What did you do with your first paycheck?

In Episode 12 of the Yay for Adulting! Podcast, we continue our Back in My Day series with Part 2 of First & Summer Jobs.

Four generations look back at first paychecks, first big purchases, saving (or definitely not saving), and whether working for money was expected growing up. Then we bring the conversation into 2026: Are jobs really harder for young people to find, or have the ways to make money simply changed?

We talk paper routes, fast food, chores, lemonade stands, cars, painfully ill-fitting shoes, TikTok, gaming, saving, investing and the lessons we wish younger generations knew about earning their own money.

Getting ready for your first job? Visit YayForAdulting.com for our FREE First Paycheck Checklist.

And remember: progress over perfection.

Yay for Adulting! Podcast - Episode 12, First & Summer Jobs, pt 1

Part 1 of our Back in My Day: Summer And Part-Time Jobs episode. Four generations share how they made money as kids and teens, how they found work, how they built a reputation before social media, And what earning your own money actually felt like. Part 2 is coming next: what we spent it on, whether working was mandatory, And how kids make money now.

Yay for Adulting! Podcast - Episode 11, First & Summer Jobs, pt 1

Episode 10 is Part 3 of our First Apartment series, And today’s lesson is simple: adulthood has subscription fees. We talk surprise expenses, utilities, renters insurance, deposits, setup fees, And how to build a small buffer. Then we get into the first-night reality And what helps your new place feel like a safe little sanctuary.

Yay for Adulting! Podcast - Episode 10, My First Apartment, pt 3

Part 2 of our First Apartment series is all about the first-week reality: what surprises you, what you actually need, And how to settle in without losing your mind.

Yay for Adulting! Podcast - Episode 9 - First Apartment, pt 2

First apartment energy is real. In Part 1, we cover the dream setup, how you actually find a place, what matters most when choosing, what the lease process can be like, And what you need to set up before move-in day. Part 2 is up next with first-week reality, routines, maintenance, And money surprises.

Yay for Adulting ! Podcast - Episode 8 - First Apartment, pt 1

Spring cleaning part two goes beyond supplies and into the real-life barriers: motivation, decluttering decisions, outdated cleaning rules, and realistic “good enough” standards. Lisa and the Yay for Adulting multi-generational panel talk cleaning soundtracks (music, movies, podcasts, or silence), whether people tend to toss or keep, the rules they grew up with but no longer follow, and how to clean in a way that actually fits real life.

Yay for Adulting! Podcast - Episode 7 - Spring Cleaning, pt 2

Spring cleaning without the shame spiral. In part one of our Spring Cleaning series, Lisa And the Yay for Adulting panel define what “spring cleaning” means in real life, talk about where people get stuck (starting, staying focused, or finishing), And share the few supplies that make it easier to begin. Simple tools, simple systems, And one small cleaning action you can try this week.

Yay for Adulting Podcast - Episode 6 - Spring Cleaning, pt 1

Kitchen Stuff Part 2 is here with four generations (Baby Boomer, Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z). We talk quick meals, bare-minimum cleanup, and the eternal debate: vibes cooking vs measuring exactly.

Progress over perfection.

Yay for Adulting! Podcast, Episode 5 - Kitchen Stuff, pt 2

Kitchen Stuff Part 1 is here and we’re talking all things kitchen setup with a Baby Boomer, Gen Xer, Millennial, and Gen Zer. We kick things off with the origin story: what was the first meal you learned to cook, and who taught you? Then we get into how each generation sets up their space before cooking, the tools they keep within arm’s reach, the systems that actually help (hello, kitchen zones), and the little habits that make cooking feel less stressful.  

Progress over perfection, even when you can't find the spatula.

Yay for Adulting! Podcast - Episode 4 - Kitchen Stuff, Pt 1

Grocery Stuff Part 2 is here and we are talking all things grocery shopping with a Baby Boomer, Gen Xer, and Millennial. We get into favorite fruits, the aisles we side-eye, how to find the best deals, and quick meals to throw together after a grocery haul.  

Progress over perfection, even in aisle five.

Yay for Adulting! Podcast - Episode 3 - Grocery Stuff, Pt 2

Life skills education for young adults. Learn practical adulting skills including organization, money management, home maintenance, and work-life balance. Real-world skills nobody taught you in school

the Yay for Adulting! Podcast · Zencastr

the Yay for Adulting! Podcast

Life skills education for young adults. Learn practical adulting skills including organization, money management, home maintenance, and work-life balance. Real-world skills nobody taught you in school.  

Keywords: adulting, life skills, adulting 101, adult life skills, young adult help, practical life skills, life skills education, how to adult, adulting tips, independence skills, real world skills, adulting for beginners