Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
People Share 40 Basic Things Everyone Should Know How To Do (But Apparently, Many Don’t)
Have you ever met someone who just… couldn’t do the most basic thing? Like boil water. Or read a map. Or properly use a turn signal?
It’s wild how some fundamental life skills—things you’d think everyone would know—aren’t actually that common. Whether it's sewing on a button, managing money, or just being able to listen without interrupting, the gap can be surprisingly wide.
Curious (and maybe a little concerned), I asked the Bored Panda community: What’s one basic skill everyone should have… but many clearly don’t? The answers are eye-opening, hilarious, and a little too relatable.
Got one of your own? Drop it in the comments—I’m all ears!
This post may include affiliate links.
RELATED:
#2
How to do basic research and to distinguish legitimate sources of information from bad ones. How to sort out facts from propaganda.
Final score:
39points
Harry Gondalf 5 months ago
I agree, but what with propaganda, AI, groupthink, and media bias, how do we ever get to see all sides of an argument? I never forget the 'scientific' reports from the 50's and 60's that blamed obesity on fats in foods; turns out the reports and research was done by scientists who were paid well ... by the sugar industry. So again, how can we possibly know what sources are legitimate?
Remi (He/Him) 5 months ago
That's the problem. Facts don't sell. Even worse is how so many places only get propaganda, not news. It's really hard to think different when all you get is the fox "news" and pals
Load More Replies...
quentariel 4 months ago
That's one of the most useful skill I learned at uni: researching and source criticism. The other one was the ability to leave your own opinions/prejudices/wordviews/emotions outside and see things purely as they are while you were researching.
StrangeOne 4 months ago
This is becoming incredibly time consuming. You have to research what are legitimate sources, and then research what fact checkers are unbiased and legitimate, and then research of those are legitimate. It goes on and on. There's too much AI. The best one can do is what various news programs, and news around the world. Interestingly, how one country presents a topic, another country will report it different.
DowntownStevieB 4 months ago
It's so hard nowadays. I just finished my research semester in school and the start of the class was an exam on how to determine credibility of sources.
doredde 5 months ago
It´s "you are", for the well-educated. You seem to be very much into correcting others.
Load More Replies...
#3
How to budget and save money.
Final score:
35points
Remi (He/Him) 5 months ago
True that. Learned budget making at over 30. Zero debt now, because your money is the one with no extra cost. Yes we needed to go low budget to pay our debts but it's so worth it
#4
Seems to be a lost art, and honestly, I can’t remember the last time I did it, but everyone should be able to sew on a button.
Final score:
35points
Paul C. 4 months ago
I'm 71 and my mum would say you should be able to sew on a button so I learned. More importantly, it was the mid 60's and I was a teenager and my mum would iron my flares flat on the board with the material sticking out sideways. Hence I very quickly learnt how to iron! My mum wasn't stupid.
#6
Patience and compassion. For pete's sake, slow down on the road. Stop shoving and respect the queue/line. Wait for someone to be out of your way before you decide to push through. Stop shouting at others for existing. You're likely just as much in the way of someone as someone is in the way of you.
Final score:
32points
Lady Eowyn 4 months ago
And please don't barge into an elevator without letting the people already inside get out first. Thank you.
#7
The ability to apologize, mean it and amend one's behaviors and words accordingly in the future.
Final score:
31points
#9
Learn to repair simple things. Whether it's clothing or things around the house. Learn to use tools.
A gasket to replace in a toilet tank is maybe $6.00 as oppose to calling a plumber wondering why your toilet won't flush or keeps running.
Final score:
29points
Remi (He/Him) 5 months ago
Here YouTube is your friend. Changed the leaky fridge insulation with an actual help video from the fridge company
#10
First aid. Those first minutes can save a life!
Final score:
29points
#11
One basic skill everyone should have: knowing the difference between the words "your" and "you're", and between "their", "there", and "they're" and using them correctly when writing, especially when posting on social media. Incorrect usage indicates the poster is at least partially illiterate; credibility comes into question. I'm not a language expert, just an average U.S. person who received average U.S. public schooling, and that was sufficient for me to achieve a mastery of grammar and spelling, without even making a concerted effort to do so. Perhaps it just came as natural to me? I sure don't feel like I'm exceptional.
Final score:
28points
featherytoad 5 months ago (edited)
Some times I will make a mistake with these words. It doesn't mean I don't know the difference, my brain is just working too fast, and I overlook it. I always proof read though, and I usually catch it. I can totally get past this though as long as the person is at least attempting to use punctuation where a paragraph isn't one long sentence.
