Not everything can or should be outsourced. These are the basic home economics skills everyone should learn.
12 Lost Home Economics Skills Everyone Still Needs
Basic cooking
Basic cooking skills are lacking in today’s world, thanks to microwavable meals and the numerous grab-and-go options available at every grocery store. And then there is the convenience of food delivery apps. On top of that, folks today are working longer and harder than ever before, so it’s no surprise that kitchen know-how is lacking in the home economics department. But knowing how to cook basic meals, like scrambled eggs, chicken and veggies will make your life way easier, not to mention healthier.
Dining etiquette
Do you know which side of the dish your glass goes on? What about which fork to use to eat a salad and which to use for meat? More important, why should you care? Well, you don’t want to look like a slob when you’re out to lunch with the CEO of your company, for one. And don’t you want to impress your friends by throwing a fabulous dinner party?
Basic dining etiquette like knowing how to set a table, which utensil to use for which food and where to place your napkin when you leave the table can help you appear more cultured and elegant. Basic table setting goes something like: forks on the right and knives on the left (with the sharp side facing the plate), with the wine and or water glasses going above the knife.
Sewing
Knowing how to sew a button and hem a pair of pants or a skirt will help you out tremendously should you ever find yourself needing to quickly tailor your own clothes. Maybe you’re about to give a work presentation and your blouse button pops off, or you’re getting out of the car and your skirt rips at the hem. Being able to quickly add a stitch or sew a button back on is essential.
The best part? All you need is a needle, some thread and basic knowledge of sewing, like the difference between a running stitch and a cross stitch. Hint: A running stitch is your basic forward up and down stitch used to sew a hem, while a cross stitch would be useful for sewing on buttons.
Ironing
There’s a lot more to ironing than just plugging in the cord and running the iron over your clothes. For example, you should definitely use an ironing board if you want a crisp, crease-free shirt. When it comes to the actual act of ironing, making sure you use the proper temperature is crucial in maintaining the longevity of your clothing. Experts recommend starting from the cuff and moving toward the shoulder when ironing a shirt; pants and skirts are a little trickier, depending on the flare and flounce.
Laundry
While laundry has gotten easier over the years, thanks to the advancement of technology—aka washers and dryers—there’s still a lot more to doing laundry than just separating lights and darks. For instance, did you know that clothes should also be separated by fabric and color? And white towels shouldn’t be washed with white t-shirts due to pilling?
When it comes to loading the washer and dryer, it’s easy to jam everything in and shut the door, but it’s really best not to overstuff the machine. This can lead to your clothes not being properly cleaned (and no one wants to pull still-crusty clothing out of the washer) or having to re-run the dryer five times to dry everything through.
Paying rent and bills
Knowing how to pay rent and bills like cable, electricity and utilities before getting your own place will save you the headache of having to figure it all out when the bills arrive. (P.S. Paying bills late often results in a hefty late fee.) So first things first: Head to the bank and set up both a checking and savings account.
“Our national economic system is set up intentionally for people to earn money to feed back into the economy by purchasing homes, food, clothing, etc,” says McGuire. “Families need to keep track of needs and wants according to their environment so they can survive in our society and hopefully be happy and fulfilled.”
Managing a bank account
Opening both checking and savings accounts is a good place to start when trying to get your financial life in order. When deciding which institution to bank with, you’ll want to consider factors like locations, number of branches and any special incentives like no-fee ATM withdrawals or unlimited monthly transfers. Some banks will even offer new customers a bit of extra money when they open up a new account.
A good rule of thumb when it comes to this particular home economics skill is to have some of your paycheck automatically deposited into your savings account each month. Consider talking to a financial expert or adviser who can answer all your questions and ease any financial anxiety you might have.
Loans and credit
Do you know how to take out a loan? What about how to find your credit score and even get a credit card? While loans and credit may seem like foreign concepts necessary only for financial advisers to deal with, they’re something that you, as a borrower, should know how to get and/or manage and balance. It’s easy to overspend and find yourself in debt with loans and credit cards that you will eventually need to pay off.
So what’s the difference between a loan and credit? A lot. According to NerdWallet, “Credit cards are ideal for short-term expenses that you can pay off in a month, while personal loans are best used for long-term expenses, financing a big purchase or consolidating multiple debts.” Thus, credit cards can make sense for groceries, shopping and smaller purchases, which is why you find department stores and even supermarkets offering their own credit cards.
Car maintenance
A car is basically a necessity in most cities around the U.S. because public transportation isn’t the greatest unless you live in a large city like NYC or Washington, D.C. Knowing basic automobile maintenance, like how to change a tire and check your oil levels, will save you both time and money. Plus, should you ever find yourself stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire, these skills will come in handy.
Changing a tire is relatively simple, and with practice, you’ll be a pro in no time. The AAA recommends stocking your car trunk with a flashlight, a lug wrench, a jack, wheel wedges and, of course, a spare tire, which are all needed for the change. You can even buy a pre-prepped flat tire repair kit from most auto stores if you prefer an all-in-one option.
Family relationship skills
It’s not easy being a good friend, parent or adult sibling all the time, especially when you’re under pressure or upset, which is why we can all use a little extra family and friend relationship advice. It seems like in today’s world, most relationships are nurtured through some type of technology, whether that’s text, phone call or FaceTime, but nothing truly compares to face-to-face human contact. So making time for loved ones would be the first step in deepening a relationship.
“Relationship skills like communication, cooperation, working in groups, patience and compromising or conflict resolution are some of the skills that families need in order to survive,” says McGuire. “Our society and employers are begging for these interpersonal relationship skills.” Communication is key when it comes to maintaining family relationships, but communicating effectively isn’t as simple as it might seem.
Social etiquette
There’s a reason your parents constantly reminded you to say “please” and “thank you” while you were growing up: Good manners matter. You’re much more likely to make friends and excel in both your personal and professional lives by being polite. But what exactly does being polite mean? Well to start, like mom and dad always said, minding your p’s and q’s, holding the door open for the person behind you and asking someone how they’re doing are all simple acts that show you’re polite. You can even go the extra mile and offer to help clean a friend’s kitchen after a dinner party or throw your BFF a surprise party.
Basic household cleaning
There are some people who actually enjoy cleaning. It’s OK if you’re not one of them, but unless you’re okay living amid chaos, cleaning is one of those things that has to get done. Putting it off will only make it worse, so staying on top of it is important. But what do you use to clean your kitchen sink? And how do you get rid of grime in the shower?
Having some basic cleaning techniques in your home ec skills “portfolio” will help you clean more efficiently and most likely speed up your overall cleaning time. Who doesn’t want that? Just make sure you’re cleaning all areas of your home, not just the common areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
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Sources:
- MaryJane McGuire, family and consumer science educator
- AAA: “What To Have In Your Car Emergency Kit”
- Nerdwallet: “Personal Loan vs. Credit Card: What’s the Difference?”
