(Written by Andie Parton, Illustrated by Lynn Johnston)

Chapter 10: Roommates

…The truth is that life with roommates can be dicey. To prep yourself heading into it, check out these 4 “Tools for Life”: communication, manners, rules, and fun. See if they don’t make this time amazing. And here’s a bonus: many people count among their lifelong friends the strangers they shared apartments with in their youth.

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Chapter 14: Your Basic, ‘Gotta-Do-It’ Budget

…How boring could it be, to sit down and construct a budget?
Very, actually, but stick around, this won’t take long.
Why budget, you may ask?
You budget in order to ensure this task is not thrust upon you. Like when Mom has to pay your rent directly to the landlord and never lets you forget it. Or when your phone is now in Dad’s name and the long distance program has been removed from your irresponsible grasp. Imagine that you’re 34 years old with a spouse, 2 kids and impending bankruptcy: The credit counseling bureau doles out your money ‘til American Express no longer owns you. That’s why you learn to budget.

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Chapter 19: The Buddy System; Forming Alliances

...Things buddies do for each other:

• Buddies take turns staying sober.
• Buddies stay awake through the play-by-play of each disaster date
• Buddies prevent the dreaded solo entrance into the campus pub
• They tow each other’s dead cars off the freeway
• Buddies forage for food together
• Buddies post bail for each other (during your activist stage, and your pal’s pub phase)

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Chapter 22: Transportation: Wheels or Heels, How are you Fixed?

... You know how very expensive it is to support a car. There’s your gas, insurance, maintenance, repairs, plate tags, and emission control checkups. Then factor in parking tickets, speeding tickets and the fines for assorted violations, like the broken taillight you got in that tussle with the fire hydrant. You ‘forgot’ to get it fixed, the cop noticed and tagged it on to your speeding ticket, and you’re faced with this burning question: IF YOU HAVE A CAR, WILL YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN IT???

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Chapter 23: Kicking Back in a Strange Town

...Factoid: when a bartender cuts you off, he or she is not out to embarrass you, shred your dignity or ruin your life. This is just done to save the bar license and also to protect your sorry butt. So the words “You’re cut off!” should not trigger a bar-wide brawl and mass destruction. You’ll then get to spend your weekend in jail where someone bigger will slap you around and someone drunker will throw up on you. Word gets around and people won’t go out with you anymore (which is fine since your life savings, student loan and future earnings are all earmarked for payment of fines and bar re-construction). Are you having fun yet?