#12
Ignoring social media, especially the fake world of insta and the absurd platform TikTok. Nothing good will ever come of it, as the last years have shown us. Younger people have lost the ability to be truly social, thinking a filtered and faked platform can somehow replace interaction with real beings.
Final score:
28points
Remi (He/Him) 5 months ago
You can be social online still. So much of my family is still on Facebook, but they're there to talk to relatives and to show holiday photos. Not exciting, but real
#14
Oh and I will add one more 'common sense'......such a lack of it these days.
Final score:
27points
Leg less In Minneapolis 5 months ago
“Common sense” is a flower that does not grow in everyone’s garden
#15
How to be kind.
Final score:
26points
Remi (He/Him) 5 months ago
This one is hard. Not because others aren't (which they aren't), but being in your own little mind means you often don't know even how. Everyone like me: Pay attention at choke points, give room, hold doors, etc. Problems are easier to see there.
#16
Basic understanding of money management plus how to cook simple dishes.
Final score:
26points
BrownEyedPanda 5 months ago
It makes absolutely no sense that a teenager, much less a young adult, doesn't even know how to properly fry an egg, bake a cake from a mix, or toss a decent salad.
#17
Politeness and an understanding of grammar and spelling...
Final score:
25points
#18
Basic automotive maintenance:
How to check your fluids, change a tire, etc. ...
Final score:
24points
Bananaramamama 5 months ago
This! Boys and girls should have at least a basic understanding of car maintenance. My dad made sure all of his daughters could at least put on a spare to get to a safe place. Sure, strangers are often very kind and helpful, but a young person on the highway at night is just a sitting duck.
#19
Cooking. Swimming. Basic blade safety and maintenance. Basic first aid.
Final score:
20points
#20
Know when to speak and when to shut up.
Final score:
18points
Oerff On Tour 4 months ago
Having the freedom of speech does not equate to saying everything. Also, it prevents the government to take legal action against you. But it doesn't protect you from the fist smashing your teeth if you say something stupid to someone else.
#21
Patience. How to wait instead of "getting it all right now." Recognizing that wanting and needing are not the same. Working toward your goals.
Final score:
18points
Remi (He/Him) 5 months ago
Also sometimes you don't understand something straight away (theoretical physics). Give it and yourself time (life)
#22
The basic skill of respecting other people. Not deferring, or agreeing, or bending the knee, just basic human respect. If you don't like or agree with their choices (like clothing, and religion), or non-choices (like race and sexual orientation/gender identity), then try either shutting up and letting them be, or trying to understand them, or maybe moving on to topics you do agree on? Hmm? Basic respect for other human beings?
Final score:
16points
Remi (He/Him) 5 months ago
If you don't respect people's very basic right to exist, then you broke the respect rule and I won't respect you either. Someone disagrees with my views on anything else? Let's debate like it's the 90s :)
#23
The ability to see flaws in themselves and be willing to try to change them to become a better person.
Final score:
15points
Inservio Smurf 5 months ago
I like this one. Do be sure and consider not everyone agrees on what is and is not a flaw, however.
#24
How to use a checking account. When I was a bank teller, I was kinda horrified by the amount of customers who had no idea how basic checking worked. They had no idea how to balance their checkbook. This was especially true of recent high school graduates. We always took the time to educate them. Just wondered why their parents never did. Actually had more than one customer who said, "I can't be out of money. I still have checks left."
Final score:
14points
#25
Computer basics. Even in a smartphone. As in here are your programs: how to make folders, how to delete things. The basics.
Final score:
14points
realenancy170 4 months ago
Yes! I have met people who only know how to text and use facebook or other social media. I maintain files that I upload to my cloud containing contacts, medication and instructions for my pet or house sitters.
#27
Sewing. So many people are surprised when I say I know how to sew. And that I do my own (minor) car maintenance. Basic spelling and grammar seem to be lost. Can't stand it when people write out "would of" "could of" etc. when it's really "would've" "could've" (would have, could have) also a lot of people write etcetera as "ect"... this all seems like elementary school knowledge, or at least it was when I was a kid.
Final score:
11points
#28
Reading and writing. Yes, you have them, but how's your skill in writing well with minimum mistakes in grammar and spelling? You read but how is your reading comprehension? Can you tell me what you read a day later?
Final score:
11points
meeeeeeeeeeee 4 months ago
Sometimes I couldn't even tell you what I'm reading as I'm reading it.
#29
How to build, light and control a campfire.
Final score:
10points
#30
Basic math. I know it's a lost art by now with everyone using cards or apps, but knowing math helps when budgeting. Do know what's in your account and what you can spend? If you do use cash, are you sure you're getting the correct change back? Wanna thank my dad for that lesson.
