The Ultimate Adulting Checklist: Everything You're "Supposed to Know" (But Nobody Taught You)

Breanna Stone
44 minutes ago
13 min read

I'll be honest - I hit 25 and realized I had no idea when I last went to the dentist, when my car registration was actually due, or what half the warning lights on my dashboard even meant. I relied on the other adults in my life and called my mom too much (lol). I just assumed everyone else had their life together and I was the only one fumbling through adulthood with a notes app full of random reminders/notes/lists I never checked.

Turns out, a LOT of people feel this way! (thank you, btw, to everyone who reviewed and shared suggestions to make the app better)

That's why I built Get Adulting!! Because I needed a system that actually worked for my brain. One that didn't just tell me "remember to do this thing" but actually explained WHAT the thing was, WHY it mattered, and WHEN I needed to do it again. I wanted a solution with the timelines built in, not just a plain app that required me to do all the work building everything. Sometimes I don't even know what I am supposed to do! The Get Adulting app literally has built-in education for everything from "how often should I rotate my tires?" to "what do I even say when I call to schedule a doctor's appointment?"

Because here's the thing: there's no actual comprehensive guide to what you're supposed to keep track of as an adult. It's like everyone else got a manual and we missed the memo.

So this is that manual: Everything you're expected to just "know" about managing your health, car, pets, budget, and life in general. And if you're reading this thinking "wow, this is overwhelming," don't worry - that's exactly why I built the app. It breaks all of this down into clear reminders with the recommended timelines already built in, so you don't have to remember when things are due. The app remembers for you. Just enable what works for you, toggle reminders if you want them, and customize the app to your liking! Because here's the thing: there's no actual comprehensive guide to what you're supposed to keep track of as an adult. It's like everyone else got a manual and we missed the memo.

So this is that manual. Everything you're expected to just "know" about managing your health, car, pets, budget, and life in general. And if you're reading this thinking "wow, this is overwhelming," don't worry - that's exactly why I built the app. It breaks all of this down into clear reminders with the recommended timelines already built in, so you don't have to remember when things are due. The app remembers for you.

Health + Wellness Tracking (Because "Just Remembering" Doesn't Work)

Annual Checkups You Actually Need:

Primary Care Doctor:

How often: Once a year (some people can go every 2 years if healthy)
Why it matters: Catches stuff early, refills prescriptions, baseline health tracking
What to track: Date of last visit, doctor's name and number, any concerning symptoms to mention
In the Get Adulting app: Track your last checkup, set reminders for your next one, and store your doctor's contact info. You can also track custom doctors like psychiatrist, dermatologist, and more.

Dentist:

How often: Every 6 months for cleanings
Why it matters: Cavities are expensive, gum disease is real, and dental health affects your whole body
What to track: Last cleaning date, any issues mentioned, next appointment date
In the Get Adulting app: Get reminders 6 months from your last cleaning, and if you're nervous about calling to schedule, there's literally a script for what to say on the phone when calling your doctor!

Eye Exam:

How often: Every 1-2 years (annually if you wear glasses/contacts)
Why it matters: Your prescription changes, eye health issues can sneak up on you
What to track: Current prescription, last exam date, vision insurance info
In the Get Adulting app: Track your last vision visit, store your eye prescription, and vision insurance details so you're not scrambling to find your insurance card when you need it.

Women's Health (if applicable, optional to see in Settings):

Annual exam: Once a year
Pap smear: Every 3 years (starting at 21)
Why it matters: Early detection saves lives
What to track: Last period date, cycle length, any symptoms, last exam dates
In the Get Adulting app: Track your cycle completely offline, get reminders 5 days before your expected period, and set reminders for your pap smear every 3 years so you don't forget.

Health Info You Should Actually Know:

This is the stuff they ask you at every doctor's appointment and you always panic because you don't remember:

Your blood type (you'll need this in emergencies)
Current medications and dosages
Family medical history (the important stuff - heart disease, cancer, diabetes)
Insurance info (policy number, provider phone number, where your card actually is)

In the Get Adulting app: Store all of this in one place. Your blood type, family history, insurance info, prescriptions (with reminders), doctor contacts - everything. So when they hand you that clipboard at the doctor's office, you're not frantically texting your mom asking "did grandpa have any heart issues?"

