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Being An Adult
Adult life is full of mysteries. What should you check before renting a flat? How do you ask for a pay rise? Does anything really need to be dry cleaned? And why does everyone else seem to know these things except you?
(They don’t, but this book will help.)
Being an Adult is a practical and entertaining guide to the life skills you didn’t learn at school, from when to ask for a discount or send a condolence card, to how to save money, and what you need to know before your first day at work.
If you've ever wondered when you’re going to become a ‘real’ grown-up, this book — with top tips from 20- and 30-somethings, and proper adults including a plumber, a doctor, and a personal finance expert — will give you the answers you need.
(They don’t, but this book will help.)
Being an Adult is a practical and entertaining guide to the life skills you didn’t learn at school, from when to ask for a discount or send a condolence card, to how to save money, and what you need to know before your first day at work.
If you've ever wondered when you’re going to become a ‘real’ grown-up, this book — with top tips from 20- and 30-somethings, and proper adults including a plumber, a doctor, and a personal finance expert — will give you the answers you need.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published October 11, 2018
19 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Tobin
12 books2 followersAfter writing her first book - on student life - whilst still a student at Oxford University, journalist Lucy Tobin is now a seasoned author with four books to her name. She is an award-winning reporter, self-confessed money-saving nerd, and personal finance editor of the Evening Standard. Lucy is also a contributor to Radio 4's Broadcasting House, and Women's Hour, BBC TV's Breakfast and Show me the Money, plus Sky News and BBC News 24.
She can also be found in magazines including Grazia, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan and the Sunday Times Magazine, and has written for newspapers including The Independent, Guardian, The Times, The Daily Express and The Daily Telegraph.
Find out more about her latest book, Ausperity, at ausperity.com, on lucytobin.com or Twitter @lucytobin.
She can also be found in magazines including Grazia, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan and the Sunday Times Magazine, and has written for newspapers including The Independent, Guardian, The Times, The Daily Express and The Daily Telegraph.
Find out more about her latest book, Ausperity, at ausperity.com, on lucytobin.com or Twitter @lucytobin.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 7, 2019
Everyone should be given a copy of this book when they turn 18.
January 21, 2023
im offically a adult
March 7, 2024
This book is quite useful and comprehensive. I was listening to it as an audiobook but half way through I bought a paper copy for my shelf.
It makes you feel it’s not just you that’s confused.
The information seems well researched but it is a lot of information so can be really quite overwhelming and makes you worry about things that you didn’t know existed before reading it.
It makes you feel it’s not just you that’s confused.
The information seems well researched but it is a lot of information so can be really quite overwhelming and makes you worry about things that you didn’t know existed before reading it.
April 11, 2021
This is a very practical, informative book on being an adult, particularly in the UK. Lots of reference points here which cover a wide array of topics - finances, emotional etiquette, jobs, mortgages, credit scores, taxes, renting, DIY, self-employment. Really useful. For the big things and the little things.
It's one of those books you sort of skim read, while pausing to read the topics that currently apply to you in full. I will definitely be keeping this and will probably refer back to it in the future as and when a situation arises where it is needed! A handy book to have on your shelves.
It's one of those books you sort of skim read, while pausing to read the topics that currently apply to you in full. I will definitely be keeping this and will probably refer back to it in the future as and when a situation arises where it is needed! A handy book to have on your shelves.
January 9, 2022
EXTREMELY helpful for a hopeless “adult” like me. For some of the explicitly UK laws and organisations, I wish there was an Australian section with this info, however, it was quite interesting learning the differing tax laws compared to Aus (never thought I’d say that). A definite recommend, especially as a physical version to note down/ tab all the resources and tips
February 10, 2019
A wealth of super useful info in here - an absolute must-read/peruse for any young people just starting out in the world!
Read
October 7, 2019It’s a practical guide interspersed with personal anecdotes…they’ve compiled the hottest know-how into one simple tome. From emergency DIY tips to dressing for the office, it’s the adult stuff you need to know.
