Thirty small, specific things worth doing in your first years of adult life — money, credit, housing, work, health and paperwork. Read it here for free, or get the printable version in your inbox.
01
Money basics
The handful of moves that make every other money decision easier.
Open a separate savings account and name it something specific
Automate one transfer on payday, even if it's $20
Write down every subscription and cancel the ones you forgot about
Build a starter emergency fund of one month of rent
Pick a needs / wants / future split and hold it for three months
02
Credit
Credit is a track record, not a personality test. Start the record early.
Check your credit report for free and read it once, slowly
Set every card and loan to autopay the minimum so you never miss a date
Keep your balance under about a third of your limit
Leave your oldest account open, even if you barely use it
Freeze your credit when you're not applying for anything
03
Housing
Most rental mistakes happen before you sign anything.
Read the full lease, including the parts about breaking it early
Photograph every room the day you move in
Get renters insurance before your first night
Put utilities in your name and note the billing dates
Save the landlord's maintenance process somewhere you'll find it
04
Work and paychecks
Understanding what leaves your paycheck is half of understanding your pay.
Read one paycheck line by line and identify every deduction
Fill out your W-4 deliberately instead of guessing
Enroll in your employer retirement match if one exists
Keep a running file of what you accomplished each quarter
Know your notice period and what happens to unused time off
05
Health and insurance
Boring until the week you need it, then the most important page here.
Find out which plan you're on and what your deductible is
Choose a primary care doctor before you're sick
Save your insurance card as a photo on your phone
Learn the difference between urgent care and the emergency room
Book the one appointment you've been putting off
06
Adult admin
Twenty minutes of filing that saves entire afternoons later.
Keep digital copies of your ID, Social Security card and birth certificate
Use a password manager and turn on two-factor authentication
Register to vote at your current address
Keep a folder for tax documents starting in January
Write down your emergency contacts somewhere other than your phone
The checklist is the first page. The book is the rest.
The Life Playbook walks through every line above — with real examples, worksheets and free calculators that go with each chapter.