It’s necessary to preface this with a full disclosure statement about myself: I’m a naïve man-child who believes in fairytales and happy endings and tries very, very hard to stay optimistic and since I’m an actor, everything in my life is relegated to the subtle explosion of full-on dramatics and I’m in love with run-on sentences and I live my life on the day-to-day as if it were a long standing TV series that’s currently in its 3^rd season. You know, the 3^rd season where she finally has the baby, relationships are shaking up while others are getting married, mysteries from the 1^st season are being resolved, main characters die or leave the show as newer, more attractive ones are introduced to give the show longevity. Sorry, I’ve been watching a lot of Grey’s Anatomy lately. There’s purpose to the run-on sentences (paragraphs) that follow so bear with me. Because on this season of Grey’s Anatomy, everything changes (ok, last Grey’s reference).

The thing that’s most exciting about getting older is that we, mostly men, eventually get to go through our midlife crisis. It’s gotten a pretty bad rap from the way it’s portrayed in pop culture: 40 year old men with a scowl on their face staring out the window at their dog chasing butterflies. Men with a scowl on their face laying in bed while it’s raining. Men with a scowl on their face sitting at the kitchen table while their children run around them, screaming. But think of the endless possibilities of what a mid-life crisis can give you! Chances are, you’re an at least semi-successful man who, like history has shown us, has reached his prime of handsomeness, and has accrued a respectable amount of savings. Go crazy! You want a Porsche? Go buy one! Need a new wardrobe? Go buy one! Need a spa trip or a mini vacation with the wife/husband/girlf/boyf? As Tom and Donna would say, “Treat. Yo. Self.” And while you’re at it, go buy an Emmy for Parks and Recreation. They deserve it and you’ll feel better about yourself.

Obviously those aren’t real fixes for a mid-life crisis. They’re little things to do to bide their time until the truth hits: these 40 somethings have hit a wall at the corner of insecurity and self-doubt. They’re at a standstill career-wise where their colleagues are potentially moving up in the corporate world or getting promotions and they’re stuck in the cubicle next to Moira, the slutty housemaid in American Horror Story that tempts them to cheat on their now distant wife. Or dealing with the teenaged fucktards that decided to turn on them faster than you can say “puberty” or “teen sex” or “screw you mom and dad! I WILL be on Teen Mom!” It seems pretty abysmal if this were the case. Fortunately for them, they have the 40 something years or so of life experiences that should be able to teach them how to deal with all of these horrible circumstances that have crept up on them so quickly. They’ve LIVED life already. They know that hard times have come and gone and for the most part they’ll be better at the end of whatever trauma they’re dealing with because it’s happened to them time and time again! And plus, everyone’s still smoking and getting cancer and probably gonna die soon anyway so what’s the point in wallowing in all that self-pity? Just fuck Moira, take care of your grandkid while you can and move on.

People in their mid to late 20’s have it worse. So much worse. Now, half of you will agree with me and yell, “Thank you! So true!” mostly because you’re in the age group I’m talking about so I don’t have to sway you at all. But the other half? Oh, the other half. The 40 year olds who think I’m blowing smoke out of my ass with that last statement because they’re maybe going through their own crisis right now and are thinking, “Please. There is no way 25-year olds have a hard life. Everything’s been given to them and they aren’t jaded yet by the evils of the world and have their whole life ahead of them. And plus, they’re still young and hot and getting a ton of sex.” The only truth there? Yes, we are still young and hot and getting a ton of sex. But trust me, the cons can outweigh the pros.

I revently read an article that said this generation of young adults, us in our 20’s and 30’s, are the first generation that are not guaranteed to make more money in our lifetime than our parents. Given that our parents are in their 50’s or 60’s, they most likely went to college in the 70’s when obtaining a bachelor degree was a very prestigious task that not many people in that age group could achieve because not everyone could afford it. Up until very recently, however, a college education slowly became affordable for more people due to a larger number of colleges and more opportunities for financial aid. Now, going to college is a rite of passage that almost everyone goes through. Unfortunately, thanks to the increases in public secondary education and the current terrible, terrible job market, young adults are in debt longer and either waiting for jobs or giving up on waiting entirely and settling for a career that does not require their diploma for the sake of survival. Or getting paper-sprayed out of their college altogether! Too soon? If it has a meme, then no.

