These Are The 10 Questions That I'll Always Ask My Parents First, No Matter How Old I Am

"I know, I know — anyone who grew up with a phone will tell you: do not answer calls from numbers you don't recognize! But, and hear me out, my freshly minted adults know that these calls can be follow-ups from doctor's visits, job applications, and from your bank who may be actively trying to protect your money!"

1. "I don't know this number! But should I answer it?"

Paramount Pictures

I know, I know — anyone who grew up with a phone will tell you: do not answer calls from numbers you don't recognize! But, and hear me out, my freshly minted adults know that these calls can be follow-ups from doctor's visits, job applications, and from your bank who may be actively trying to protect your money! My advice is to screen these calls to the best of your ability and to answer when you are definitely expecting one of those important calls. On the whole, my philosophy is to see if they leave a message — if it's truly important, they always leave a message.

2. "Do I have to go to the DMV for that?"

FOX

If you're as new to owning your own car as I am, you understand that more paperwork and bills go into owning your hunk of junk than you could have ever imagined. Worse than that, these rules, bills, and paperwork change state by state, making moving even more difficult without a parent present. The best way to understand what you're going into is by using the internet for good and not evil: research what you need to file or pay. After you understand what's in front of you, set calendar reminders on every device you have so that you never fall behind.

3. "What temperature do I have to roast the chicken to?"

Douglas Sacha / Getty Images

Again, this is likely an easily Google-able answer, but I need an excuse to call home sometimes!

4. "How much should I be contributing to my 401K?"

Universal Pictures

Now we're into the challenging life advice kind of questions. There are different answers to this question, because it depends on several kinds of personal preferences. For one thing, there are people who cannot afford a chunk of their paycheck getting stowed away every month. On the other hand, contributing more to a retirement an an early age can lead to a higher accrued amount by the time retirement does roll around. The advice in this area is to contribute the same amount that your contributing company is willing to match. If they match up to five percent, you contribute five percent.

5. "Where's my birth certificate?"

Mattel Films

The age old question! Why the government thinks we'll be able to hold onto any single document for the entirety of our waking lives, I am not sure. Many parents know to make photocopies of this all important piece of paper early on, and to use the copies in all of the contexts where a copy of your birth certificate is acceptable. For more official government purposes, the original certificate is required and should be kept with you wherever your official living situation is. These are usually best kept stored away in a fireproof storage box, or in a well organized folder for official documents. Worse comes to worst, you can request a brand new birth certificate through the government, using some other official documents to prove your identity, of course.

6. "Should I have life insurance?"

Nickelodeon

I have been served plenty of TikToks to know that the answer to this question is probably yes, and that life insurance should be used throughout your life, not reserved for when a life comes to an end. Life insurance is least expensive in your twenties and there are plans that can cover your entire life, so this choice may be a natural selection for those planning out their future before it even begins.

7. "What's our insurance company?"

Geico

To be clear: there are several different kinds of insurance. One of the many woes of the American healthcare system is that insurance is the first step to schedule or pay for almost any health-related appointment. Health insurance often differs from dental insurance and eye insurance, despite all being part of the health of a single person. Nevertheless, each of these insurances plays a crucial part in determining your bill at the end of a visit. For many plans, members of a household who are under the age of 25 may remain on the insurance of the primary insurance holder. Though everyone will eventually age out of these benefits, it is important to remember that these can all come separately and to ensure that whether you are on a family plan or your own, that you need to retain the accurate information to give to each provider.

8. "Can a get a dog/cat/fish/pet?"

MGM

Am I all for adopting? Absolutely, yes. Do I believe that having a pet can be a significant stress reducer and aid with anxiety? Yes, yes I do. BUT anyone who is starting out on their own should consider the responsibilities that come along with being a pet parent. To properly to take care of any fuzzy friend, there is always the potential of heavy vet bills to keep pets happy and healthy. For less than fuzzy friends (I'm looking at you, fish), there are still significant start-up costs for fish tanks of an appropriate size. Once you can make sure you have space in your wallet, home, and heart, you've got the go-ahead for a pet.

9. "Do I need to have this looked at?"

Lionsgate

When does a weird thing become a problem? As soon as you decide! Your health is one of the most important things to hold onto, so it should be taken care of as soon as it comes into question. Healthcare is slowly becoming more accessible across the country and everyone should be taking advantage. Visit your local pharmacy clinic, urgent care, primary physician or, in extreme cases, the emergency room to get any and all of your questionable maladies looked at.

10. And "Who's this FICA guy? Why does he get all my money?"

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Getting your first paychecks can very simultaneously exciting and incredibly disappointing. There are certain institutions that take portions and percentages of each processed paycheck. For some careers, these are not automatically removed from your paycheck and money may need to be reserved for taxes. FICA is a federal payroll tax which is deducted from paychecks across the country. If you're building yourself a very responsible budget, keep your net pay in mind (as in after taxes).

What question do you still like to call home and get your parents' opinions on? Drop them below!

This post is an entry in BuzzFeed’s 2nd Annual Community Summer Writers’ Challenge, where you can earn $$$ for creating your own lists and quizzes published through September 15, 2022! Check out alllll the details here.