AptKeys: plain how-tos for the practical parts of adult life
Try
Something's wrong right now
- If you've been sexually assaulted
- Someone is hurt
- I'm in crisis, or I'm worried about someone
- Someone I'm with is hurting or scaring me
- Someone swallowed or breathed in something harmful
- There's a fire, or I smell gas
- I was just in a car accident
- I think I'm being followed
- Someone is stalking or threatening me
- I lost my wallet, or my identity was stolen
- I think I'm on a scam call
- A pipe burst
- The power just went out
Start where you are
Pick the one that sounds like your life right now.
- I just moved outYou have keys, bills and a fridge to fill.10 lessons in order
- I started my first full-time jobA real paycheck and a pile of forms.9 lessons in order
- I need to start overRebuilding after a setback or a hard year.10 lessons in order
- I just got my first carKeys, insurance and a dashboard full of lights.8 lessons in order
- I'm signing my first leaseBefore you sign, while you sign, and the first week after.9 lessons in order
- I'm heading to collegeNew place, new people, and nobody to remind you.11 lessons in order
Worth learning before you need it
How to jump-start a car
Gloves and eye protection on. Red to the dead battery's +, red to the good battery's +, black to the good battery's −, and the last black on bare metal on the dead car, away from the battery. Start the good car, wait a few minutes, then start yours.
Everything, filed
Eight parts of adult life.
- MoneyWhere your money goes, a cushion for surprises, credit and taxes.22 lessons
- Work & CareerFinding work, keeping it, knowing your pay and rights, and growing.7 lessons
- Home & Daily LifeFeed yourself, keep house, fix small things and keep the car running.14 lessons
- Body & HealthSleep, food, movement, a doctor, and knowing when to get help.7 lessons
- Character & MindKeep your word, decide on purpose and recover from setbacks.5 lessons
- RelationshipsClear talk, boundaries, friendships and conflict without damage.5 lessons
- Legal & CivicDocuments, your rights, voting, and dealing with offices.7 lessons
- Modern ToolsCalendars, passwords, files, privacy and spotting scams.5 lessons
- Phone scriptsWhat to say to a landlord, a doctor's office, a debt collector or your bank.
- PrintablesA glovebox jump-start card, a W-4 cheat sheet and a fridge scam checklist.
- Credit card payoff calculatorWhat a balance really costs, using your own numbers.
Every lesson lists its sources and the date we last checked them. How we write · For teachers and counselors