Now could you imagine getting married and having babies when all we’re still eating is Top Ramen? And I say “still” because I’m pretty sure most of us spent 4 years in college eating nothing but Top Ramen (which is amazing and delicious and I have no idea why it has such a bad reputation. There are so many Ramen combinations you can make and never get bored! Ramen everyday!). We forego taking care of our cars because we can’t afford it. We want to see the world and travel but the expenses of doing so are sometimes so scary we just decide to watch Planet Earth on a loop. Since we can’t afford/don’t pay for medical insurance we’d better die in whatever accident we get in because it’d be nowhere near as worse as having to pay the premium for medical care. How in the hell could we afford diapers?!

We’re getting married later and having babies later because we can’t afford it, right? All the while, we’re still pressured into being successful adults. How the fuck is that supposed to happen?! In one corner, we have our 4 other 25-year old roommates we share a one bedroom apartment with who are telling us to hold out for the right job and stick to what we studied in college who we hold hands with and sing “kumbaya” while the power’s out because we couldn’t afford to pay for it. And in the other corner, we have the successful, wealthy parents who were able to have kids, a marriage, and a career, and buy a nice house before the economy went under who are telling us to hurry and give them grandkids and get married, and have a career and buy a goddamn house. But it’s not just the parents, it’s the media and the internet and oftentimes our peers that tell us we have to become successful and respectable adults and build a life for ourselves. Not doing so is deemed as an ultimate failure. Or “epic fail”. It is 2011 people.

Is this rambling? Of course I’m rambling but there is a point. This quarter-life crisis we’re going through that some psychologists don’t believe to exist and some parents never went through? It fucking sucks. Without the protection of college and all the parties and all the friends, the world’s problems come at us endlessly on a rampage. Each setback that comes up is new and equally terrifying as the next one right around the corner. We feel that if we had just a few more years to incubate in the college bubble, we might be ready to deal with it all. Remember when we graduated college? For some of us, that was the last time we can remember being that happy or felt like a successful person. Freshman year? The last time we were wide-eyed and excited for what the future held in store for us. High School? Seems like a cakewalk now, doesn’t it? Can you believe we complained about not getting Homecoming King? No, not really. I was Homecoming King. But could you imagine if I didn’t get it?! Oh my god, disaster! That had so much importance back then but now it seems downright laughable. Not that I still have my crown in my parent’s closet or anything.

The point is is that this period in our lives feels so lonely. It’s like standing at the edge of a cliff. Like we’ve reached this plateau and there’s a burning desire to jump. We have the parachute on our backs but there is way too much fear keeping us from leaping. What if the chute doesn’t open? What if we pull the wrong string? The worst case scenario is perpetually bombarding our minds that we forget the best possible outcome: what if the chute opens and we’re able to sail safely? But unlike those 40 somethings, we don’t have any of the parachuting experience! (My metaphor is starting to turn on me so we’ll just drop it).

I’m starting to learn that it’s damn near impossible to get through this part of our lives on our own. As much as we’d like to think we do, we DON’T know everything. We have to admit this and seek the guidance we need. Not from our parents, though. Sorry, y’all, but you love us and you’re amazing but you’re way too invested in our well-being to be as truthful and unbiased as we need. An outside party of someone older to mentor us is truthfully the best solution. Seriously, nut-up and ask a colleague or family friend for advice. It’s so much better than sitting at home listening to Adele with the curtains drawn while watching Grey’s Anatomy. These people might not have all the answers either but it’s better than searching in the dark. And they’ll guarantee us we’re not the first or the last people to have these thoughts about the future. With their help maybe we can finally leap with confidence.