Car Maintenance (AKA The Stuff That Saves You Thousands + Lots of Headaches)

This section used to stress me out so much because I literally did not know what half of this stuff even WAS, let alone when I was supposed to do it. That's why Get Adulting has built-in education for all of this - like "how do I check my oil?" and "what does this warning light mean?" - so you're not just tracking maintenance, you're actually learning what you're doing. Even being overwhelmed during an accident or roadside emergency and not knowing what to do. No more frantic calling your family members.

Regular Maintenance Schedule:

Oil Changes:

How often: Every 3,000-5,000 miles (check your manual, or ask when you get it changed)
Why it matters: Your engine will literally die without clean oil
What to track: Mileage at last change, what oil type you use, where you went, how much it cost
In the Get Adulting app: Track your last oil change with mileage and notes, get reminders based on your mileage or timeline, and see education on how to check your oil level yourself!

Tire Rotation:

How often: Every 5,000-7,500 miles
Why it matters: Uneven wear = buying tires way sooner than you need to
What to track: Last rotation date, mileage, any issues the mechanic noted
In the Get Adulting app: Set reminders based on mileage or months and store notes on tire condition. See how to change your tires and how to add chains to your tires.

Air Filter:

How often: Every 12 months or so
Why it matters: A dirty air filter makes your engine work harder, hurts gas mileage, and can damage your engine over time. It's also one of the cheapest maintenance items to replace.
What to track: Last replacement date, mileage, type of filter you use, where you got it done
In the Get Adulting app: Set reminders based on mileage or timeline, store notes on what filter type your car needs, and see education on how to check your air filter yourself (it's actually pretty easy).

Brake Inspection:

How often: Every 12 months or so
Why it matters: Brakes are literally life or death
What to track: Brake pad percentage, any noises, when the mechanic recommended replacement
In the Get Adulting app: Track brake condition and get reminders before they become urgent (and expensive)

Battery:

How often: Replace every 2 years
Signs it's dying: Slow engine starts, dim lights, clicking sounds when you turn the key
What to track: Installation date, battery type, warranty info
In the Get Adulting app: Set a reminder for when your battery might need replacing so you don't get stranded

Registration Renewal:

How often: Annually (usually - check your state)
What happens if you forget: Tickets, fines, getting towed, a really bad day
What to track: Expiration date, where to renew, how much it costs
In the Get Adulting app: Get reminders before it expires so you're not scrambling last minute and you can prepare for the big bill!

Important Car Info to Keep Handy:

VIN number (for registration, insurance, repairs - it's on your dashboard and insurance card)
License plate number
Insurance info
Registration Date

In the Get Adulting app: Store all of this in My Garage so when something goes wrong, you're not frantically searching for your VIN or insurance info.

Car Education You Didn't Get:

The app has guides for stuff like:

What do all those dashboard warning lights mean?
How to jump a car battery
How to change a tire
What to do if you get in an accident (including a checklist for things you need to do!)
What to do if your car gets towed
How to read a tire sidewall
What type of gas should you actually use?

Because sometimes you just need someone to explain it like you're five, and that's okay.

Real talk: I got hit with a $200 late fee because my registration expired and I genuinely didn't know when it was due. I thought "they'll send me something" but they don't always. Now I have a reminder in the app 3 weeks before it expires and I've never forgotten since. That $200 mistake is literally why this feature exists.

Pet Care (Because They Can't Remind You Themselves)

I have three amazing kitties, and this section specifically has evovled so much with user suggestions!!

Vet Visits & Vaccinations:

Annual Checkup:

How often: Once a year for healthy pets, more often for seniors or if they have health issues
What to track: Date of visit, their weight, any concerns the vet mentioned, next appointment date
In the Get Adulting app: Track vet visits with notes and costs, set reminders for next checkup, store your vet's contact info

Flea/Tick/Heartworm Prevention:

How often: Monthly for most medications
What to track: Brand, dosage, last dose date, where you buy it
In the Get Adulting app: Set monthly reminders under 'Pet Reminders' so you don't forget, because missing a month can be a big deal

Grooming:

How often: Depends on the breed (some dogs need monthly grooming, others rarely need it)
What to track: Last grooming date, groomer contact info, cost, any special instructions for your pet
In the Get Adulting app: Track grooming history and set reminders for when they're due for their next appointment

Daily/Weekly Pet Care:

Food:

What to track: Brand, how much they eat daily, when you bought the current bag, when you'll run out
In the Get Adulting app: Track pet food details and get reminders before you run out so you're not scrambling to buy more

Cleaning:

What to track: Litter box changes, fish tank cleaning, cage cleaning - whatever applies to your pet
How often: Depends on pet type
In the Get Adulting app: Set custom cleaning reminders (like weekly litter box, monthly tank cleaning) and get hazard warnings when tasks are overdue

Important Pet Info:

Microchip number (critical if they get lost)
Birthday or adoption date
Breed, weight, any health conditions
Pet insurance info if you have it
In the Get Adulting app: Store all your pet's info in their profile, add photo, track their birthday, and keep everything organized in one place.

