10 things to have by 20 IN JAMAICA
(Pt 1)
THE BIG 2-0 is a pivotal time in a young person’s life. It can be a transition from carefree teen years into adult responsibility. In Jamaica, for most persons, turning 20 means preparing oneself for job/career success. By 20, most of us are expected to have completed high school, gained some kind of secondary education, and either moved on to tertiary education or into some other form of preparation for the work world. It’s the definitive corner from certain aspects of ‘childhood’ into ‘adulthood’, even if it doesn’t feel like it – and it often won’t! So here are the first five of a list of 10 things you will need to be armed with in order to go forward into your 20s. These are specific to the Jamaican situation, but also relevant to the wider context of preparation for work life beyond the teen years:
1. PASSPORT
This is the most crucial form of identification you will possess, especially when in foreign countries. If you don’t already have one, you need to put it at the top of your list, because your passport is your gateway to the rest of the world.
2. VOTER’S ID
Citizens of Jamaica who are 18 and older are encouraged to register with the Electoral Commission of Jamaica to get their names on the voter’s list, and to be issued with a National Voter’s ID. The voter’s ID is the primary form of identification used by most persons for work and business transactions, and is therefore very essential.
3. SAVINGS ACCOUNT
Most people over 30, and everybody over 40, will tell you to start saving now, if you haven’t already begun. A huge part of your life’s success will depend on the habits you develop now, and saving is one of the best habits you can develop. It is essential for wealth creation, for funding personal projects, and for so many other things (think house, car, studies, travel). Don’t wait until you’re in your mid-30s or early 40s to get serious about saving. This is one habit that will redound to your benefit.
4. CREDIT UNION ACCOUNT
Different from your savings account, most people will recommend that you open a credit union account. This is because credit unions tend to be more customer-friendly in terms of savings options, as well as loans and other lending facilities. If, for example, you require a loan to do your tertiary studies, most people will recommend going to a credit union, as they tend to have more reasonable interest rates and better payment plans than banks and other financial institutions.
5. TRN
Your tax registration number (TRN) is a unique nine-digit identification number assigned to each individual taxpayer, business enterprise, organisation (non-profit, partnership, charity, etc.) by way of an automated system.