Double standard alert: Why do some men’s restrooms come without mirrors? I want to check myself out and make sure I look good be able to see if I have food stuck in my teeth too. Stupid girls get couches and flowers and unicorns and vending machines for various, um, “goodies” in the their bathrooms. Are men so gross that we can’t even be trusted to look at our own reflection cuz there’s a chance we’ll realize how bad most of us look? Mirrors are a GOOD thing to have. I vote there be mirrors that talk to you like in Snow White that say things like, “Hey you, your fly’s open. Fix it dumbass!” or, “You call that a hairstyle? Do yourself a favor and pay more than 10 bucks at Supercuts for a decent ‘do. You’re a grown ass man not Chuckie from Rugrats,” or, “Be confident. Trust me, she’s fuckable tonight. Go get her!” See, words of wisdom AND we can make sure that zit on our forehead hasn’t popped mid-date!

I was 4 years old when the Disney film Aladdin came out. I remember watching it in theaters and instantly falling in love. At such a young age, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t comprehend much of the story, but what DID stick with me instantly and permanently was the music. I’m sure I’m not the only one who got excited at the opening number as Aladdin ran away from the palace’s guards, or laughed as The Genie introduced us to Prince Ali. But the song that everyone became immediately attached to was A Whole New World. 

There are so many reasons that that sequence is absolute cinematic and musical perfection: The simple and beautiful piano opening hooked us in and never let go. Getting taken on a magic carpet ride was the first time a lot of us got to experience what it felt like to fly. The sweeping orchestration and magical harmonies that bring the song to a close. It’s also the first time us as kids got to see two people genuinely fall in love before our eyes! Perfection.

I also had a personal connection with Aladdin because people always said I looked like him. I mean, I did and still do. I was also called Princess Jasmine for such a long time in elementary and junior high school cuz of my name (kids are dicks). I’d actually cry a lot because people were constantly picking on me about it and then I would watch the VHS on a loop all night to make me feel better and it always did. Aladdin taught me to be brave, to stand up for what I believed in, and to go after what you wanted even in the face of adversity (one thing I never learned was how to roll an apple off your elbow. How does he do that?!?!). But it was always A Whole New World that took me to another place and taught me to dream and made me fall in love with music! I owe SO MUCH of who I am and what I stand for to that movie. I’ll fight anyone who calls me a weirdo for thinking this!

When I went to watch Lea Salonga tonight, the woman who was the singing voice of not only Jasmine but also Mulan, originate Kim in Miss Saigon (for which she won a Tony), and played Eponine and later Fantine in Les Miserables, I could not contain myself. I’ve grown up listening to her music, in English and Tagalog, and look up to her as a living legend. Hearing her sing I Dreamed a Dream in person was definitely near the top of my musical theatre bucket list and I could have left with only that and been happy forever! But when she finally got to A Whole New World and asked for a guy to come onstage to sing for her, my hand shot up instantly and she fucking picked me! So I found myself standing onstage, with my mic in hand and lyrics in the other (which I didn’t want to look at to be cool but did anyway so I didn’t look inept), singing A Whole New World with the lyrics and orchestration of Grammy and Academy Award winning musicians while standing across from the woman who sang this song to me through my headphones everyday as a kid. All I told myself was, “You better not forget the harmonies at the end! There are only about 3 of them dammit and you can not look like a jackass in front of Lea Sa-fricking-longa!” I didn’t forget the harmonies at the end :D

I don’t care how I sounded. I don’t care that I flubbed a lyric in the first chorus. I don’t care that I almost passed out once she started singing her part. Being able to sing my favorite song with the woman who originated it is beyond words. An indescribable feeling.

(Written Sept. 8th)

”You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.” “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Blah blah blah. All truths that parents and teachers tell us over and over again until we get them tattooed on our ribcages (i.e., me). They’re usually about loving our family members or friends or dogs and it should make us want to stay in contact with them constantly, talking to them everyday or visiting them at the drop of a hat. But who gives a shit about that when we can Skype them or shit-talk/tweet about them on the internet or completely block them out cuz the new episode of Top Chef: Just Desserts is ready to go on our DVR’s. Lord knows I’d rather laugh at underweight people, who clearly don’t eat sweets on a regular basis, get chastised for making inadequate creme brûlée. Didn’t Rachael Ray teach y’all better than that? Giada De Laurentiis? Paula Deen? One of those bitches made creme brûlée before, I just don’t know which bitch…

