BEING AN ADULT IS MORE THAN JUST HANGING OUT. Although there's some of that, too, as these Eau Clairians demonstrate.

We were all once where you are – bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and completely unsure about where you should be, what you should own, and most importantly, steps you should and shouldn’t take as a new adult. A few of our staff and community writers have offered up some advice on what they wish they had known when they were just bursting into adulthood.

1. Credit Card Whoopsie

When I first started working in Chicago, all the extraordinary department stores on the Magnificent Mile – Michigan Avenue – were calling my name: Marshall Field’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bonwit Teller, I. Magnin, Saks Fifth Avenue, and more. Of course, as soon as one walked through the door, there were all kinds of offers for a FREE credit card with a sample perfume, make-up, or candy tossed in to sweeten the deal. How could I resist? So I bought little things: a pair of earrings, a scarf, some lipstick, and a blouse ... at each store. A month later of course, in came five separate bills – DUH – which I knew would happen, yet when it actually happened, a light bulb went on in my head, and I thought how much easier it would be to just have one credit card, one bill, etc. So I kept Marshall Field’s and dropped the rest. I already knew to pay bills on time to earn a credit rating plus not accrue interest, for while interest may be interesting, you don’t get anything tangible for it. –Barbara Arnold (contributing writer)

2. Get Out There

No one tells you how hard it is to make friends as an adult when you don’t have classes or clubs to seek them out anymore. Friends are not only good for your mental health, they’re great for making connections professionally and are just overall a great resource to have. And trust me, friends won’t magically appear outside of your apartment, so you’ll actually have to get out to meet them. This means you have to be vulnerable, maybe feel awkward, and go find a community event or group to meet new people. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a new hobby out of the deal, too. –Sawyer Hoff (Associate Editor)

3. Love the Library

Now that you’re an adult, you should make sure you have a library card. Yes, the library is great when you’re a kid, but I’d argue it’s even better when you’re an adult. In addition to the physical materials you can check out (for free), Eau Claire’s L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library offers a ton of other resources: e-books, naturally, but also access to a range of digital videos, streaming music, and more through services like Freegal and Hoopla – basically giving you access to free streaming services without having to “borrow” Mom and Dad’s Netflix password. Another great (and free) resource from the library is LinkedIn Learning, which offers more than 16,000 online courses to help you boost your professional skills. Log on and dig in! –Tom Giffey (Managing Editor)

TAKE A LOOK, IT'S IN A BOOK. The L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire.

4. Do Those Dishes

I recommend doing the dishes right away. Do not let them sit, unrinsed, otherwise they WILL sit. I also suggest having “emergency food” in the kitchen, at all times. This includes ramen, oatmeal packets, and cans of fruit and veggies. These items don’t spoil as fast and when you’re broke, sick, don’t want to go anywhere, and need something that will fill you up, you know you have a fast and easy meal to make from these non-perishables. –Jade Juedes (Graphic Designer)

5. Put Away the Pride

I wish I would have set aside my pride more often, and admit I didn’t know as much as I purported to know about life. Putting up a front of being more knowledgeable than I was created more opportunities for “suffering-in-silence” than was necessary. I would have learned a lot quicker about so many things by confiding in the right people at the right time, as opposed to the hard school of knox. Reflecting back, there’s no shame in asking a lot of questions, and there’s no shame in acknowledging one certainly isn’t the smartest or most experienced person in the room. As a result, I would’ve sought-out and nurtured a deeper network of experienced mentors within my own circle of influence. It took me a while to discover how much value and how enriching both personally and professionally great mentors & friends are helping one along in early adulthood, as opposed to making some of the mistakes I did! For instance, I wish I would have pursued many more “informational interviews” earlier in my working life. –Brian Maki (Media Strategy Director)

6. Ice, Ice Baby

Make sure you own an ice pick at some point. The uses for an ice pick know no bounds! Reach that tiny thing in the crevasse? Yes! Hit that tiny reset button on a device? Yes! Self-defense? Yes! Rocks or dog poop stuck on the shoe? Yes! Oh yeah, pick ice? Yes! –Matt Novacek (Distribution Manager)

7. Importance of Insurance

Be brave and figure out how to use your health insurance. Do not put off a doctor's visit because you are nervous about how much it will cost you because you don’t understand your health insurance plan. Take the time to understand your benefits and find a doctor in the network. Ask questions and don’t feel silly for trying to learn! Ask questions before you get a hefty bill you weren’t expecting. Then you’ll really feel silly. I know from experience. Oh and it’s totally normal to cry on the phone with your insurance, those folks are unshakeable. –Joann Martin (Community Engagement Director)