Plus, Pet Education is built in!

Know where your nearest emergency vet is
Keep poison control number handy (there's a button in the app to find emergency vets quickly)
Know what foods/plants are toxic to your specific pet (the app has guides on this)

Budget & Bills (Without Connecting Your Bank)

I know there are fancy budgeting apps that connect to your bank and auto-track everything. But personally, I don't want to give an app access to all my financial data. That's why Get Adulting tracks bills without needing your bank login - you just manually add what's due and when. This is literally a fancier version of the checklist I was using in the generic Notes app.

Bills to Track:

Monthly Recurring:

Rent/mortgage (due date, amount, where to pay)
Utilities (electric, water, gas, trash - due dates vary)
Internet/phone
Subscriptions (streaming services, gym, etc.)
Insurance (car, renters, health if you pay monthly)
Student loans if applicable
Credit card payments

Less Frequent:

Car registration (annual)
Insurance premiums if you pay every 6 months or annually
Any quarterly or annual subscriptions

In the Get Adulting app: Add each bill with its due date and amount, then see what's due before your next paycheck. Get reminders 1 week, 2 days, and 1 day before bills are due so you never miss a payment!

What to Know About Each Bill:

Due date
Amount
Where/how to pay
Account number if applicable
Auto-pay status (is it set up or do you need to manually pay?)
What happens if you're late (fees, service interruption, credit impact)

Paycheck Tracking:

How often you get paid (weekly, biweekly, monthly)
Approximately how much (after taxes)
Next paycheck date

In the Get Adulting app: Track your paychecks so you can see what bills are due before your next pay period. This is huge for avoiding overdrafts and late fees.

Real talk: I missed a credit card payment once because I thought it was due on the 15th but it was actually the 10th. $35 late fee plus my credit score took a hit. Now I have three reminders for every bill (one week before, two days before, day of) and I haven't missed a payment since!!

The Daily/Weekly "Adulting Tasks" Nobody Tells You About - ADHD and Neurodivergent Friendly

These are the little things that pile up until your life feels chaotic and you don't know why. This was also where I put A LOT of time creating pre-made tasks so you can easily just enable what works for you.

Weekly:

Wash your towels (yes, really, weekly)
Vacuum/sweep floors
Do laundry before you run out of underwear
Take out trash
Wipe down kitchen counters and bathroom
Grocery shopping
Meal planning if that's your thing

Monthly:

Change air filters (if you have HVAC)
Check smoke detector batteries
Clean out fridge (toss expired stuff)
Review your budget
Check your credit score (free on many apps or sites)
Deep clean one room/area

Quarterly:

Declutter a space (closet, garage, junk drawer)
Clean oven
Wash windows
Deep clean carpets/rugs
Review subscriptions (are you actually using all of them?)

Annually:

Replace toothbrush (okay this is actually every 3-4 months)
Test smoke/carbon monoxide detectors
Get flu shot
Change passwords on important accounts
Organize important documents
Clean out email/photos storage

In the Get Adulting app: Most of these are pre-made reminders in "Adulting Tasks" - you can turn on the ones you want and ignore the ones you don't need. You can even add your own custom tasks at whatever interval you want.

Mental Health & Self-Care (the most important part of Adulting!!!)

This isn't fluffy self-care content that feels intangible. This is basic maintenance for your brain!

What to Track:

Therapy appointments (if you go)
Medication (what, when, dosage)
Sleep patterns if you're tracking them
Mood patterns
Things that help when you're struggling

Daily Basics:

Drink water (sounds obvious but do you actually?)
Eat food (not just snacks, actual meals)
Move your body somehow
Sleep enough
Talk to at least one person

In the Get Adulting app: There's a Mental Health section with journaling space (searchable with monthly dropdowns), breathing exercises (visual guide that expands and contracts - just tap to start), digital fidgets with optional vibration if your hands need something to do, a focus timer with built-in break schedules (15/3, 25/5, 45/10 or customize your own), positive affirmations, grounding techniques (the 5-4-3-2-1 method), mental health topic education (covering anxiety, depression, ADHD, neurodivergent tips, sleep, grief, self-esteem, loneliness, and more), and crisis resources.