Anyfatass, there’s nothing more sobering than realizing how dependent we’ve become on the aforementioned “new media” means of communicae and entertainment. No one calls each other anymore. We text cuz we just want people to hear what we have to say and then choose not to respond to them when it’s their turn (guilty!). Facebook lets us get our P.I. on to see if a potential date looks bad from any angle. TiVO makes it easy for us to keep up with not only the Kardashians but every other hundredth or so program on one of our thousands of channels, which are no longer a privilege limited to the upper-middle class. Come on, you know you’ve judged someone that rushed home to catch a show cuz they couldn’t record it:

- “Where are you running off to so fast, Jack? I thought we were having a good time?”

- “Well, Jill, Deadliest Catch is coming on and I can’t miss it. Someone else is supposed to die!”

- “You don’t have DVR?” 

- “Nope. But can I call you later?” 

- “Ooo gee wiz! You have a mobile phone!? Get. Out. Don’t tell me, it’s a Razr?! Screw you douchebag tool-face!”

Nice one Jill. Hopefully you left him cuz he wanted to watch Deadliest Catch instead of bone you to smithereens…I really hope that line was used somewhere in the Pirates of the Caribbean porn parody franchise or else it better be in the next one.

Rambling? Rambling. All of these technological advances are without a doubt very beneficial. We have faster access to the news we want or need thanks to the internet and Twitter. We can FaceTime with relatives in the Phillippines we haven’t seen since childhood. But our co-dependency proves itself when we’re left with the worst natural disaster of our time: a blackout. 

When I was a kid and the power went out, I got so excited! We’d get to bust out the candles and eat junk food and sit in a room together and make up ghost stories. Ah, the fun of being a kid in the 90’s. But nowadays, getting the electricity pulled out from under your feet is like walking in the dark. Even in the daytime. 

As soon as I noticed the whir of the AC unit stop, I immediately sprang awake from my nap like that feeling you get when you realize you’ve peed a little in your sleep. Anyone? Just me? Ok. Here’s a step-by-step re-telling of the events that proceeded: Look at laptop to change the song playing. Check iPhone to see what time it is. Notice it’s no longer charging. Weird. Look at the ancient time-telling device that is a modern clock and notice it’s no longer on. Ask myself if it’s even been on for the last month since I don’t use it. Try to turn on the fan. Nothing. Notice more clocks in the house aren’t on. Run back to laptop and try to get on Facebook to see if anyone posted a status about weird thieves turning off clocks in houses. No WiFi connection. Scramble for iPhone. No WiFi connection. Panic.

Since this is being written in the middle of the blackout, I don’t know all the details of the Debhiliating Southwestern Blackout of 2011 (it better be called this). But from what I can gather from various text messages and small news reports from the battery operated radio (tech saves the day!), is that a power plant in Arizona went out earlier in the afternoon due to a technical malfunction and the pressure it put on 2 power grids in the San Onofre area forced them to shut down as well, leading to 4 million (!) people without electricity and some without water for the past 6 hours. This includes most of San Diego County, bordering areas of Mexico, Orange County, Riverside, and Arizona. That/This is ridiculous! And it’s also frightening when you realize what it means to us: No work, which can be good unless you’re saving up money for LA. Given that SoCal is the most densely populated place in the country, traffic lights are no longer working and people are all being let off from work at the same time, there is some of the worst traffic we’ve seen. Imagine if you had little gas! You’re fucked. And if you think you can pump some on your way home you can forget it since most gas stations sadly run on electricity to pump. Double fucked. Now what are all of you (us) spoiled, sun-kissed, beautiful people going to eat if all the restaurants are closed and you (we) know that none of you (us) have food in the fridge? Triple fist-fucked.

