We all know “adulting” can be a struggle. Between learning to cook, commuting, staying organized, budgeting and trying to get eight hours of sleep a night, I barely get to binge my favorite shows on Netflix anymore. Here are the best (and free!) apps to make adulting a breeze.
Organization
If you don’t already keep a calendar, now is the time. Google Calendar can be accessed from phones, tablets and computers. Events can be listed under different color-coded calendars and can be viewed a day, week or month at a time. There is even a search bar at the top just in case you can’t find something specific. I personally prefer this to a planner; It is free and doesn’t take up any extra space in my bag.
Professional
As millennials, we are all about presenting our best selves on social media. So why should our LinkedIn profiles be any different? This app makes it extremely simple to update your profile on the go and constantly expand your network.
News
As an adult, most people will expect you to be aware of what is going on in the world. TheSkimm is an email newsletter that comes to your inbox every weekday at 6 a.m. The Skimm summarizes current events so they’re easy to understand. It covers everything you need to know to get through the workday. Bonus: you get a shout out on your birthday! Subscribe here!
Health
Exercise is not only good for your body, but it is also great for your mind. My Fitness Pal lets you set your own health goals, keep a food diary and track your workouts. The app uses the step counter in your phone and adjusts the daily calorie intake accordingly. You can search for foods, scan the barcode or input the nutritional information yourself.
Money
The first step in managing your money is knowing how much you have. Most banks have a free mobile app that has all of the functionality of the online site. You can even deposit checks from your phone. The next step in managing your money is setting a budget. Mint tracks your spending, reminds you when bills are due and provides a free credit report. It allows you to set a general budget and specific budgets for things like utilities and food. Mint categorizes spending as you make each purchase and visualizes your spending for you.
Be sure to download one of these apps, or all five.
Have your own suggestion? Share your experience with us by tweeting @HCKentState!