Recently I connected with a friend that happens to be a business coach, innovator, podcaster and spiritualist. We shared stories about our current ventures and future projects. And, then interesting things began to happened – synchronicities or coincidences kept popping up. We stepped into each other’s lives for a purpose. In this moment in time, we are meant to serve as teachers for one another. Both of us students and teachers.
In the spirit of the Teacher/Student theme, I thought I would offer this up.
Generation Z is different. Technology and entitlement have shaped their childhood and early adulthood. There are some simple tasks that elude them because there is an app or parent for that.
This list of 53 is for Generation Z:
1. When mailing a letter, put the correct postage on the envelope, today $.58 for first class, put it in your mailbox and lift the flag to tell the postal worker that there is an envelope to be mailed.
AUTOMOBILE STUFF
2. To change a tire, do these things – Step 1: Stop Somewhere Safe. Your safety is more important than a wheel. Step 2: Find Your Tools. The tire is usually under a safety cover in the trunk. Step 3: Loosen the Lug Nuts. Step 4: Jack Up the Car. Step 5: Change the Tire. Step 6: Tighten the Lug Nuts. Step 7: Replace the Temporary Tire ASAP.
3. Check car tire pressure, air filter, oil and fluid levels
4. Filling your car up with gas starts by pulling into the station and up to one of the gas pumps. Pull close enough to the pump so that the hose reaches the tank receptacle and choose the right type of gas: Regular, Mid-grade and Premium
5. Change the oil in your car every 5,000 miles
6. Replace the windshield washer fluid by opening the hood and finding the cap that has a water spout on it.
7. If your car will not start, it might be dead. Find a pair of jumper cables and a car that is running. Attach the cables to the dead battery first – red labeled cable to red anode or connector and the black labeled cable to the black cathode or connector
8. You have to register your car every year by filling out a registration renewal and paying the fee.
9. Your new registration will arrive with a tab that needs to be stuck on your license plate and the registration goes in the glove compartment box.
10. If you get a traffic ticket, always make a court date. You can usually negotiate with the city prosecutor to get a reduced charge.
11. If you are ever brought in for questioning to a police station always ask to speak to your attorney.
HOUSE STUFF
12.Change lightbulbs in your home by first checking the specific watt bulb needed for the fixture.
13. Turn off the water to a toilet by reaching down under the toilet bowl and turning the knob on the water pipe feeding the unit.
14. If you lose power in the house, your garage can open/close manually by pulling the string attached to the power unit.
15. When an appliance stops working, check the fuse which is in a box usually located in the basement and reset it by moving it left, then right. Or, reset the GFI on the outlet by pushing the button until it turns green.
16. Load a dishwasher with the silverware in the caddy, the cups in the top shelf and plates and pots in the bottom shelf. When running a wash cycle, add detergent in the square cabin and shut the door, press the correct wash cycle and shut the door.
17. Change the filters in your furnace 2 times a year – Spring and Fall or Winter and Summer.
18. If your disposal stops working, there is a reset button under the sink on the bottom of the disposal or stick a broom handle down the disposal and turn clockwise.
GENERAL STUFF
19. When shaking hands look the person in the eye and mirror their grip pressure. If you are introducing yourself to someone and you are sitting down, stand up before you shake their hands.
20. When using chopsticks, put one in the crease between your thumb and index finger. This chopstick remains idle, while the other stick sits in between the index finger, middle finger and thumb and moves.
21. Hailing a taxi is done by raising your arm on the side of the street and waiting for a cab that has the light on the roof non-illuminated. You can pay the toll which appears on a meter with a credit card these days.
22. Tip the curbside baggage handler $5.00 for every bag they tag.
23. Tip a restaurant server 20% of the bill (calculate by moving the decimal one to the left and then double that amount).
24. When washing clothes, separate the darks from the whites. Put a load of darks or whites into the washer and turn the dial to the correct setting. Add laundry detergent (typically 1 cup for top loading and ½ cup for front loading) and wait for the cycle to finish. Then remove clothes and place in dryer. Turn dial to correct setting and wait for cycle to finish.
25. Water plants (usually) weekly with enough water to dampen the soil. If the leaves turn yellow, you are watering too much. If the leaves turn brown, you are underwatering.
26. To access the NYC subway system you can use a MetroCard (which you fill with money or can purchase a weekly pass) or with the new OMNY system which with a tap charges the $2.75 fare to your credit card through a contactless card of a e-wallet. Read about the MetroCard and OMNY to see which is best for you.
