash it out with friends. Make sure the transition into college is smooth, by having your transcripts ready

20. Chose an industry you want to go into

The world is created of people doing every imaginable profession you can think of, in every industry possible. Picking an industry or two you have your heart set on, will help you direct your goals and means to eventually get to the industry you’re aiming for. There really is a range, including business, transportation, and science, so take your pick. It’ll be easier for you to feel calm if the decision is done.

21. Register for Jury duty

As a U.S. citizen turning 18, you’re required to register for Jury duty. It is your responsibility to appear in court to serve as a Jury when you are summoned. Look out for your summons 🙂

22. Get a 10 year passport

Up until now, you were able to get a 5-year passport, no more than that. That’s changed along with your age. As an 18-year-old, apply for a 10-year passport. It will save you the hassle of the passport process for another five years.

23. Consent to your own vaccines

Your parents will no longer be doing this for you. You must consent for your own vaccines. That’s giving your permission for a vaccination.

24. Buy a firearm

This is a controversial recommendation, but you might want to act upon it to protect yourself. Make sure that concealed weapons are legal in your state

25. Act cautiously

Since you’re no longer a minor, you have more legal responsibilities for what you do. So be careful. Behave as much as you can and keep a clean record. The last thing you want to do not long after having birthday cake, is end up in jail!

Final Thoughts

Now that you’re a polished businessman, investor, medic, educator, employee, and whatnot, you can breathe and wait for the fruits of your labor to come about!

But truthfully speaking, these are recommendations to do upon turning 18 because these are actions that will help you build your future. 

Now it’s a small act on your part, but the credit that you build, the knowledge that you gain, will help you tremendously later on in life.

Congratulations on your 18th!