Becoming an adult: What you can do at 18

Turning 18 is a big deal. You might not feel any older, but after you turn 18, you're a legal adult under the law. You can make your own decisions, like choosing to open your own bank account or leasing your first car. 

The sooner you can start learning to be an adult, the better. Let's begin by looking at what you can do at 18 — and how to prepare for those big decisions.

Vote

All U.S. citizens get the right to vote when they turn 18. That hasn't always been the case, not by a long shot. Women only won the right to vote in 1920, and Black Americans didn't have their right to vote protected until the 1965 Voting Rights Act was passed. 

In every state except North Dakota, you have to register to vote. Twenty-one states let you pre-register at 16 or 17, and the rest make you wait until your 18th birthday. Check the rules in your state and learn about registering so you can vote as soon as possible.

Remember, voting isn't just about checking a box. It's your say in who leads the country, your state, and even your town.

Your community relies on you to vote responsibly. Research the candidates and learn what they stand for. Ask yourself whose positions match your values. On election day, you get to cast your vote for them. 

Serve on a jury

You've probably heard the phrase "a jury of your peers," maybe in history class or on the news. It's one of the most important phrases in the U.S. justice system.

Under the Constitution, everyone has the right to trial by a jury of peers. In this case, "peers" are a group of impartial, randomly selected citizens. The members of the jury hear the facts of a case and work together to determine whether a person is guilty of a crime.

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Defendants trust juries to make unbiased and fair decisions. As a juror, you get to speak up and fight for that fairness.

Enlist in the military

One of the big things you can do at 18 is join the U.S. military without parental consent. You also need to take an aptitude test, have a high school diploma, and pass a physical exam. 

Joining the military is a significant life decision, and it's not easy to go back on. You can drop out of college or quit a civilian job, but you can't simply walk away from the military. You can separate in special circumstances, but it's not easy to qualify, especially if you've completed basic training.

If you're considering enlisting, take time to make sure it's right for you.

Make your own medical decisions

When you're under 18, your parents or guardians are responsible for your health care. They talk to doctors and give their consent for treatment. If they say no, it's no.

Once you turn 18, you're in control. Doctors will talk to you directly about what they think is wrong, what tests they need to run, and what they recommend. 

You have to sign off for someone to see your health records. Even your parents need your consent to know what's going on. 

Open a bank account

Turning 18 puts you in control of your finances. You're responsible for managing your paychecks and any bills under your name.

That means you'll need a bank account. As a legal adult in the United States, you can open a bank account in your name, with no one else listed as a co-owner.

You're responsible for everything that goes in and out of that account. You have to keep the balance high enough to cover any debits AKA expenses. You need to know how much you have in your account to understand what you can spend.

The more you learn about banking and finance as a teen, the better off you'll be.

If your family is financially savvy, you might already have access to a joint account or restricted teen account. Or, you might have a banking app* like Greenlight, where you get a debit card that you use under parental supervision. 

These opportunities are essential learning tools. Use them intelligently and get adult advice whenever possible. Your future bank account will thank you.

Apply for a credit card or loan

Being in charge of your finances also means having the ability to take out a loan or open a credit card.

Credit opens many doors, but it comes with equal responsibility. You're accountable for making timely payments and borrowing only what you can afford to repay. Penalties for not paying a loan or credit card can be serious. 

On the other hand, loans and credit cards can help you build a solid financial future if you borrow responsibly and pay off what you owe. The better your credit history, the easier it is to borrow affordably later.

If you want to make sound borrowing decisions from day one, start learning about credit before you turn 18. An easy and fun way to begin is with Greenlight Level Up™, a financial literacy game that helps you learn.

Meanwhile, take any opportunity you can find to practice smart borrowing. If they say it's OK, you can start building credit before 18 as an authorized user on your parents' credit card.

Own stock

Investing in the stock market allows you to take a chance on different companies. Investing in a company's stock is called buying shares. When the company increases in value, so do your shares.

Once you own a share in a company, you can hold it as long as you want. Its value will keep increasing or decreasing depending on the company's performance.

You also have the option to sell your shares. If they're worth more than when you bought them, you'll come out ahead. It's never guaranteed, but there are ways to improve your chances.

As a legal adult, you'll have the right to buy and trade stocks in your name. Luckily, you don't have to wait until 18 to start practicing! The sooner you begin, the more prepared you'll be when your money is on the line.

Greenlight lets you practice hands-on. With our investing app made specifically for kids and teens, you can learn about stocks and propose trades starting with as little as $1. Your parents are there to approve every trade, so you're not going it alone.

Rent or own property

Looking forward to having your own place? Once you're 18, you can rent an apartment or buy a house.

Technically, you can buy or lease at any age, but most property owners won't sign a contract with a minor. Most kids will have to wait until they officially become adults. At that point, you can sign any contract, including a lease or purchase agreement.

That means you can rent or buy any other property, including a car or truck. You have to be 18 to register and insure a car under your name. 

You can buy a car if you're a teenager, but your parents or legal guardians must register it. When you're an adult, it can be entirely yours — with all the rights and responsibilities that go along with owning.

But wait, there's more

Turning 18 is the ultimate level-up into adulthood. You can suddenly do all sorts of things that used to be out of reach or require parental permission. You can:

• Get married

• Change your name

• Sign your own will

• Give blood

• Work full time

• Book an Airbnb

These are only some of adulthood's many milestones. Each one can be thrilling and scary — but when you're ready, you're ready.

With freedom comes responsibility

Turning 18 is a massive shift for new adults. You can manage your own money, rent or buy a place to live, vote for president, and join the Army — and that's only the beginning. 

That freedom starts today. The more you learn about adult finances as a teen, the more ready you’ll be to make smart decisions. And those smart decisions will put you in a better financial position for the rest of your life.

Greenlight is here to help get you going. Take a second to bookmark our resource page for teens, and read through some articles the next time you’re scrolling through your phone. The more you learn, the better off you'll be when the big 1-8 comes.

*Greenlight is a financial technology company, not a bank. The Greenlight app facilitates banking services through Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB), Member FDIC.