The Art of Adulting Crossword Answer Key

One morning, upon waking up with back pain and a pounding headache from caffeine withdrawal, it hits you: You’ve officially reached adulthood. Bygone are the days of carefree McDonald’s runs and all-nighters. High school has been replaced with a nine to five and you don’t vibe with the Top 40 anymore. But you do have your own apartment and no curfew. Being grown up means finally having the freedom you yearned for as a teen, but with hidden responsibilities no one warned you about. Solve the crossword below to have a laugh at the nostalgia and relatable irritants that come with the territory of adulting.

ACROSS

4. Adult jitter juice COFFEE

6. Please cancel them STUDENT LOANS

7. Record of professional experience RESUME

9. You start feeling it in your 30s BACK PAIN

11. Home owner’s bane MORTGAGE

12. Socializing NETWORKING

15. Feeling forever alone SINGLE

18. You dread them every holiday season IN LAWS

21. Arguing pettily BICKERING

22. Three digit number that rules your life CREDIT SCORE

25. Money management FINANCES

27. Being an adult means making the tough one DECISION

28. Helps save for 56 down IRA

29. Precursor to 32 across UNDERGRAD

31. Take a __ day SPA

32. Educational move for the adult who doesn’t know what to do with their life GRAD SCHOOL

33. Offers a sweet reprieve for caretakers DAYCARE

36. Are you even a millennial if you aren’t in __? DEBT

37. “With great power comes great __.” RESPONSIBILITY

40. Children substitute PLANTS

42. Elusive fountain’s promise YOUTH

45. They pile up fast DISHES

46. Keep up with them APPOINTMENTS

48. Constitutional right and responsibility VOTING

51. Car dealership option LEASE

52. Bad habit VICE

53. Granny’s favorite game BINGO

54. Perhaps the most “adulting” of all duties CHORES

55. Expensive wrinkle remover BOTOX

56. Due on the first of the month RENT

57. Common New Year’s resolution for adults EXERCISE

60. Monthly limit BUDGET

62. Furbabies PETS

63. __ mater ALMA

64. Impossible to do when people are watching PARALLEL PARKING

DOWN

1. Wash them at least every two weeks SHEETS

2. Your first game system, probably NINTENDO

3. Culture of sitting in a Zoom meeting while wearing dirty sweatpants: abbr. WFH

5. Once every 3,000 miles OIL CHANGE

8. First thing in the morning MAKE YOUR BED

13. Exploitive safety net INSURANCE

14. You find yourself falling asleep while watching this sport (congrats, you’re now your father) GOLF

17. Opening line of an elder’s tale BACK IN MY DAY

19. The ’90s to Gen Z RETRO

20. Not-your-grandfather’s cash BITCOIN

23. First month’s rent SECURITY DEPOSIT

26. Career chase JOB HUNT

30. Busy month for the IRS APRIL

31. Get at least eight hours SLEEP

34. IOU LOAN

35. “Nothing is certain except death and __.” TAXES

38. Make a pass online SWIPE RIGHT

39. “Air one’s dirty __.” LAUNDRY

41. All grown up ADULT

43. A secret cleaning agent for hardwood floors VINEGAR

44. Impossible to fold FITTED SHEET

47. Do it once a week and you’ll never argue about what’s for dinner again MEAL PREP

48. Nine-to-five escape VACATION

49. Fad diet KETO

50. Another word for “adulting” LIFE

56. Reason for a 401(k) RETIREMENT

58. Buy now, pay later CREDIT CARD

59. Attire for your sister-in-law’s cousin’s wedding you’re begrudgingly attending FORMAL WEAR

61. You’ll be a member before you know it: abbr. AARP

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