But definitely the hardest part is that the means that we’ve had to communicate to each other so easily have been taken away from us so quickly. Want to Google Chat to see if your friends are ok? Nope. Get the latest updates on the situation from Yahoo? Yea right. Check Twitter to see if Lady Gaga is still tweeting? Bitch, please (hair flip and finger snap). It’s like we jumped in the Delorean and went back to the days before Al Gore invented the internet. Which most of us are probably thinking was back in the eighties. But get this people: Google wasn’t around until 1998. Yea, not too long ago. Fbook? 2003. Thank you, Jesse Eisenberg. iPhones? 2007. Fuck me. The time it took for us to get jacked into everything Matrix style is SO SMALL in comparison to anything else that has happened in the history of history. Is this why we’re in such a rush and moving at a frenetic pace all the time? Demanding information and attention and YouTube views so quickly? They don’t call it “going viral” for no reason.

We can not lose our sight of reality folks! If you don’t know how to cook anything that doesn’t involve using your telephone to order in, learn. Buy books and magazines and don’t forget the joy of reading and DON’T let a Kindle replace the feeling of holding a book and turning a page (fuck you, Kindle). Learn to love walking and exercising again because it does make you healthier and live longer. Don’t believe me? Look it up on your smartphone, smartass. But you can’t cuz the power’s out (hair flip and finger snap). This is the reality we used to live in before the information era took over. Yes, that reality is now shared with tumblr, Blackberry’s, iPads, and iTampons but you can’t physically hold onto the internet or electricity (unless you want to die). These things are all good for us and have become embedded in the way we live but like other sayings go that we can tattoo on ourselves, “Everything’s fine in moderation,” or “Update your Facebook status once a day about the life you live then go out and actually live that life,” or “Go stand outside at night when the power’s out and look at how the world looks when it’s only lit up by the moon. Pure beauty.”

Read more …

After I broke up with my ex and ended my very first (!) relationshit, I spiraled. Oh boy, did I spiral. I mean, nothing in the realm of the Lindsanity route, but for a kid who was a straight A student and only did homework and never partied or drank and beat people up or got stabbed in Red Lobsters (obvio this was during my good ol’ High School days since all of college was pretty much a clusterfuck of Jameson and throw up), I regressed. Back to the “I’m not gonna go to class” days or the “I’m gonna drink so much just to forget the night” days or the “I NEED to hookup with anyone/anything that can walk/suck” days. Which were so much fun! Don’t get me wrong, I lived the single life UP as soon as I had it again. This might make me sound like a complete slore (slut + whore), but I feel like it’s normal. Aren’t the 20’s supposed to be a time when you make bad decisions and semi-but-not-really regret them the next day, or the next day, or the next day? If Helen Mirren says we’re supposed to make bad decisions when we’re young cuz we’re young and bad decisions are the only ones we’re supposed to make (she really did say that b.t.dubs), then what the fuck is the problem?!

Am I rambling? I’m pre-ty sure I’m rambling. There’s a point I swear. I won’t say that that was the lowest point in my life cuz there have been way worse (hello? Red Lobster?), but it was enough of a change in everything that was normal in my life to make me take notice. That coupled with a very pea-sized amount of drama in July awoke something in me. It’s hard to pinpoint the change but I know it happened.

I think this is what happened: I learned that my frivolous money-spending ways of the past, aka blowing paychecks before I actually got them, dropping G’s from a sport’s scholarship in Vegas, had to stop. If I wanted to meet the LA goal that I set for myself a long time ago, something had to give. And that something was a shopping spree! understanding what I had to let go of: I had to let go of the extra spending. I had to let go of the negative energy from the people who surrounded me. I had to stop going out every weekend. I had to stop hooking up. I had to grow the mutherfuck up!

