I am going to graduate soon. What should I know?

I am going to be a college student soon, and I am planning to bring my dolls along. I will likely still be living with my mother due to family issues, but I will still like some advice on how to protect your dolls when you are living alone.

 

Anyways, I would like advice on both dolls and life. By life, I would like to know some detailed dos and donts (No don't do drugs, wear a condom, simple things like that. Explain how I can avoid certain situations or how to handle situations.)

 

So, what would you say big ones?

Well, in my experience there's actually not much required to answer this question. Whether you live with your family or live by yourself, all the same rules apply. I don't think it's any different living on your own, is it? Be nice to people, try to follow rules properly, keep your mind open to new ideas, that kind of thing.

 

For dolls in particular, you can just treat them like any expensive item you may have and protect them with simple precautions. Keep your house's doors and windows locked when you're not home, keep blinds drawn so people can't see inside to inspect your belongings, don't leave dolls sitting visible in your car, lock your car. I feel like you'd do those things anyway whether you had dolls or not, so that's what I mean by there not being much to say that's specific to DDs.

 

Is there anything more specific that you wanted to know about?

When the alcohol comes out, the dolls go away.

 

Large dolls + drunk people is a recipe for very bad things. People who might be respectful of your dolls while sober might want to use them for "harmless" pranks when drunk. And "harmless" pranks can become very destructive in clumsy, alcohol-impaired hands.

Hmmm.......

 

First thing I'd say: "Common Sense" is not really that common...

 

Not directing this towards you, I'm just saying to keep in mind that others will be in their own little world.

 

And "harmless" pranks can become very destructive in clumsy, alcohol-impaired hands.

 

That sounds like the voice of experience......... I'm truly sorry if anything bad happened to your Kiddos...

Well, in my experience there's actually not much required to answer this question. Whether you live with your family or live by yourself, all the same rules apply. I don't think it's any different living on your own, is it? Be nice to people, try to follow rules properly, keep your mind open to new ideas, that kind of thing.

 

For dolls in particular, you can just treat them like any expensive item you may have and protect them with simple precautions. Keep your house's doors and windows locked when you're not home, keep blinds drawn so people can't see inside to inspect your belongings, don't leave dolls sitting visible in your car, lock your car. I feel like you'd do those things anyway whether you had dolls or not, so that's what I mean by there not being much to say that's specific to DDs.

 

Is there anything more specific that you wanted to know about?

 

Thank you! That is a really helpful word! Any advice on money and avoiding debt?

 

When the alcohol comes out, the dolls go away.

 

Large dolls + drunk people is a recipe for very bad things. People who might be respectful of your dolls while sober might want to use them for "harmless" pranks when drunk. And "harmless" pranks can become very destructive in clumsy, alcohol-impaired hands.

 

Alcohol. Beware. Yes.

 

Oh my gosh, I am assuming this actually happened?!

 

Hmmm.......

 

First thing I'd say: "Common Sense" is not really that common...

 

Not directing this towards you, I'm just saying to keep in mind that others will be in their own little world.

 

Common sense isn't really common. So true.

I agree. Alcohol messes everything up.

 

I've had friends playing the Wii once at my place, they were a little rowdy because of the alcohol. He ended up knocking off a head from a figurine.

 

There was a moment of silence.

@battrastard & @Aoibara

 

Thankfully no dolls were harmed in the production of my college degree!

 

But my freshman year, some drunk kids thought it would be funny to disassemble the furniture in the lounge as a prank... they ended up breaking the couch and chairs, so the lounge didn't have any furniture except for one sad, lonely table for the rest of the school year.

 

Also the number of things that I saw covered in vomit during my college years was... really disgusting. If people are drunk enough, nothing is safe. I once saw a guy open his own laptop, puke on the keyboard, and then close it and put it away. He didn't realize what he'd done until he'd sobered up the following morning.

Just a few things I've learned over my years of living on my own both past and present....

 

ALWAYS pay your bills! Bills come first, then food, then everything else.

 

Be thrifty whenever you can, especially when buying food. Nowadays there are many store brands of stuff that are just as good as name brands and cost a lot less. I've even found many Walmart brands of food that are BETTER than name brand stuff! Odd I know but hey, when trying to pinch those pennies, I've tried all sorts of foods out.

