Why doesn't someone teach this stuff?

There should be some course in high school or college titled"Grown-up skills." Yes, there is consumer education but beyond learning to write a resume and balance a checkbook, I'm not sure there were many applicable skills learned in that class. (Granted, I tested out of it, so I really don't know what the content was.)

In the past 5 years, I've heard myself mentally whisper, "Where am I supposed to learn about these things?" It probably started with evaluating a benefits package when I accepted a job. Without spending days researching the 10 pound packet I was provided, I really had no idea what I was looking at. This is ironic when my peers and I now have full conversations about health benefits, taxes, compensation time and other "boring" topics, all of which are part of the tapestry of our lives.

There are other things I wish someone would have taught me too - but who would. These are not items I would have preferred my parents spend a Saturday night informing me about. For example, how the heck does someone evaluate and purchase carpet? I shutter to mention all the things involved in understanding purchasing a house. I still have fears that something will jump up and bite us on that one, but we bought the house a year and a half ago and nothing has yet. What about IRAs and supplemental life insurance? AHHHH!!!!! The internet can help with some of this but can only go so far.

I have resigned myself to realize that these are all supposed to be the learning experiences of life but it would be nice to have an instructor. However, it is rumored that we learn best from our mistakes. I just hope they aren't too big.

Wish us luck as we attempt to make the final decisions on the carpet we have been talking about for 3 months.