Work has completely consumed me! And trust me, the “me” from a few months ago would give anything to get to sit around at home all day and blog about the poop I just pooped. But it’s turned into something that has given me not only a ton of money (seriously, it’s the first time in years my bank account has had more than 3 figures) but a new way to connect to the old HS me who was proud of the work he did and wanted to do everything he could to be a better man (boy? I’m fucking up my tenses left and right so it doesn’t even matter). Today is Labor Day and I have NEVER understood how good it feels to make it to this day. SInce I started my second job a month and a half ago, I haven’t had a day off from work until today. And it feels damn good! I think about the hard work I’ve done and the long and tedious hours I’ve accumulated and, of course the money, that I’ve never been more happy to have. Not because I know I could drop it all on all the clothes a young man of my high-maintenance stature could ever dream of (and boy, do I dream), but because I know it’s going towards everything I want for my future: a career that gives me happiness and not just paychecks and a life of security that allows me to give myself to someone who will help me raise a family who is not just a hookup. Don’t even get me started on the whole celibacy thing. That’s a battle that bears explaining another day.

So I’ve decided to make Labor Day a personal holiday. A holiday when I take time off to reflect on what it is I see myself doing in the next couple of years and how I’m gonna get there. A day that I reflect on the HUGE amount of financial, emotional and personal success I’ve achieved since graduating from colegio…and also a day that I give in to my high-maintenance desires and splurge on something amazing!!!

What? We deserve it every once in a while :)

1.    If buying a new car, make sure you a buy a used one.

It’s nice to finally be making some better cash in your 20s, but don’t go out and spend the extra money on buying a brand new car. Use the extra money you’d be putting towards a brand new car towards your savings; or invest it. After recently graduating from college I had to get a new car because my old one was going under. I bought a good used car. My friend who bought a new car, but the same model as mine was kicking himself when he found out he was paying an extra $200 per month while our cars looked the same. Get a good used car. Make sure to check the Kelly Blue Book to find the right price for a vehicle you are looking for.

2.    Stay true to who you are and your values as it will be a compass.

If anything, your early 20s has probably challenged your beliefs & values as you’ve either ventured off to college or into the real world. Stay true to your beliefs and values  because it is a part of who you are.

3.    Stay close with friends who care, not just friends you have a good time with on the weekends.

You will find that as your friends start to graduate from college, get married, or move to different parts of the country that you may start to losing some friendships. Invest in friends who will be there for you when you really need it. I typically find who I should in by asking this question: “If I needed ‘such and such a friend’ to fly here for an emergency would they?” By asking this question, I find the friendships I should be investing in. You may find it disqualifies those friends who you party with on the weekends.  They are lot of fun… but not always the best friends.

4.    Live the life that you want to live, not the life that others expect you to live.

It seems like a lot of us in this generation have had many people looking over our shoulders telling us which direction we should go. Use your internal compass to dictate your future. Don’t let someone else dictate it for you.

5.    Continue to pursue your dreams, even if you’re not currently living your dreams.

It can often be discouraging when you get those first ‘crap’ jobs in your early 20s. Persevere; you’ll get your dream job. You just may have to pay a few dues along the way. Enjoy the journey.

6.    Take time to give back.

This can be very rewarding. Often times, when we give, it takes the attention off of ourselves for a moment. During these times where we decide to give back, we can gain some perspective on what really matters.

7.    Step outside of your comfort zone. Be willing to learn and take on challenges you may not want to do.

It’s those times when we decide to step out of our comfort zone that real growth takes place, especially in your 20s where you have ample opportunities to take on new challenges.

8.    Be thankful for what you have.

We are so often looking the things that we don’t have, that often times we forget about the things we DO have. Take a moment to be thankful for what you do have.

9.    Seek advice from those who know. Don’t just take opinions from others who don’t have a proven track record.

Opinions are everywhere, and everyone is always quick to give theirs. But, you don’t always have to follow other peoples advice. Take advice from those who truly know what they are talking about. Those who have  walked the walk and are not just talking the talk.

10.    Start investing now.

This tip is stressed in almost every financial column you will ever read. Compound interest is amazing. So take advantage of it and start investing now. If you don’t know where to start, begin reading articles or seek help from a financial planner.

11.    Meet with a financial planner or advisor. Consultations are usually free.

In your 20s a financial planner will begin to get your finances on track. They can also get you a long-term investment plan in order.

12.    Track your expenses for a month.

Once you track your expenses for a month or two, you’ll begin to notice some buying habits you didn’t know you had. Doing so will reveal areas where you can begin to save money.