 

Call in favors only if it's a last resort. What I mean is, don't go pulling favors from friends over small stuff. Save those favors for important things like when your car breaks down and you need a ride to or from work. Or for needing someone to listen to your rantings at 11pm on a Tuesday when your significant other tells you they want a divorce. Friends, both online and local, are excellent resources so use them wisely and always be there for them because you never know when you will need them there for you.

 

Speaking of friends, make sure you're friends with either a mechanic or someone who lives with/dates/is married to one. Cars are expensive and always, ALWAYS cause you headaches and money. So having someone around who knows how to work on them is the way to go. Labor to work on cars is stupid expensive so having a friend that you can "pay" in ways other than cash is something you'll be wanting.

 

And if you didn't already know... NO drugs or smoking and go easy on the alcohol. All three of those cost a lot of money, money you COULD be using for more DD's!! Plus, as others have said, none of them are good for DD's to be around. Alcohol is fine as long as it's not overdone tho, many of us kind of need that one beer or cider or cup of sake after a long crappy day at work.

 

If you're going to live alone and either rent or own your own place, make sure to have insurance that can or will cover the theft of your dolls. Some insurance companies will cover them under the "interior valuables" clauses but some won't and you'll need a separate rider or note for them. Most often it's not that expensive to add on and it's well worth it if, God forbid, you get broken into or there's a fire. Also, take pictures of every valuable you own and save multiple copies in multiple places, including one not at your home. Give those pics and descriptions to a really close friend or relative to keep on their computer. If something happens to yours, the list and pics won't do you any good if you can't get to them due to fire damage or if the computer/hard drive is stolen.

 

 

I hope these help you out a bit. I don't want to sound negative with any of the above but I always thought it was better to know stuff like this up front instead of finding out the hard way on your own.

 

 

 

Billy

I agree. Alcohol messes everything up.

 

I've had friends playing the Wii once at my place, they were a little rowdy because of the alcohol. He ended up knocking off a head from a figurine.

 

There was a moment of silence.

 

Wow...O_O|| Alcohol sure messes up everything. I actually got drunk by alcohol twice by accident when I was small, all because I drank my parent's drink without knowing.

 

@battrastard & @Aoibara

 

Thankfully no dolls were harmed in the production of my college degree!

 

But my freshman year, some drunk kids thought it would be funny to disassemble the furniture in the lounge as a prank... they ended up breaking the couch and chairs, so the lounge didn't have any furniture except for one sad, lonely table for the rest of the school year.

 

Also the number of things that I saw covered in vomit during my college years was... really disgusting. If people are drunk enough, nothing is safe. I once saw a guy open his own laptop, puke on the keyboard, and then close it and put it away. He didn't realize what he'd done until he'd sobered up the following morning.

 

Oh my god that would have ended up serving as a senior prank or something similar (The disassembling furniture part.).

 

But the vomit part, ewwwwwwwwwwww....

 

Just a few things I've learned over my years of living on my own both past and present....

 

ALWAYS pay your bills! Bills come first, then food, then everything else.

 

Be thrifty whenever you can, especially when buying food. Nowadays there are many store brands of stuff that are just as good as name brands and cost a lot less. I've even found many Walmart brands of food that are BETTER than name brand stuff! Odd I know but hey, when trying to pinch those pennies, I've tried all sorts of foods out.

 

Call in favors only if it's a last resort. What I mean is, don't go pulling favors from friends over small stuff. Save those favors for important things like when your car breaks down and you need a ride to or from work. Or for needing someone to listen to your rantings at 11pm on a Tuesday when your significant other tells you they want a divorce. Friends, both online and local, are excellent resources so use them wisely and always be there for them because you never know when you will need them there for you.

 

Speaking of friends, make sure you're friends with either a mechanic or someone who lives with/dates/is married to one. Cars are expensive and always, ALWAYS cause you headaches and money. So having someone around who knows how to work on them is the way to go. Labor to work on cars is stupid expensive so having a friend that you can "pay" in ways other than cash is something you'll be wanting.

 

And if you didn't already know... NO drugs or smoking and go easy on the alcohol. All three of those cost a lot of money, money you COULD be using for more DD's!! Plus, as others have said, none of them are good for DD's to be around. Alcohol is fine as long as it's not overdone tho, many of us kind of need that one beer or cider or cup of sake after a long crappy day at work.

