# Areas of your life where you have failed to be a functioning adult **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 5, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261 "2016-04-05T15:31:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/121 "2016-04-20T01:53:37Z")
I have failed at most of them. I have no means of income, no savings, no education, I don’t even have a PHONE. My most valuable possession is a three year old HP that cost 400 new. I have a horrifically bad diet, I rarely exercise, and my house is cluttered. it’s clean. Okay it’s as clean as it gets when you live with nine pets and three other human slobs. I’m really bad about keeping in touch with loved ones outside this house. I mean well but I get distracted so easy. I spend way too much time playing games and arguing with strangers. I’ve mastered keeping myself clean and my teeth brushed but I haven’t had a real dental cleaning since the early 90s. There are tests I know a woman my age should have regularly but the last physical I had was 11.5 years ago when I was pregnant. On the plus side I’m a very responsible driver and I’m quite proud that I’ve never gotten a ticket. I’m quite skilled at grocery shopping and I’m a great cook and baker. I am very strict about education and most people would probably say I’m too overprotective of my children. I am also a big fighter for my daughter’s rights for therapies and education but it is HARD for me to be assertive. I wish I knew how to grow that part of me. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/122 "2016-04-20T02:12:14Z")
> [@](#): > > I cannot seem to tie my shoes without the laces needing retying within an hour or so. Drives me batty. Locklaces: [http://www.locklaces.com/](http://www.locklaces.com/) I refuse to use anything else. I haven’t tied a shoelace in years. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/123 "2016-04-20T16:21:06Z")
I’m not great about keeping up with shaving my face these days. I often let it get two or three days of scruffy before I take a razor to it. > [@Asimovian](#): > > Responsible eating choices. I just had lunch from a place called Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken. I should not be allowed to make my own food choices. Nonsense! It’s perfectly responsible to eat at Astro whenever the opportunity arises. Now that I’m not in DC anymore, I sometimes catch myself wishing that I’d taken more days off of work just so I could get to Astro before they sold out of creme brulee doughnuts. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/124 "2016-04-20T16:23:45Z")
Money. I’m not good at earning it, not good at managing it, not good at saving it, not good at keeping it. And when it comes to the long term - retirement, investments, etc., I’m relying largely on hope. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/125 "2016-04-21T07:21:13Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Buying a car on my own. I never have. My father was the car person in the family and every single car I’ve ever owned, all used, have been selected by him, with my agreement. That included the car I’m in now. > > My father was killed about a year and a half ago, and I’m not sure what I’ll do if and when the time comes to car shop on my own. You’re kinda like my father. When it was time to buy a new car, he’d to to the nearest dealer and ask them what they had. Occasionally he’d ask for a particular color, that’s all. He’d let them talk him into a car, then he’d write them a check for the entire sticker price. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/126 "2016-04-21T11:28:18Z")
I can’t iron - I really can’t, I just make it worse. I buy things that don’t need ironing, but about once every couple of years I stand over the ironing board ready to cry because I don’t understand how you’re supposed to iron the sleeve. It’s not bloody straight! I can iron a tea towel, that’s it. Is ironing sleeves something you’re supposed to be taught? I think the only things I was actively taught about adulting was making bechamel sauce and how to jump start the car. The other stuff was all just osmosis. But I think I missed ironing day? Phew, I’m so glad I live with three other adults so we can share the adulting. I’m pretty sure we would individually die. It takes a village to just live day-to-day life. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/127 "2016-04-21T11:36:50Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > I can’t iron - I really can’t, I just make it worse. I haven’t owned an iron in a long, long time. And I don’t get things “dry-cleaned”. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/128 "2016-04-21T12:18:41Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I haven’t owned an iron in a long, long time. And I don’t get things “dry-cleaned”. Do you bother to wash them? 😃 I don’t iron clothes, either. I just use one of [these](http://www.amazon.com/J-2000-Jiffy-Garment-Steamer-Plastic/dp/B0000665TD/ref=zg_bs_510248_10). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/129 "2016-04-21T12:26:44Z")
> [@Tibby or Not Tibby](#): > > Do you bother to wash them? 😃 Everything (whites, towels, colors, etc) in one giant load. My gf does her stuff as many seperate loads, and is pissed that my minimal effort achieves identical results. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/130 "2016-04-21T12:29:09Z")
I just let my gf wash the clothes. Then, I wash her. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/131 "2016-04-21T12:31:30Z")
Tumble dry? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/132 "2016-04-21T12:36:36Z")
No just wash…like a cat. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/133 "2016-04-21T12:41:37Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > You’re kinda like my father. When it was time to buy a new car, he’d to to the nearest dealer and ask them what they had. Occasionally he’d ask for a particular color, that’s all. \ That’s how I pick my girlfriends! ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/134 "2016-04-21T12:59:21Z")
I am not handy in any way, shape or form. It has yet to manifest itself too negatively because I’ve been apartment living for so long, but one of these days I intend to have a house and as soon as a pipe breaks/the roof leaks/the dishwasher breaks/the toilet backs up I’m screwed. Then again, I’m not horribly averse to just paying someone else to do it because I at least know it’s getting done right. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261/135 "2016-04-21T13:03:17Z")
Also, I used to think that not pairing socks was a failure at adulting, but I’ve now come full circle around to the dark side: anyone who pairs socks is an irresponsible good-for-nothing time-waster. Real adults do not pair socks. Could’ve cured cancer by now, but no, you were busy pairing socks, you useless sod. (People who buy socks in bulk so they have 10 pairs of the same black socks get a pass. I just don’t care enough to do that and am quite happy adulting along while wearing entirely different socks.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/areas-of-your-life-where-you-have-failed-to-be-a-functioning-adult/751261.md?page=6)