13.    Create a budget.

A budget is important for your personal finances. Build one, and stick to it!

14.    Prioritize. Learn the difference between being “busy” and being “productive.”

Far too many people will spin their wheels trying to get things done. They will feel overwhelmed, but they can’t seem to accomplish anything. If you find yourself in this situation, ask yourself this question: “am I just being busy, or am I actually getting things done?”

15.    Be persistent in your job search. Apply to at least two jobs a day.

The economy is making the job search tough for a lot of people right now. Job searching isn’t a matter of luck. It’s a matter of being persistent. Apply daily for jobs. Don’t become discouraged. If you’re persistent your break will come.

16.    Travel.

Your 20s is a great time to take the opportunity to travel. It is in your 20s when you will have the most freedom and often times the least amount of responsibility. Use this time in your 20s to travel to places you have always wanted to go while still being aware of your budget.

17.    Volunteer.

The same reasons you can travel easier in your 20s also apply to volunteering. Flexibility is a strength in your 20s. Use it to help others. It can be some of the most rewarding work you do.

18.    Don’t be discouraged if your first job out of college isn’t your ‘dream job.’

It will come, just continue to take risks, challenge yourself, and do your best in your current job and you will get your dream job.

19.    Find a mentor.

Your career path can be a lot easier if you’re taking advice from someone who is guiding you and has been there before. Their advice, network and connections will be invaluable to you.
20.    Be willing to think outside the box.

It is when you truly begin to think outside the box that you will begin to be noticed by your colleagues, friends and employers. Be bold, be daring, be different.
21.    Ask questions: If you don’t know something… ask.

There can be somewhat of a real world learning curve in your 20s. There will be many ‘firsts.’ If you don’t know how to do something… ask. By asking, you will dodge many mishaps.
22.    Be wary of credit cards.

If you use a credit card, be sure you have one that gives you rewards or cash back for paying off your credit cards. For many people, credit cards can be the devil. Don’t carry them on you if you have a habit of using your credit card for unnecessary purchases.
23.    Pay off your credit cards.

If are having a hard time paying off your credit cards because of the interest rates, you may want to look into clever ways of paying off your credit cards. I opened up another credit card that was 0% interest for a year on balance transfers. I transferred the debt from one credit card to the new one with 0% interest and was able to pay it all off. It worked out nicely and drastically helped me to get out of credit card debt.

24.    Set up a financial plan.

What are your financial goals? What do you want to financially accomplish in the next 5 years?
25.    Save 10% of each paycheck.

This tip should be made a habit. It is easier to start this in your 20s than later on in life. Many people will say that there is no way they can save 10% because they are barely making ends meet. But you can! Make this a priority. Once you get paid, immediately, put 10% into savings. By doing this simple habit you will become more aware of your finances. You will also be surprised at how quickly your savings can grow.
26.    Invest in yourself.

Attend seminars, present at seminars, read books, take classes, learn a new skill. Do anything to invest in yourself in your 20s. The compound interest to your career and personal development will be amazing later on in life.
27.    Date with a purpose.

If you date, make sure the people you are dating people have the same goals in mind. Are you dating casually or dating with the intent to marry. Make sure whoever you are interested in has the same goals. This will save you and them a lot of pain, tension and heartache. And please, PLEASE have a set of standards for who you will date. Some people will date anyone with a pulse or even because they like the same chia pet. Qualities such as these will not make a good life long partner. Have a set of standards.
28.    Be in a relationship with a purpose.

This is similar to the previous tip. But far too many people are just in a relationship because it’s comfortable. Make sure the relationship is healthy and that you have the same goals in life, career, family, finances, children, raising children, etc.
29.    Marry wisely.

If you decide to go the marriage route, make sure you marry wisely. This will be one of the most important decisions you ever make. You will be living with your spouse for the rest of your life.

30.    Work out at least 3 times a week.

Establishing some kind of personal fitness routine is important. Discover a physical fitness activity that you enjoy and try to do it at least three times a week. I’m not saying you need to run ten miles three times a week. I’m saying you need to find out what physical activity works for you, and then do it. It’s preventive health in your 20s that you’ll be thanking yourself for later on in life.
31.    Establish healthy eating habits.

