I honestly had no idea how insurance worked, what things like "deductible" meant, or where to find any information about purchasing it. And then once I had figured out how to get it (my work provided it), I had no idea how to actually use it, or what it covers, or where to find a doctor that will accept it. 

Also, my parents provided me with my first car. I actually had asked if I could be a part of the purchasing, and was told no. So when that car stopped working or whatever, I didn't buy another one for 13 years and just walked or used public transportation. Until I had a boss that required me to purchase a vehicle "because it shows responsibility." In which case I had to ask someone where to even begin with things like financing vs private sale, etc. 

I am a bit frightened the things school doesn't teach ppl now.  I would have given more 'Life Lessons' to my 20 yo if I'd realized she wasn't taught about checkbook balancing, how to budget, what insurance was and what kind is required, etc.   Her sisters two years older than she had the classes, but apparently they were cancelled to add another language course when her time came.

School - I'm going to be job specific here to my career as what wound up being a cost accountant.

Let's see.  Cost Accounting in class and cost accounting in practice do not bear any sort of likeness to each other.  Because Cost accounting in college was aimed at passing the CPA exam (everything was) and not at real practice in a non CPA environment.  

It did not teach me the ins and outs of doing personal income taxes.  Or property taxes.  Or sales taxes.  or lots of fun payroll taxes.  It did not teach me how to do a corporate bank reconciliation for real (let alone a zero balance account).

My personal favorite though is that it did not teach me that interpretive handwriting analysis would be a key job skill at times - that the advent of scanning, spreadsheets and emails has only dealt with in a minor way.  

Nor did it teach 10 key by touch (self taught)

I could go on.  (and on and on...)

I can't put my own hair into a ponytail even where that would be needed or useful. I just never learned because my hair is at a length that is comfortable either down or up. Whenever I try, the ponytails are way too loose.

Also, school taught me the ins and outs of thousands of laws, but not how to write a client correspondence/complaint/etc. Had a bit of practice writing legal memos, but that's it. Also, NOTHING on interacting with clients.

Guys! Your posts are reminding me of MORE things I didn't learn! We had a very loose "life management skills" class in middle school, but honestly it was a bit too early. Not many 13-year-olds are thinking of life finances. It went in one ear and out the other, and by the time I got to that point where I actually needed those skills, I'd already forgotten them all, or the processes had changed.

I hope you'll all stick around to laugh with/at me. I'm going to shoot for one or more posts a week, so hopefully you'll get a good chuckle. 

Oh yeah. I know a bit about budgeting now, but I learned everything except calculating price per ounce from my wife in the past few years. But I don't know about insurance insofar as choosing any plan, or financing when making a big purchase.

also, I have never done, and likely will never do, my own taxes. My dad did them for me through college and the first year of law school- then by tax time second year I was married and wife did the "file married in the state and individually federally" mess. Now, it's one form, so it's easier but she still does it.

I do my own taxes.  For now.  But I took Mom's last year to a tax guy (she hadn't filed in a few years).  Will take them again this yer (sale of mobile home blah blah blah blah).  I don't fault anyone for having a pro do their taxes.

I am a dunce with hair.  My hair was shorter in high school. I can manage a ponytail or simple bun.  French braid?  forget it.  

True story:  I had to cut the water off in my residence this weekend because of a busted pipe.

20-something university graduate renting from me: Wow.  No water, huh?  Is the washing machine working?

Me: There's no water.  I had to turn it off.  It will remain off until the plumber can fix the pipe.

College grad:  Oh.  OK.  But is the washing machine working?

Things not taught in school:

• Washing machine doesn't work if water main is off.
• Toilets can still be flushed if the electricity is off.
• A broken microwave won't self-heal.  Knowing it is broken and yet, putting frozen food inside it and pressing several buttons doesn't perform a miracle.
• If there is no garden hose, you can still use the spigot.

2 hours ago, FundieFarmer said:

Guys! Your posts are reminding me of MORE things I didn't learn! We had a very loose "life management skills" class in middle school, but honestly it was a bit too early. Not many 13-year-olds are thinking of life finances. It went in one ear and out the other, and by the time I got to that point where I actually needed those skills, I'd already forgotten them all, or the processes had changed.

I hope you'll all stick around to laugh with/at me. I'm going to shoot for one or more posts a week, so hopefully you'll get a good chuckle. 

Like Maggie Mae said--health insurance and how it works. How to find a doctor that accepts your insurance. How to know how much your co-pay will be. How to choose a plan, or at least just know which types of plans are best for single 20 somethings. 

Budgeting. I am shocked at the number of adults who still don't know how to budget. Those little checks credit card companies send you? BURN THEM! How to check your credit report once a year. How a credit score is calculated. Never, ever, ever on God's green earth cosign for a loan unless it's with your spouse. How to make a basic paper budget and ensure you pay your bills on time and put at least a little away into savings. The difference between a 401(k) and Roth IRA and how to sign up. 

Basic wedding guest etiquette. And I mean basic. (Dress appropriately, how to find the wedding registry, don't show up drunk, say nice things to the bride and groom instead of complaining about anything.)

And this is so stupid, but to know what to do when you get into a minor car accident. I was a personal finance nerd in college, and so did okay there. But the first time I was in a fender bender at age 20? No idea what to do. Just called my mom and was like "Can you talk to them for me?" I seriously thought my insurance rates would go up so much, I would be better off writing them a personal check for the damage! So stupid and the other guy freaked out and thought I didn't have insurance. I bungled the whole thing and didn't know how to talk to the cop or that I needed to call my insurance myself to report it. 

Good questions to ask while looking for apartments. Same for car shopping.