 

If you're going to live alone and either rent or own your own place, make sure to have insurance that can or will cover the theft of your dolls. Some insurance companies will cover them under the "interior valuables" clauses but some won't and you'll need a separate rider or note for them. Most often it's not that expensive to add on and it's well worth it if, God forbid, you get broken into or there's a fire. Also, take pictures of every valuable you own and save multiple copies in multiple places, including one not at your home. Give those pics and descriptions to a really close friend or relative to keep on their computer. If something happens to yours, the list and pics won't do you any good if you can't get to them due to fire damage or if the computer/hard drive is stolen.

 

 

I hope these help you out a bit. I don't want to sound negative with any of the above but I always thought it was better to know stuff like this up front instead of finding out the hard way on your own.

 

 

 

Billy

 

Good extensive advice! Thank you sooooooooooooo much! Yes! Money! I need to becareful of money! My parents has done all that part, including my dolls! YIPES!

Thank you! That is a really helpful word! Any advice on money and avoiding debt?

For money, the golden rule is: spend less than you earn. It sounds so simple, but you can apply the rule in many ways. Use a credit card for the cash-back rewards points, but only buy as much as you can pay off in the same month. Don't borrow money from friends unless you can pay them back right away. That kind of thing. You should always end up with money left over at the end of the month that goes into savings.

 

You'll also want that portion of money that is left over to grow and grow. When you first start working, maybe you'll only be able to save 5% of your income each month because your pay is low. As you get raises, that percentage should go up - don't spend more, save more! Within 5 years, that savings rate could be 50% of your money or more every month.

 

Take that savings and invest it. Within a few more years after that you will have amassed enough capital that you'll be financially independent (income from investments will cover your bills). At that point, the location and subject of your work, and even whether you work for a company at all, will become completely optional. You'll gain back your freedom to choose what you want to do.

 

That's my quick off-the-cuff advice for money. Spend less than you earn, and in fact save as much as you reasonably can.

Thank you! That is a really helpful word! Any advice on money and avoiding debt?

For money, the golden rule is: spend less than you earn. It sounds so simple, but you can apply the rule in many ways. Use a credit card for the cash-back rewards points, but only buy as much as you can pay off in the same month. Don't borrow money from friends unless you can pay them back right away. That kind of thing. You should always end up with money left over at the end of the month that goes into savings.

 

You'll also want that portion of money that is left over to grow and grow. When you first start working, maybe you'll only be able to save 5% of your income each month because your pay is low. As you get raises, that percentage should go up - don't spend more, save more! Within 5 years, that savings rate could be 50% of your money or more every month.

 

Take that savings and invest it. Within a few more years after that you will have amassed enough capital that you'll be financially independent (income from investments will cover your bills). At that point, the location and subject of your work, and even whether you work for a company at all, will become completely optional. You'll gain back your freedom to choose what you want to do.

 

That's my quick off-the-cuff advice for money. Spend less than you earn, and in fact save as much as you reasonably can.

 

+1. That was a really useful tip because I was basically the sheltered third-culture kid for my whole life, meaning my parents spent alot of the things I have here. I also have to say I do have a bit of a poor way of spending money and I am trying to fix it because that can be really troublesome.

My general life advice is: stand up for yourself, and be your own advocate.

If you are in situations with alcohol, make sure you don't lose control or at least have a trusted pal to look out for you. Don't get pushed around by landlords, teachers, bosses, doctors, DMV employees- know what you want and demand it. Ask for a supervisor, just keep asking until you find the question that gets results. These people aren't necessarily 'against' you but they are often apathetic and you'll have to push to solve your own problems. It's not rude or 'bitchy', it's being responsible for yourself.

Some folks this comes to naturally, but if you're a youngun' out in the wild world for the first time you might not be inclined to question authority. Put on your serious business hat and take charge! Act like an adult and you will be treated as one

Lots of money talk up ahead!

 

I've always heard that you should save 20% of every paycheck-- it's a very healthy amount. You can spend fairly guilt-free knowing that you have saved 20%. It's also a good amount to save without putting too much pressure on yourself. For some people, higher than 20% makes you feel like you're not enjoying life.