Real talk: I built in the fidget tools because my brain sometimes just needs something to DO with my hands while I'm thinking or on a call or waiting for something. The little ripple touchpad with vibration? I use that probably daily. It's not childish to need sensory input. Our brains work how they work.

Recipes & Kitchen Stuff (again, lots is just assumed that you know!)

What Actually Helps:

Having recipes saved somewhere you can find them
Knowing how to adjust serving sizes
Having conversion charts when a recipe says "tablespoons" and you only have measuring cups
Knowing basic cooking techniques

In the Get Adulting app: Save your favorite recipes, adjust servings automatically, access cooking basics and conversion charts, and when you can't decide what to make for dinner, spin the wheel to randomly pick a recipe. PLUS, generate a grocery list from your saved recipes.

Basic Cooking Knowledge:

How long food lasts in the fridge
Safe internal cooking temps for meat
What all those different types of flour are for
How to use a meat thermometer
What to do if oil catches fire in a pan

In the Get Adulting app: There's education on all of this in the Recipes section, so you're not Googling "is this chicken still good" at 6 PM when you're trying to make dinner.

If This List Feels Overwhelming, You're Not Alone

I just listed like 50+ things you're supposed to keep track of as an adult. No wonder everyone feels like they're failing at adulting - this is A LOT.

That's exactly why I built Get Adulting the way I did. Not as another to-do list where you have to manually enter everything and remember to check it. But as a system with:

Pre-built reminders for all the recommended timelines (you can adjust them to fit your life)
Built-in education so you're not Googling "how often should I get an oil change" or "what does this warning light mean"
Everything in one place instead of juggling six different apps
Gentle reminders that aren't annoying (with full control over what you see)
Call scripts for when you need to call the doctor or call in sick and don't know what to say
Customization so you only see what's relevant to YOUR life: Colors, sections, notifcaitons, and more!

Plus, Some Extra Features to Make Adulting a Little More Fun:

Solitaire Game: Need a brain break? There's a little card icon on your home page - tap it for a no-ads, no-popups solitaire game
Holiday Themes: Enable snowfall or string lights (with 5 color options: warm white, colorful, traditional, icy blue, or app color) - you can even see them on your Lock Screen
To-Do Spin Wheel: Can't decide what task to tackle first? Spin the wheel and let it randomly pick from your to-do list
Recipe Spin Wheel: Can't decide what to cook? Spin the wheel to randomly pick a recipe based on meal type or what you have on hand
Countdown/Count-Up Timers: Track days until an event or count up from a milestone or last bad habit
Daily Task Streaks: Complete all your daily tasks and see your streak counter with a flame - see how long you can keep it going
Reorder Sections: Drag and drop to put your most-used sections at the top of your home page
Affirmation Mode: Get gentler, more encouraging notifications instead of standard reminders
Pester Mode: Turn on weekly nudges for overdue tasks when you need that extra push (notifications sent Saturdays)
Time-Sensitive Notifications: Make reminders stay on your Lock Screen until you manually dismiss them so they're harder to ignore
Electric Car Mode: Only see relevant maintenance if you drive electric
Outside of US Toggle: Hide US-specific education if you're international (country-specific content coming soon!)
Adjustable Font Size: Make text bigger or smaller to fit your needs
Custom 4-Digit Code Screen: Change the "Welcome Back" text to rotating quotes, time-based greetings, or a custom message
Explore Mode: See the entire app without starting a trial if you want to check it out first

The app costs only $1.99/year (or lifetime for $7.99) and has a 7-day free trial so you can see if it actually helps your brain the way it helps mine!!

You can download Get Adulting here on the App Store and turn all of this overwhelming checklist into a system that actually works for you. Android is coming soon!!

P.S. If you read this whole thing and thought "wow this is exactly what I needed," that's how I felt too. That's why I built it. You're not failing at adulting - you just didn't get the instruction manual. Now you do!

Get Adulting on iOS: apps.apple.com/us/app/get-adulting/id6744375132

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