Adulting Basics Everyone Should Set Up (Passwords, Credit, Documents & Money)
If you want to “adult” more effectively, focus on systems that protect your identity, reduce mental load, and prevent future emergencies. The most impactful upgrades are password managers, frozen credit, mail monitoring, organized documents, and using money you already have—like unused gift cards.
TL;DR: Essential Adulting Tasks to Do Once (and Thank Yourself Later)
Use a password manager to make your life easier and protect yourself
Freeze your credit to prevent identity theft
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery
Store important documents in one secure place and/or use a family document system for long-term organization
Make a plan to actually use unused gift cards
Overwhelmed by Passwords? Why Everyone Needs a Password Manager
During a live session of Joyfully Managed Worklife, password management came up—and it’s something many adults quietly struggle with.
If you’re still:
Reusing passwords
Writing them down
Resetting passwords constantly
…it’s time to set up a password manager.
Password manager software:
Stores all your passwords securely
Generates strong, unique passwords
Autofills logins so you don’t have to remember them
Wirecutter recommends 1Password as an excellent option. Most workplaces and teams should be using one as well.
▶️ Here’s a short video where I explain how password managers work.
Why this matters: Password managers are one of the highest-impact, lowest-effort adulting upgrades you can make.
Haven’t Frozen Your Credit Yet? - This Is One of the Best Identity-Theft Protections
Freezing your credit prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your name. I’ve been a victim of identity theft, and freezing my credit completely stopped the problem.
Here’s how it works:
No one can open credit accounts in your name
You can temporarily “thaw” your credit when needed
It’s free and reversible
If you have children, freeze their credit too—child identity theft is more common than people realize.
📘 Step-by-step instructions for Americans:
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-freeze-credit
▶️ I also made a quick video explaining the four things I do to prevent identity theft for myself and my kids:
https://youtu.be/O1JsgTepki8
USPS Informed Delivery: See Your Mail Before It Arrives
If you’re in the U.S., USPS offers a free service called Informed Delivery.
You’ll receive:
Daily emails with scanned images of your incoming mail
Notifications about packages
This helps with:
Tracking important documents
Spotting missing or suspicious mail
Reducing anxiety about what’s arriving
You can sign up for free directly through USPS.
Organize Important Documents in One Place - A Gift to Yourself and Your Family
I bought my dad a Nokbox (Next of Kin Box), and his response was immediate:
“Greatest box ever! All important papers in one file. I should have gotten it years ago.”
It helps him:
Keep everything organized
Feel prepared for evacuations (he lives in hurricane country)
Know his family won’t be left scrambling someday
This isn’t just about organization—it’s about peace of mind.
By keeping documents like:
Account information
Contacts
Legal and financial paperwork
…in one accessible place, you’re giving your loved ones the gift of clarity during a difficult time.
A Digital Option: Trustworthy - A “Family Operating System” for Documents
A friend introduced us to Trustworthy, and we expect to use it for years.
It helps you securely organize:
Insurance policies
Passport copies and renewal dates
Birth certificates
Important family records
What I like most:
30-day free trial
No credit card required
Designed specifically for family use
Trustworthy is ideal if you want a digital-first approach to document organization.
Pause Right Now: Make a Plan to Use a Gift Card
You probably have at least one unused gift card sitting in a drawer or wherever you keep your cards and cash.
Here’s what I want you to do right now:
Decide when you’ll use it
Put it on your calendar
Or text someone and make a plan
Examples:
“Dinner at ___ this weekend”
“Run to ___ store tomorrow morning”
“I have a gift card for ___—want to go together?”
Unused gift cards are already-spent money. Using them is an easy adulting win.
FAQ: Adulting Questions People Actually Ask
Q1: What are the most important adulting tasks everyone should do?
Set up a password manager, freeze your credit, organize key documents, and protect your identity. These are one-time systems with long-term benefits.
Q2: Is freezing your credit really necessary?
Yes. Credit freezes are free, reversible, and one of the most effective ways to prevent identity theft.
Q3: What’s the easiest way to organize important documents?
Use a single physical box (like a Nokbox) or a secure digital system (like Trustworthy). The key is having one place everyone knows about.
Q4: How do password managers actually help?
They eliminate password reuse, improve security, and reduce mental load by remembering everything for you.
Want more tips?
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About The Author
Jessica Eastman Stewart is a consultant, workshop facilitator, and podcast guest expert. She teaches busy professionals how to get more organized at home and at work so they can stop feeling worn out and start living a Joyfully Managed Life®! Thousands of readers drop everything when her weekly newsletter, The Friday Five, arrives in their inbox. Every Friday, you’ll get FIVE amazing tips to help life feel INSTANTLY more joyful and easy!