 

I don't know how it works wherever you live, but contribute to your retirement funds early! Take advantage of some things that work with your youth when it comes to money. For instance, if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in the future when you'll need to withdraw the money (buying a house, car, investing in something), then consider putting your money into a post-tax reserve. Your money pots that you build up early are the best! In the future if you need to take a loan, borrow from yourself.

 

Remember to make your money work for you too, as it doesn't do anything other than be lazy if it hangs out in a bank somewhere. :> Invest it in a mutual fund, for instance.

 

Never settle for less, and remember to maintain your personal integrity so you won't have regrets in life. Know that because times are different, don't let people from different backgrounds shame you for whatever choices you have to make to get by. For instance, it's more and more common for young adults to need to stay home after college for many, many years. While back in other people's eras that may have been a sign of failure, it is certainly one of the best things you can do for yourselves during these trying times. The same goes for having roommates and renting.

 

My mom, for instance, tells me that the first thing I should buy with my hard-earned money is a house-- while that is a wonderful idea that I keep in the back of my mind, I understand that times are different now and sometimes it is still reasonable to rent long-term. Same with buying cars, actually-- there are alternatives to outright buying a car that may be better for you long-term. Those last two points may or may not hold true too depending on your career choice. For instance, my boyfriend wants to go into law enforcement-- it's very likely he'll be in one region for a very long time. My sister is a video game artist, and she may have assignments that move her to the headquarters in Japan or back to the US branch in either NorCal or SoCal.

 

Lastly, keep an eye on that credit score! I like to pay my bills in full every month to make life easier for me-- there are different theories on how to make your credit score go up up up, but generally making sure you pay things on time is a good start. Your credit score will be very important later on in life, and it takes time to nurture it.

 

Here's a nice blog to read about personal finances that focuses a lot of its advice on what young adults can do to secure their futures.

My general life advice is: stand up for yourself, and be your own advocate.

If you are in situations with alcohol, make sure you don't lose control or at least have a trusted pal to look out for you. Don't get pushed around by landlords, teachers, bosses, doctors, DMV employees- know what you want and demand it. Ask for a supervisor, just keep asking until you find the question that gets results. These people aren't necessarily 'against' you but they are often apathetic and you'll have to push to solve your own problems. It's not rude or 'bitchy', it's being responsible for yourself.

Some folks this comes to naturally, but if you're a youngun' out in the wild world for the first time you might not be inclined to question authority. Put on your serious business hat and take charge! Act like an adult and you will be treated as one

 

That is what I learned as a girl scout (And finishing my last year as a senior for it), to follow my heart and be my own advocate. Now, you have strengthened that idea. Thank you!

 

Lots of money talk up ahead!

 

I've always heard that you should save 20% of every paycheck-- it's a very healthy amount. You can spend fairly guilt-free knowing that you have saved 20%. It's also a good amount to save without putting too much pressure on yourself. For some people, higher than 20% makes you feel like you're not enjoying life.

 

I don't know how it works wherever you live, but contribute to your retirement funds early! Take advantage of some things that work with your youth when it comes to money. For instance, if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in the future when you'll need to withdraw the money (buying a house, car, investing in something), then consider putting your money into a post-tax reserve. Your money pots that you build up early are the best! In the future if you need to take a loan, borrow from yourself.

 

Remember to make your money work for you too, as it doesn't do anything other than be lazy if it hangs out in a bank somewhere. :> Invest it in a mutual fund, for instance.

 

Never settle for less, and remember to maintain your personal integrity so you won't have regrets in life. Know that because times are different, don't let people from different backgrounds shame you for whatever choices you have to make to get by. For instance, it's more and more common for young adults to need to stay home after college for many, many years. While back in other people's eras that may have been a sign of failure, it is certainly one of the best things you can do for yourselves during these trying times. The same goes for having roommates and renting.

 

My mom, for instance, tells me that the first thing I should buy with my hard-earned money is a house-- while that is a wonderful idea that I keep in the back of my mind, I understand that times are different now and sometimes it is still reasonable to rent long-term. Same with buying cars, actually-- there are alternatives to outright buying a car that may be better for you long-term. Those last two points may or may not hold true too depending on your career choice. For instance, my boyfriend wants to go into law enforcement-- it's very likely he'll be in one region for a very long time. My sister is a video game artist, and she may have assignments that move her to the headquarters in Japan or back to the US branch in either NorCal or SoCal.

