The stuff nobody taught you
The Adult Files explains adult-life problems (renting, credit, first jobs, debt, cars, scams and paperwork) with researched case files, a clear fix and a free tool.
We pick one real problem, check every number against official sources first, and hand you the fix plus a free tool. Every source is linked on the page so you can check our work.
What’s a file?
Every topic is a file: one real problem, checked against the sources, with the fix and a free tool. Files are numbered (FILE 001, FILE 002…) because each one started as an episode of our YouTube channel, but every page is written to make complete sense on its own. You never need to watch the video.
We also publish guides for questions we won’t film, and a glossary of the words on your lease, pay stub and credit report.
Who’s behind it
The Adult Files is written and checked by The Adult Files editorial team. It started as a YouTube channel (@theadultfiles) of short story videos.
Jordan, Maya and Dex: our worked examples
Our videos follow three recurring characters. On this site they appear only as labelled worked examples, so you can see the math on a realistic set of numbers:
- Jordan is our main example. In FILE 001 he’s 26, earns $52,000 a year and is renting his first apartment. His numbers are typical, not a real person’s.
- Maya is the friend who reads the fine print.
- Dex is pure confidence, usually right before a mistake.
Whenever a character appears, the page says so (“Our example: Jordan…”). The advice always stands on its own.
Our sourcing standard
- Official data first. Government agencies, regulators and official statistics come before industry reports, and industry reports before anything else.
- Every number has a source. Each statistic on a page links to a source card with the organization, the document, a short word-for-word quote, and the publish date (or the date we accessed it).
- No invented numbers. If we can’t source it, it doesn’t go on the page.
- Reviewed, with a date. Every file and guide shows a “Last reviewed” date. When rules or numbers change, we update the page and the date.
- US and Canada. Where the rules differ, we say so. Canadian rules are often provincial; we name the province.
How we make money (and what we won’t do)
The tools and files are free. Later we’ll sell a few toolkits (templates and checklists), and some pages may include affiliate links, always marked and explained on our disclosures page. We never promote payday loans or predatory lenders, and a partner never changes what a file recommends.
Everything here is a gut check, not financial advice. For decisions about your own situation, talk to a qualified professional.
Found a mistake?
Tell us at hello@theadultfiles.com. We fix errors and update the “Last reviewed” date.