i just got catalina and none of my Microsoft apps are working... HOW TO EASILY UPDATE

You can purchase Microsoft applications, from the Microsoft website. Alternatively, you can subscribe to Office 365 at a recurring monthly charge.

For Adobe applications, I'd start on the Adobe website.

Catalina is a 64 bit operating system meaning only 64 bit applications will run on it. Your old legacy apps are likely 32 bit meaning you will need to buy updated versions of MS Office and your Adobe apps to run on Catalina. Apple has been warning users for years that it is moving away from 32 bit so somehow that escaped you.