 

Lastly, keep an eye on that credit score! I like to pay my bills in full every month to make life easier for me-- there are different theories on how to make your credit score go up up up, but generally making sure you pay things on time is a good start. Your credit score will be very important later on in life, and it takes time to nurture it.

 

Here's a nice blog to read about personal finances that focuses a lot of its advice on what young adults can do to secure their futures.

 

Thank you!

 

About the paycheck and receiving money, my mother told me to save 30% for myself, 30% for charity and 30% to throw into your bank account for the future. :]

 

I will read that link when I get settled, so thank you!

My experience of college was, unlike school were I was forced to socialise with people I didn't like, suddenly I was able to choose my friends.

 

So my advice is, be open minded about finding people. Clubs and societies are there for a reason, to meet like minded people, but don't presume that it's the only place! I met my husband by randomly talking to a good looking guy at a concert. We've been together 7 years now. I'm not saying you will meet your partner for life out there, but just saying there's so much opportunity to meet good people

I'm in my third year of college with a year and a half to two years left. Here's what I have to offer because I always find myself seeking advice from others; this time I hope I can be on the other end.

 

For me it was exceedingly difficult not to stress out about my future. Going to college right after of high school left me lost and I stressed out about what to study in college. I thought about it constantly, all while believing that what I was meant to do would just slowly fall into place. Know that things can change, but they can always change for the better. I went from graphic design to biology and now accounting (with other changes in between such as textiles and entrepreneurship).

 

Another thing with college was stressing about making friends. I joined a club and made some friends, only one of which I talk to still. It wasn't until my third year where I met the insanely awesome faustbane (her forum username). I'm so fortunate to have such a great friend!!!

 

Get a job! I have a job at school and I enjoy knowing that I have money coming in. I really need to start saving though I do plan on living at home after school.

 

Get an "in" with professors. I have a handful of professors that I felt like I connected with by the end of the semester and consistently doing the work and going to them for help will seriously help.

 

Get out there and do stuff your school offers. I enjoy the "amenities" my school offers such as movies, karaoke, free admission to the recreation center, etc. My personal favorite is the Dogs on Campus program where therapy dogs go into buildings and anybody can come and pet them.

My advice is that always put back a bit of your money from your financial aid (if you receive any) so that you will be able to buy books and materials before school starts the next semester. Here at my school they don't release the funds until three weeks after school starts ^^;. Books are very expensive, and my first semester here (I didn't have a job) I wasn't able to buy any of my school supplies until three weeks after my classes started. I borrowed a bit of money from my parents, but for me it is hard to ask for $400 or more just for books...

 

That is the biggest issue for me with school, is always having enough money to buy books. There are always surprises each semester. Last semester just one of my books cost $180!! That is crazy!! This semester I've only spend $40 on books, but the supplies are high (painting class), its always different for every class. So be prepared.

Since you didn't mention your major, I will make that my bit of knowledge: choose the right major.

 

I don't know how expensive education in Taiwan is, but in the USA it can be absurdly expensive, easily rivaling that of a house--it is basically the first mortgage you will ever get if you need financial aid loans.

 

Since so much money is involved, it is completely fair (and wise!) to demand that your degree generates a return--i.e. a well-compensated job. Otherwise when the loans come due you will jeopardize everything you own, and I don't just mean your money, but your health and self-respect.

 

That said, there is no substitute for working in a field you love--if you are lucky enough to do that, you never have to "work" your entire life!

 

Basically, I am saying to balance the reality of the labor market with your own talents and desires. Save the emotion for cheaper things like dolls.

Since you didn't mention your major, I will make that my bit of knowledge: choose the right major.

 

I don't know how expensive education in Taiwan is, but in the USA it can be absurdly expensive, easily rivaling that of a house--it is basically the first mortgage you will ever get if you need financial aid loans.

 

Since so much money is involved, it is completely fair (and wise!) to demand that your degree generates a return--i.e. a well-compensated job. Otherwise when the loans come due you will jeopardize everything you own, and I don't just mean your money, but your health and self-respect.

