Basic Skills to Learn Before You Move Out!

I saw a post this morning on skills/lessons you should move before you move out.  I have a few of my own to add.  Here goes....

Learn to check the tire pressure and change a tire on your car as well as check fluids and what to do if you're having car issues and need to pull over.  Don't just teach them to call AAA.  Teach your kids basic skills.  Make them try it so they understand what they're looking for. 

How to balance a check book.  While I realize that you can just keep track of your balance online, there's something to be said for teaching a kid to balance their checkbook so they can budget more efficiently.

Basic "shop" skills.  How to use a hammer, drill, saw, etc.  I'm not telling you they need to learn how to build a house from the ground up but learning basic skills to be able to hang a picture or a set of shelves would be great.

Basic "home ec" skills. Yep, folks, I think you need to learn basic sewing, cooking, etc.  It WILL come in handy down the road.

How to follow a recipe.  While this falls under the category of home ec, I felt it important to specify this as a real skill.  If they can follow a recipe, they can eat something besides boxed nastiness. 

How to do laundry  I cannot stress enough how important it is to teach your kids this.  Teach them about the temperature you wash things in and the reason you do it that way.  Teach them the proper use of bleach and the effects it has.

The importance of things like savings and insurance.  I don't think this is stressed often enough and I think a lot of kids move out and think, "oh crap!" when something happens.

How to budget.  Teach them about bills first and then needs and wants.  You will never "need" the biggest TV and not enough kids realize this anymore.

and finally....

Life isn't fair and you don't always get what you want  If there is any lesson I believe it's important to realize, this is it.  Life is NOT always fair and you are not entitled to some huge house when you turn 18 because your parents have it.  You don't always get what you want and people will be jerks.  Don't quit your job because you have an annoying boss or co worker.