It can be good to clean up some of those nice eating habits you learned in college.  This is another preventative health measure.
32.    Set aside time for you.

Life can be hectic in your 20s. Oftentimes we get too busy and don’t take time for ourselves. Figure out a day and time of the week that will be your time. Use it as a time of relaxation and a time for gathering perspective on your life.
33.    Start a blog.

Starting a blog can be a great outlet for many people. It can also be a way to bring more opportunities to your career and personal development.
34.    Add value to others.

This is an important one. Whatever you do, whether it is in your career, relationships or volunteer opportunities try to add value to others lives.  If you make decisions with the purpose of adding value to others, it will do great things for your career and relationships.
35.    Develop your best skills.

What are you really good at that you enjoy? Figure out different ways and opportunities where you can develop that skill. It will do wonders for your career.
36.    Be aware of etiquette.

Etiquette can be involved in multiple situations, but what I have noticed is that weddings are a large part of being in your 20s. Please know proper etiquette. You may end up being a groomsmen or a bridesmaid. Remember you’re not there to get drunk. You’re purpose is to BE THERE for the bride and groom. The bride and groom are honored to have you with them on their big day, make sure you don’t bring dishonor by being selfish. If you don’t know what your responsibilities are, ask someone who does know or search around the internet.

37.    There’s no place like home.

Consider moving in with your parents in your 20s. This of course depends on your situation, but if you can handle living with your parents it can be a great way to save money.
38.    Live on your own.

Contrary to the previous tip, there is a time when you need to move out and know what it’s like to live on your own. You’ve got to spread your wings sometime. You’ll be doing yourself and your parents a disservice if you don’t.
39.    Know what you’re getting into.

Do your due diligence. There will be times in your 20s where you will signing paperwork for numerous things. Make sure you read all documents before you sign them. This could be signing loans, taking classes, buying a car, etc. Know what you’re signing before you sign it.
40.    Start saving for a home.

You’re going to want to put some money down when you buy your first house. Don’t plan on doing any risky 0% down mortgages.
41.    Set goals.

This one is very important in your 20s, as it will be a guiding point for your future. What are your six month, one year, three year, and five year goals? Make goals for your family, relationships, finances, career, and hobbies (really anything and everything). These goals don’t have to be set in stone, but they will act as a framework to keep you in check with many decisions.
42.    Know you’re not alone.

Life in your 20s can be tough sometimes. They call it a quarter life crisis for a reason. At some point, you will enter into that dreaded stage. It can be a comforting thought knowing that you’re not the only one feeling this way.
43.    Be sexually healthy.

The American Social Health Association posted an article stating that 1 in 2 sexually active persons will come into contact with an STD/STI by age 25. Yikes! It’s dangerous out there. Be sure to wear a helmet, or don’t go riding your bike at all  Jokes aside, be aware of whose bike you’re riding.

44.    Ask for feedback.

You will begin to learn many things in your career. As you make different decisions, ask for feedback from fellow employees and your boss. Make sure you learn from this feedback.
45.    Finish your degree.

College grads are expected to earn $900,000 more in their lifetime than those without degrees. Remember to pursue additional education to stay ahead of your field, whether it’s reading books at home, taking classes or being involved in additional trainings.

46.    Buy a suit.

You will need one at some point, whether it’s a job interview or a wedding. Get a suit, you will use it.
47.    Be aware of your surroundings.

Emotional intelligence is huge. Be aware of your surroundings. Your words and actions affect those around you.

48.    Be a friend.

Your friends can be closer than family sometimes. Be there for them, they will be there for you.
49.    Create an emergency fund.

This should be one of your first financial goals. When saving that 10% mentioned earlier put it towards an emergency fund. Don’t touch this fund except for, you guessed it… emergencies.
50.    Never forget where you came from.

You’ve had stepping stones to get you where you are today. Remember through the current challenges that you’ve had past victories, and you will also have victories in your future.