 

That said, there is no substitute for working in a field you love--if you are lucky enough to do that, you never have to "work" your entire life!

 

Basically, I am saying to balance the reality of the labor market with your own talents and desires. Save the emotion for cheaper things like dolls.

 

Thanks, but I won't be in Taiwan for my education.

One of the biggest advices I can give you is to smile. Smile everyday.

 

Since you're going to college soon, take advantage of your professors' office hours. If you need help in your subjects, no better place than to ask your them directly. Even if you don't need help, visit them anyways. Many of them are really cool and have fun stories to share. I would say only 5% of students actually ever go to their professor's office hours. Get to know your professors so at the end of the semester you can ask them for letters of recommendations to apply for graduate school if you decide to pursue your education further. Also you never know, even after graduating college, professors can connect you to find a job. Create a strong network. Their help can come at unexpected times.

 

Open one credit card. Only one credit card. Preferably one that gives 1-3% cash back on your purchases. 3% cash back on gas. 2% cash back on groceries. 1% cash back on general purchases. Pay off your credit card immediately every month. Try to build an outstanding credit score.

Open one credit card. Only one credit card. Preferably one that gives 1-3% cash back on your purchases. 3% cash back on gas. 2% cash back on groceries. 1% cash back on general purchases. Pay off your credit card immediately every month. Try to build an outstanding credit score.

 

That's good advice about building credit! If you aren't a US citizen or haven't been in the US for long, your credit history is blank. It will add difficulty to getting a lease, a car, a cellphone. You'll get better interest rates with a good credit score, which means always pay your bills on time. Just be sure to pay your debt off immediately as others mentioned. Also, I recommend getting a card without foreign transaction fees, and that has a good exchange rate, if you will be traveling or ordering doll stuff from Japan

Hmmm on credit, I was always advised that you should have multiple credit cards for emergencies-- if a card has no fee, there's no reason not to keep it.

 

For instance, I recently had to swipe a huge amount on my credit card for a business trip and I knew I wouldn't be able to expense it until I got back-- however, the amount was so big that it maxed out my main credit card. Thankfully, I had a backup card so that I could still get gas and groceries (with 5% extra cashback rewards, whoooo!)-- so I would say, in my opinion and experience, have at least a backup card. Free money is free money, after all. I would only suggest not to have multiple cards if the person wielding an arsenal of cards has poor impulse and budgeting skills-- because then having multiple cards leads to overspending, haha!

 

Speaking of credit cards, it doesn't hurt to wait for a good deal on them too. :> I bit for Chase Freedom's $100 for $500 spent within three months, but then a few months later they had $200 for $500 spent within three months-- and in the past they've even had $300 for $500 spent within three months. $300 of free money-- and spending $500 within three months was easy without being irresponsible (rent, gym membership, gas, groceries, blah blah blah). uwu;;;

I never had any dolls when I was in school, but I've got advice from another angle.

 

Unless you've got a very reliable impression that things won't go to crap job-wise after you graduate college, don't go to college for a traditional 4 year program. These next 20 or so years are going to be very interesting, and you don't need crushing debt that you can't discharge via bankruptcy making things even more interesting in your life.

 

And whatever you do, stay away from for profit institutions like DeVry and ITT Tech. If you're enrolled in one of those places now, I highly recommend you do whatever you can to get out. You can end up worse off if you have a degree from a for profit than if you have no degree at all. Look up on Youtube for Extra Credits game schools. It's about game schools, and while I didn't go to a for profit for a video game program, I felt like I could have just substituted my major for all references to video games in the video and it still rang true. Unfortunately, I got suckered into a for profit, and I'm paying the price. I still think that most if not all colleges have become for profit under the surface and sbleepmy, but the openly for profit colleges are the sbleepmiest.

 

Do not let your parents cage you into something you don't want to do. I wanted to be an auto mechanic. I got talked into electronics engineering. I felt like I had no way out, but I was wrong. It's your future, just as it was mine, and no matter how much it ticks your parents off, you need to do what's right for you.

 

Community college can be underrated. I hear that auto mechanic programs at community colleges are the best around. It's a nontraditional program.

 

Don't be ashamed of being a plumber. That's part metaphor and part real advice.

 

I haven't read this whole topic, so maybe I'm being dissenting with this post, but it's what I feel is right.