Evening Standard
It gives you the life skills you should’ve been taught in school…And, crucially, it also gives you lowdowns on the serious stuff…The thing about Being an Adult is it covers everything…This book should be thrust into the hands of every graduating student as they walk across the stage.
Stylist
I can’t believe nobody had published this when I was twenty…it’s so thorough so obviously orchestrated by somebody who has actually experienced and still remembers the little niggling details that can really pull your confidence down or stress you out, and they’re the things that people assume that you know but you actually don’t. I think everybody needs [this].
Leena Norms
Oh, how I wish I’d had this book when I was twenty-one, I could’ve avoided so many stupid disasters. I love everything about this warm, funny life manual, it should honestly be required reading for humans everywhere. My favourites were the DIY and money section (because, frankly, I have no idea), and I thought the personal stories throughout were the perfect, relatable touch. Fascinating, insightful and so so helpful—without being patronising—Kat and Lucy are the heroes this generation desperately needs.
LUCY VINE, AUTHOR OF HOT MESS
Evening Standard
It gives you the life skills you should’ve been taught in school…And, crucially, it also gives you lowdowns on the serious stuff…The thing about Being an Adult is it covers everything…This book should be thrust into the hands of every graduating student as they walk across the stage.
Stylist
I can’t believe nobody had published this when I was twenty…it’s so thorough so obviously orchestrated by somebody who has actually experienced and still remembers the little niggling details that can really pull your confidence down or stress you out, and they’re the things that people assume that you know but you actually don’t. I think everybody needs [this].
Leena Norms
Oh, how I wish I’d had this book when I was twenty-one, I could’ve avoided so many stupid disasters. I love everything about this warm, funny life manual, it should honestly be required reading for humans everywhere. My favourites were the DIY and money section (because, frankly, I have no idea), and I thought the personal stories throughout were the perfect, relatable touch. Fascinating, insightful and so so helpful—without being patronising—Kat and Lucy are the heroes this generation desperately needs.
LUCY VINE, AUTHOR OF HOT MESS
October 29, 2024
I’ll start off by saying that this book is full of crazy good advice from the get go, everything is explained in a very easy way - no jargon or hard to understand lingo - which makes every day issues seem more accessible than they often seem. I also really liked that you can skip over parts that don’t apply to you - for example, for me the how to pass your driving test or finding your career path weren’t things I needed help with! The addition of lots of links at the back of the book is the perfect way to close off all the fabulous advice and tips.
That being said there were a few things that I didn’t enjoy. The main thing really is that a lot of the sections need to be broadened:
I’m Scottish and I felt that the book centres around England and leaves out other UK countries - NHS England and prescription costs (free in Scotland) & union information. I would have liked to see research done for more inclusivity and given the amount of research that went in to other sections, it was disappointing. The section on student loans discusses repayment breakdowns etc but again focuses on England only - Scottish people still get student loans/bursaries (not as much as in the rest of the UK because education is free here ) - does that section apply to Scottish people too or was the research limited to England again?
The work section is very centred around office jobs (isolating to those of us working outwith those parameters) and while the information can apply to certain things there are specifics that are mostly office related (i.e. networking). It’s easy enough to skip over those parts though so not a huge deal.
The section about ending friendships includes a part where it’s suggested you make an excuse if you don’t want to see someone - I don’t like that at all, the book is better than that.
The section on money is generally good advice but as someone who has to budget regularly it’s not easy to stick to certain parameters when inflation continues to rise but our wages don’t - it is becoming increasingly hard to stretch my incomings each month (especially when I already limit my spending to the basics) so it’s not always easy to stick to the advice given here. There’s only so much that people can do with what they have - the rest is out of our hands.
The ‘Rent’ section of ‘How To Find A Home’ is geared toward London and flatshares with friends.
