8 Home Economics Skills you May Not Have Learned in School
We all think we are doing the best we can in life. And for the most part, we are. But there are simple Home Economics skills that we may not have learned in school that could make life better. Learning just a few of these, and making sure our children know them, can mean the difference between living life and loving life. I don’t know about you, but when I know how to do things, I just do better at them.
Creating a Shopping List
We all know we have to buy groceries. But I see tons of people at the store just willy nilly throwing things into their cart with no clear plan. Having a clear idea of what you need, and what you are going to feed your family is key. It makes unnecessary runs to the store a thing of the past. You will never have to run out because you forgot one thing to make dinner again.
Make a list for grocery shopping before going. I also make sure that there is always a running list on the front of the refrigerator so that we can write things down as we realize we run out or are getting low.
Basic Home Economics Sewing Skills
Sometimes we have accidents that require a needle and thread.
For example, at work the other day, a girl had her belt loop rip off her jeans. She was ok with it, but when I asked her if she knew how to fix it, she simply said, “Nah. It’ll be ok. They’re just work jeans.”
Simple hand stitching is a great skill to have to make sure that your clothing and other household textiles can be mended quickly. From stitching a simple belt loop, to replacing a button, knowing basic sewing skills is a must to take care of your home.
Home Economics Skill: Cleaning the House
It amazes me how many young adults are dumbfounded when it comes to how to properly clean things. So many things are overlooked because they do not know how to do them.
Even just basic washing the shower curtain liner is something they either don’t know to do or don’t notice. And dusting? I’m not sure if it gets done or if it does they dust around things instead of under them.
Basic Car Maintenance
Most of us learned how to drive from our parents. I know I did. However, when I learned to drive my Dad wouldn’t let me leave on my own until I could prove that I knew how to do basic maintenance.
The simplest things from checking fluids and knowing how to top them off were necessary for me to know to him. I also had to learn how to use the jack and to change my own tire in case of a flat.
I’m not saying you need to learn how to change your transmission out. Just know where the fluid is for it and be able to check it periodically so your vehicle runs smoothly.
This home economics skill is preventative maintenance. Knowing the basics can prevent a breakdown later.
How to Apply for and Interview for a Job
With the ability to apply for jobs simply on the internet, this may seem like an unneccesary skill. But having an up-to-date resume that highlights your skills is an important part of getting a job you want, not just surviving.
No one wants to work at a dead-end job for the rest of their life. Having the best skills available to make your application (and YOU) stand out can get you the job of your dreams. Because that is what we all are striving for right?
Interviewing is the same. Knowing how to make sure that you shine and show the potential employer that your skills are not just on paper, but part of your personality can make or break you.
How to Pay Bills
With the advent of online bill pay and auto-draft, many people don’t really pay attention to their money. Knowing how your bills change each month and budgeting for these expenses can change how you live.
While I’m not saying to change your automatic payments, it’s important that you keep track of what expenses you are paying for. Are there additional fees for online bill pay? Are you losing money because you aren’t paying attention to a charge that is wrong? Can you contact them if something IS amiss?
Knowing how to deal with these companies and make sure that you are not being overcharged is important. While automatic payments are convenient, they may be costing you money in the long run.
How to Buy a Car
Buying a car is more than signing some papers and driving away. It amazes me that the art of “haggling” has been lost. While you can’t change the price in a store, when it comes to buying a car paying full-sticker price is not necessary always.
Let’s say you have $5000 saved to buy a car. You find a used one through a private seller that is worth $4500 but the seller is asking $6000. (Knowing how to use the Kelly Blue Book site is vital to car buying.) With cash in hand, offer what it is actually worth until you can negotiate the price to something that both you and the seller are happy with.
The same concept comes into play when buying a house. You offer lower than asking to get to where both parties come away happy.
Where to Have a Document Notarized
When it comes to adult life, needing a notary will probably happen sooner than later. From wills to Power of Attorney paper to even notarizing a title to transfer ownership, notaries are necessary to us all.
Most times that you need a notary, there will be one available (like purchasing a house through a title agency). But often when it comes to matters of custody or business dealings, knowing how to find a notary can make your life so much easier.
Going online and finding a notary is pretty simple actually. (I like this site.) While I have a notary near to me (my sister the tax professional), sometimes I use my insurance agent also. Having options for unexpected needs can help alleviate a lot of undue stress.
Home Economics Skills You Should Know
These are just some of the home economics skills that may not be in your current skill set. Knowing how to deal with unexpected issues can make life so much easier. I know I like to plan for the worst, but hope for the best. Knowing these simple things can change a catastrophe into just another day by knowing what to do instead of worrying about it.
What Home Economics Skills do you think more people need to learn? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop me a comment below.
Want more Home Economics ideas? Check out these posts.
Hello Amy! I found your post through Linda’s linkup!
This is a really good list of things kids probably don’t learn in school, either because they’re learning other things or these things don’t cross their teachers’ or parents’ minds because they’re not the first things I think of when I think of home economics.
Glad to find your blog and I look forward to reading more posts!
I’m so glad you found us! Home Economics is so much more than what little exposure we had in high school. I was blessed that my mom was a Home Ec teacher so I saw a lot more of the curriculum than most get to. Thank you so much for stopping by! *Hugs*
What great tips Amy! It would have been so helpful to have when I was just starting out years ago. Home economics back that taught us how to bake a birthday cake! Thanks so much and Happy Spring to you!
As a homeschooling family we have been saying for years that skills like these would be so helpful to have learned in school.
Absolutely agree! So many things about being an “adult” most people never got taught. I love how many homeschoolers focus on Home Ec even though our public school systems seem to have cut it from the curriculum. Thank you so much for your comment! *Hugs*
These are really helpful tips. And, I agree, many of these should be taught in school! Thanks for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things party!
Good tips here – especially the basic car maintenance! Thanks for sharing at The Homestead Blog Hop!
Thank you, Amy, for sharing this on Traffic Jam Weekend! I chose it as my fave feature for this week’s party that goes live on Thursday at 5:00 pm CST.