Hi all! What a time to be alive in the world right now with all of this coronavirus spread and whatnot going on. Anyway, amidst panic and chaos, I say now’s a particularly lovely time to take your mind off of things and focus on some basics.
Here are some things you should own by the time you’re 23, based on my experience as someone who recently turned 23.
A portable charger
This is forever relevant and useful and can be used for a range of devices. I suggest keeping one of these in your purse/backpack at all times and bringing one with you whenever you travel.
Currently, the only portable chargers that I own cost about $5 or were free from press events, but I hope to soon invest in one that holds a better charge and is more reliable.
A passport cover
Passports can be tricky to replace, so having a durable (and easily recognizable) cover is wise, whether you travel often or not.
A sweater defuzzer
Are these things magic? No. Will they remove some of the pilled, fuzzy bits from your sweaters and tops? Yes! These little devices aren’t too pricey and they’re very handy in a pinch.
A nice bag that can fit a laptop
This should be the kind of bag you can bring when you travel or that you can bring to work in a pinch. It should be able to fit your laptop, charger, and a few other essentials.
A library card
Libraries are my favorite thing, and having a library card will get you access to so many free movies and books! You can also put books/movies on hold, which means you wait a bit, get notified when they’re in, and can go pick them up. I can’t say enough great things about libraries. Plus, they are free!
A credit card that gets you rewards
It’s definitely wise to apply for a credit card that gives you cash back on all purchases or on things you purchase the most. My favorite card is one that gives me double cash back on everything I buy, though I also have one that gives me cash back on food and gas (though I don’t have a car so this one’s not too useful for me).
A hard drive
Use this to store copies of all of your photos and documents or to free up some storage on your computer. I originally bought mine for a college class, but now I use it to back up all of my travel photos and documents. Typically, I back up all my files every few months.
A warm, great quality winter coat.
This, of course, depends on where you live. I’m in New York City and I commute during many cold-weather months, so my winter coat has been an excellent investment.
I got mine at Century21 and it’s high-end but I did not pay full price. I definitely recommend scouring stores like TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, and Century 21 for a marked-down, high-end winter coat.
Comfortable shoes that you can walk in for long distances
I can’t tell you how long it took me to actually own cute shoes that are fully comfortable. I own a pair of black and white Nikes that I have walked miles in! I pack them every time I travel and I wear them whenever I know I’ll be walking a lot.
