Money management for the first-time adult
-Develop a budget. This is major! You won’t be able to effectively manage funds without a budget. List all sources of income and all monthly expenses. This will help you know when and what bills are due so that all bills are paid on time and there is enough money in your account to pay them.
-Determine wants vs. needs. A huge decision I had to make was whether or not to get cable. I choose not to get it because it is an extra bill I don’t need. Determine what you can afford right now and what you can put off until later. Also, try bringing your lunch to work instead of eating out. Look at some other areas where you can cut back, like, getting a lesser phone plane or cutting out weekly manicures.
-Don’t put off saving. Having money set aside is important, especially when unexpected expenses come up, like, buying tires for your car. Each month my bank automatically debits a preset amount from my checking account into my savings account. This is an easy way to save and the savings account quickly grows over a period of time.
-Don’t rely on credit. Purchasing items on a credit card may seem like a good idea at first, but carrying a large credit card debt (that you can’t afford to pay back) will make a difficult situation even worse. It will also hurt your credit and cause you to be denied other forms of credit that really matter, like, taking out a mortgage someday.
-Get into a realistic payment plan for student loan debt. Student loan debt is a reality for many college graduates. According to a 2008 College Board study, two out of every three undergraduates walk across the stage with some form of student loan debt. Consolidation is a good option because it lowers your monthly payment, but it may not be the best option for everyone. The longer a loan is extended the more interest will accrue. If you cannot afford the monthly payments on your student loan debt contact your loan provider. You may be able to get into an interest only payment plan for two or four years. Deferment and forbearance are also options, but if you are working I would encourage new grads to pay something on student loan debt instead of putting it off.
-Seek the financial guidance of someone you trust. Mentors are valuable in giving advice especially in areas that are unfamiliar and often confusing like buying a car. You should choose someone that has a pattern of making good financial decisions for themselves. This can be anyone from a parent, pastor, former boss, older sibling, hair stylist/barber, or professor. I choose a close family friend that runs his own business. I can call him anytime and ask a question or advice.
Finally, if you have cut out and cut back as much as possible and money is still tight get a part-time job. Look for freelance or part-time work in a field that interests you, like, freelance photography. You’ll bring in extra income and hone your passion.