The final and more specific bugbear is the advice about when best to contact doctors surgeries (they suggest in the afternoon) - unfortunately they aren’t always quieter in the afternoon (especially if they close for lunch) so it’s sometimes very hard to get through any time of day (I would argue the afternoon can be harder than most) - I work in healthcare and communicating with GP surgeries is a huge component of my job. Sticking with the health section I felt that the addition of calories didn’t need to be included within it.
That being said there were a few things that I didn’t enjoy. The main thing really is that a lot of the sections need to be broadened:
I’m Scottish and I felt that the book centres around England and leaves out other UK countries - NHS England and prescription costs (free in Scotland) & union information. I would have liked to see research done for more inclusivity and given the amount of research that went in to other sections, it was disappointing. The section on student loans discusses repayment breakdowns etc but again focuses on England only - Scottish people still get student loans/bursaries (not as much as in the rest of the UK because education is free here ) - does that section apply to Scottish people too or was the research limited to England again?
The work section is very centred around office jobs (isolating to those of us working outwith those parameters) and while the information can apply to certain things there are specifics that are mostly office related (i.e. networking). It’s easy enough to skip over those parts though so not a huge deal.
The section about ending friendships includes a part where it’s suggested you make an excuse if you don’t want to see someone - I don’t like that at all, the book is better than that.
The section on money is generally good advice but as someone who has to budget regularly it’s not easy to stick to certain parameters when inflation continues to rise but our wages don’t - it is becoming increasingly hard to stretch my incomings each month (especially when I already limit my spending to the basics) so it’s not always easy to stick to the advice given here. There’s only so much that people can do with what they have - the rest is out of our hands.
The ‘Rent’ section of ‘How To Find A Home’ is geared toward London and flatshares with friends.
The final and more specific bugbear is the advice about when best to contact doctors surgeries (they suggest in the afternoon) - unfortunately they aren’t always quieter in the afternoon (especially if they close for lunch) so it’s sometimes very hard to get through any time of day (I would argue the afternoon can be harder than most) - I work in healthcare and communicating with GP surgeries is a huge component of my job. Sticking with the health section I felt that the addition of calories didn’t need to be included within it.
November 30, 2018
I only gave this book 3 stars as it was very much UK based and not overly helpful as I live in Australia.
BUT if you live in the UK this would be a soil 5/5 stars! So informative and helpful. All the information that adults seem to know but nobody teaches.
I definitely learned some things from this book, but is much more beneficial to UK residents
BUT if you live in the UK this would be a soil 5/5 stars! So informative and helpful. All the information that adults seem to know but nobody teaches.
I definitely learned some things from this book, but is much more beneficial to UK residents
October 12, 2018
Interesting and informative, but a lot of the financial stuff, like getting homes, investments, etc, wasn't completely relevant since this book is UK based, and I'm Australian. Things are a little different here, but the general gist is the same, I guess.
August 3, 2020
It's an effective book if you're planning to move to the UK to get a glimpse of how things are done over there. In general, not that I found many tips that aren't considered common sense by most people.
August 2, 2021
Super informative, easy to read but very UK based. Would've probably had more stars if I was based there or a bit more generalized? (But I guess that would be hard since laws are different everywhere). Still, some fun hacks in there!
July 28, 2019
Really easy and helpful guide that isn't patronising nor uses a lot of jargon and recommends a lot of really good resources.
July 25, 2020
Some parts are common sense, only 10% I’d say is note worthy but some chapters e.g buying a house and money were good
April 8, 2021
Does anybody know a book like this but for the US?
April 12, 2021
Very practical, comprehensive guide but note that the authors are based in the UK so a lot of information about pensions, insurances, taxes etc may not apply for your country.
April 6, 2022
This was good, I'd deffo pick it up again as and when I need it :))
April 26, 2022
An amazingly useful book. Thought I wouldn’t get much out of it having ‘left home’ 12 years ago but learnt a lot.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews