We’re all growing up–and that can be a tough cookie to swallow–but, for some people, it’s time to transition out of college life. College graduation is seen by many as the “starting point” of your adult life, and, with that, it’s time to bring the rest of the aspects of your life up to the same level.

Yes, people, I’m talking about the stuff you have in your apartment or house. Aging generally goes hand-in-hand with upgrading and replacing the old with the new.

So, first of all, it’s time to ditch the plastic dishes and cups. It’s cool to still have those around if you have small children, but if you’re an adult and still drink out of an Elmo cup… Trash the novelty cup collection, plastic silverware and paper plates and invest in some glass and (preferably matching) dish and silverware sets. Your guests will appreciate it.

Get rid of the stereotypical college decorations. Beer posters, lines of empty liquor bottles, lava lamps, coasters featuring naked women, your collection of chew cans, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. It’s time to phase out of the in-your-face party decorations.

Upgrade your furniture, guys. Turn your futon into an actual couch, transition from a card table to a dining table and stop using old milk crates as side tables in your living room or bedroom. Out with the tacky and in with the more mature.

Start taking care of your basic house/life necessities. Buy a nice trash can and commit to actually taking the trash out, especially the loose stuff that’s too big to fit in your can. Nobody likes visiting and seeing a teetering pile of Chinese takeout boxes and chocolate milk cartons taking over the kitchen.

With this, do your darn laundry. Great piles of laundry are unattractive things and can put off your mood. Also, when the laundry is washed, don’t just randomly hang your drawers all over your apartment because you don’t want to pay for a drier. Come on, just suck it up and pay the buck-fifty.

Last, but not least: invest, invest, invest. Stuff that costs more generally performs better, lasts longer and looks sharper. Anything from your toaster to your bath towels to your bedspread to your lamps can make a huge difference in your place. Keep in mind that, as we age, we usually develop preferences for quality and are able to produce more money for buying stuff (yay). Anyway, spending the extra dime could pay off for you and your guests.

These aren’t set rules to growing up, and you really don’t have to apply this sort of stuff to your life right after college graduation. Just keep in mind that age brings responsibility, and you should be set for when you’re ready to start your professional, personal and familial life.