9 costs of adulting they don’t teach you about in school
Sure, it’s important to know how to calculate the area of a field for a landscaping project and what the significance of the Declaration of Independence is. However, there are things school doesn’t teach you about while you were in school: your finances.
What the statistics say
Whether it’s a one-time purchase or paying a long-term debt, not knowing your finances can severely impact your way of living.
A 2025 report from the National Financial Educators Council found that around 48% of its 1,200 respondents lost at least $500 from the lack of financial education they received in school. On average, the report found that its respondents lost about $948 without proper financial management literacy. When averaged nationally, Americans lost more than $246 billion.
Here are 9 hidden costs of adulting that school doesn’t teach you about.
1. Taxes
Once you get your first paycheck, you’re not actually going to get the actual amount. A good chunk will go to paying your taxes. Taxes like federal income, state income and medicare taxes will take a surprising bit out of your earnings. Make sure you understand how much you’re bringing home, which will be imperative when it comes to filing your taxes.
2. Savings for college funds
If you’re thinking about starting a family, you need to plan ahead, especially when it comes to funding your child’s college education. In the 2026-2027 calendar year, at least 16 schools will have passed the $100,000 tuition mark. Unless your child qualifies for a full scholarship, college is an investment that’s worth starting as soon as you can. By starting a savings account, like a 529 plan, you can set aside funds for a college education that can take years, depending on your earnings.
3. Paying off student loan debt
Just like how investing in your child’s college education is a years-long investment, paying your student loan debt is also a years-long, sometimes decades-long, process. While the hanging price tag of your student loan debt can seem daunting, it may ease your conscience to know that the average time to pay off federal undergraduate loans is about 17.5 years. However, that doesn’t mean you should be putting it off. When budgeting, taking your student loan debt into account is vital.
4. Insurance
You can always tell yourself that you will never get hurt. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work like that. There will be instances where you contract an unknown disease from the subway or accidentally break your arm and have to take a trip to the doctor’s. Lo and behold, you’re staring at a $200 medical bill to the doctor’s office because you never got insurance.
Getting insurance will not only cover these costs for several years but also allow you to spend your money on other endeavors by not having to pay for every single doctor’s visit.
5. Emergency funds
Similarly, you never know when you have to make an emergency purchase or take an emergency trip. Setting aside a good amount of your earnings dedicated to emergencies probably the most proactive thing you can do as an adult.
6. Maintenance
Once you’re an adult living independently, you’ll realize at some point that everything you own needs maintenance. A leaking roof, a broken windshield, an electrical rewiring. While these things can seem like a one-and-done repair, things wear and tear all the time. Soon, these costs will add up.
7. Groceries
Once you’re an adult, cooking for yourself and your family becomes a necessity. From April 2025 to April 2026, grocery prices increased by 2.9%. While this seems like an added challenge, it’s not all too bad. By going to more affordable grocery stores like Aldi, Trader Joe’s, or even your local fruit stands, the increase in grocery prices shouldn’t affect your spending too much.
8. Entertainment/Miscellaneous
While it’s important to get your insurance, taxes and savings sorted out, miscellaneous spending like streaming services and shopping also eats up your money. While it’s a good thing to treat yourself in your own indulgences, try to opt for cheaper ways to do so. Whether it’s streaming bundles or shopping at local thrift stores, these choices can help you save money.
9. Getaways/Weddings/Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
Weddings, vacations and bachelor parties are the easiest ways that drain your savings. With that said, you shouldn’t be living your life without any fun, but it’s important to save up money for these matters. Planning ahead is the best way to navigate these endeavors.
Tips to manage your finances
While financial literacy is something that isn’t taught much throughout schools around the country, that doesn’t mean you’re left behind. By budgeting and choosing cheaper options to spend your money on, managing your finances can be doable.
Related:
Ask us! What questions do you have about content, strategy, pop culture, lifestyle, wellness, history or more? We may use your question in an upcoming article!
Like MediaFeed’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was syndicated by MediaFeed.co.