27. If your wallet or purse are stolen do this – Call Your Credit And Debit Card Companies. Do this immediately. Set Up A Fraud Alert. File A Police Report. Change Your Passwords. Call The DMV. Contact Your Insurance Companies.
28. If you are traveling out of the country, you may have to call your cellphone service provider to activate an international calling plan.
29. Take a CPR class.
30. Vote (18) in all local and general elections
31. Do this if you need to sew something – Thread your sewing needle and tie the ends of the thread together. Pierce the needle through the side of the fabric people won’t see. Guide the needle through the other side of the fabric. Continue stitching until you reach the end of the fabric. Finish the stitching with a knot.
32. Know when to say “I am sorry” and “I was wrong”
FINANCIAL STUFF
33. Apply for a low APR (exceptional rewards) credit card by filling out the credit application and waiting to see if you are accepted. Pay your credit card bill on a monthly basis, always due on the same day (usually the 1st of the month) by sending in a check or attaching your bank account information to your account.
34. Most American Express credit cards make you pay the entire balance monthly. Other credit cards, like Visa and Mastercard allow you to pay a portion of the balance while incurring an interest charge on the unpaid balance.
35. If you are traveling for an extended period of time, call your credit card company and tell them so your charges don’t get flagged for fraudulent transactions.
36. A debit card, unlike a credit card allows you to spend up to a determined limit by withdrawing money right from your bank account.
37. Write a check by putting the name of the person being paid on the top line and then the amount of the payment in the little box to the right. Write out the amount of the check on the line under the Payee and sign the check on the lowest line on the right. To cash a check, endorse the back of the check by signing your name on the line provided.
38. Credit scores are what is used to assess the risk associated with loaning money. The higher your credit score (850 – 300) the lower risk you are and easier it will be to lease a car, get a mortgage and apply for a credit card.
39. Credit scores are impacted negatively with late or no payments, while they are positively impacted with on-time payments.
40. Interest is the fee or price that lenders charge to borrow their money.
- Interest rate refers to the annual cost of a loan to a borrower and is expressed as a percentage.
- APR is the annual cost of a loan to a borrower — including fees. Like an interest rate, the APR is expressed as a percentage. Unlike an interest rate, however, it includes other charges or fees such as mortgage insurance, most closing costs, discount points and loan origination fees.
41. Interest rates and the length of the pay back periods are different for the various types of goods and the monies borrowed to purchase those goods: Car, Home, Student loans and credit cards
42. The easiest way to buy stocks is through an online stockbroker. After opening and funding your account, you can buy stocks through the broker’s website in a matter of minutes. Other options include using a full-service stockbroker or buying stock directly from the company.
43. When you have something to lose, and you can’t afford to pay for a loss yourself, you pay for insurance. By paying money every month for it, you receive the peace of mind that if something goes wrong, the insurance company will pay for the things you need to make life like it was before your loss. That includes house, car, renter, short and long term disability and health insurance.
44. Before signing any contract, make sure to consult an attorney or someone that you trust to decipher the terms of the contract
WORK STUFF
45. Deposit your work checks as soon as you get them so as not to lose them. Direct deposit is the easiest way to manage your payments since your weekly check gets deposited into your account automatically.
46. How to write a resume in 6 steps – Pick the Right Resume Format & Layout. Mention Your Personal Details & Contact Information. Use a Resume Summary or Objective. List Your Work Experience & Achievements. Mention Your Top Soft & Hard Skills. Include Additional Resume Sections (Languages, Hobbies, etc.)
47. Interviewing in 6 steps – Plan to arrive early. Be prepared to summarize your experience in about 30 seconds and describe what you bring to the position. Listen carefully to each question asked. Remain positive and avoid negative comments about past employers. Be aware of your body language and tone of voice.
48. Filling out a W4 form for a new job – If you are single and do not have any children, as well as don’t have anyone else claiming you as a dependent, then you should claim a maximum of 1 allowance. If you are single and someone is claiming you as a dependent, such as your parent, then you can claim 0 allowances.
49. Here is how to read a pay stub – Your pay stub contains three main sections: how much you are being paid, the taxes you are paying, and any other deductions that are being made. Pay attention to your gross, year-to-date, and net earnings. The deductions that relate to taxes are generally the most confusing, particularly those related to FICA.
50. FICA on your pay stub stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act which is a tax that earns you social security credits
51. FUTA and SUTA on your pay stub are the taxes paid at the state level and at the federal level. FUTA taxes go into a fund that covers the federal government’s oversight of the states’ individual unemployment insurance programs.
52. Use a daily planner like Outlook to keep track of appointments and responsibilities.
53. Use in person communication over email communication every chance you get.