Final score:
10points
Lady Eowyn 4 months ago
I have dyscalculia so my brain doesn't like to process numbers. I have to use a calculator for what most people consider simple match. It's something I have to work hard at.
#32
Basic manners and politeness, like letting people get out of an elevator first, greeting people, etc.
Final score:
8points
#33
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
Final score:
7points
#34
Swimming.
Final score:
7points
Remi (He/Him) 5 months ago
basic "can swim something like 50m" is good "can float" is even better
#35
Cooking. Also, "changing:" -Men: changing a diaper; Women: changing a tire.
Final score:
6points
Remi (He/Him) 5 months ago
All three should be on the skill list for everyone regardless of gender
#36
Reading cursive.
Final score:
6points
Stephanie Did It 5 months ago
Writing cursive. It's not just words on paper. It reflects your personality, your level of security and confidence, and it is uniquely yours. It can be a thing of beauty or it can identify a criminal. It reflects dignity or lack thereof.
#37
From Robert A. Heinlein: “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” I think *maybe* I can manage about 17 of those. Many of them badly, but still...
Final score:
5points
#38
How to Think.
A good second would be how to speak.
Final score:
5points
#39
As a shift manager in a factory, I just wish all people had the skill to do their job proactively.
Final score:
4points
Tim Douglass 4 months ago
As someone who's been that shift worker - how about enough pay that I have some reason to care. Minimum pay - minimum effort.
#41
Balance a checkbook.
Final score:
2points
SchadenFreudian Psychology 5 months ago
Maybe a better way to put it would be, “Keep track of how much money you’ve spent.”
#42
Accepting that if people warn you for something (wrong boyfriend, spending to much, drinking to much), you will end up loosing those people if you don't change that behavour.
Living of the money you have instead of the money you want.
Final score:
2points
#43
I made it through having all of the skills named except for two: butchering a hog and balancing a checkbook (because I don't use checks or a checkbook).
Final score:
-1point
Mimi M (Submission author) 5 months ago (edited)
Sorry, I thought I was commenting! Here is my actual list addition: The ability to set and keep a boundary.
What do you think ?
Ronnie Beaton 4 months ago
Being on time for something. Better yet, being *early* for something. I shudder to think how much of my life I've wasted just hanging around somewhere waiting on other people showing up for something.
UKGrandad 4 months ago (edited)
Being too early can be as bad as being late. If I've asked you to be here at seven o'clock, don't turn up at six-thirty while I'm in the shower or prepping food. EDIT: OK, which absolute Muppet did I upset this time? Kindly take your downvote and insert it where the sun doesn't shine.
Load More Replies...
UKGrandad 4 months ago
One thing that people are increasingly unable to do is to understand that there is a difference between what one wants to be true and what is actually true.
doredde 4 months ago
Some opinions are buried at a place in your brain, where facts will never be able to go.
Load More Replies... LooseSeal's $10 Banana 4 months ago
Reading through these answers it's incredible to realize how many of these skills were learned and/or honed in the Boy Scouts. Cooking, mechanics, money management, manners.
Rick Murray 4 months ago
So many repetutishuns, all sayin the same stuff over an over 'gain - pacifically 'bout spellin' and grammer. ;)
Ronnie Beaton 4 months ago
Being on time for something. Better yet, being *early* for something. I shudder to think how much of my life I've wasted just hanging around somewhere waiting on other people showing up for something.
UKGrandad 4 months ago (edited)
Being too early can be as bad as being late. If I've asked you to be here at seven o'clock, don't turn up at six-thirty while I'm in the shower or prepping food. EDIT: OK, which absolute Muppet did I upset this time? Kindly take your downvote and insert it where the sun doesn't shine.
Load More Replies... UKGrandad 4 months ago
One thing that people are increasingly unable to do is to understand that there is a difference between what one wants to be true and what is actually true.
doredde 4 months ago
Some opinions are buried at a place in your brain, where facts will never be able to go.
Load More Replies... LooseSeal's $10 Banana 4 months ago
Reading through these answers it's incredible to realize how many of these skills were learned and/or honed in the Boy Scouts. Cooking, mechanics, money management, manners.
Rick Murray 4 months ago
So many repetutishuns, all sayin the same stuff over an over 'gain - pacifically 'bout spellin' and grammer. ;)
You May Like 30 Of The Most Irksome Things Annoying People Often Say 170 Personal Questions To Get To Know Someone Beyond Their Favorite Color 100 Community Service Ideas That Are Both Doable And Beneficial
Neilas Šurkus
Eligijus Sinkunas
Viltė Domkutė
Related on Bored Panda
