So, you’ve almost finished your studies and soon you’ll be ready to throw up your mortarboard. Before you know it, you’re going to be an adult in the big wide world. While some graduates can hit the ground running, many others struggle financially when they first make it into the world. I’m pretty sure I know which kind you want to be! Here are some important financial tips for new graduates.
The first, and most important piece of advice I can offer is save. I know you’ve probably had various authority figures telling you to do this your whole life. Well, there’s a good reason behind this! I’m sorry to tell you this, but odds are you’re not going to get into your dream career straight away. You may end up stuck in a position which you find boring or unfulfilling straight out of college. In these situations, a lot of new graduates will use unwise spending as an escape from the grind. Sure, you should spend some money on luxuries and enjoy your new freedom. However, if you fail to start saving early on, it will really come back to bite you.
Keeping to a strict saving regime can be a hugely beneficial habit to get into. However, you should also be investing to give yourself the best personal finances. A lot of new graduates come out of college not understanding the nature of assets. Assets like a car will depreciate from the moment you purchase it. The same is true for gorgeous clothes, 3D TVs and so on. To help you out, make a point to invest in assets that will increase in value over time. Dividend-yielding bonds, property and blue chip stocks should all be in your crosshairs. Not a lot of young adults are expected to make smart investments. However, when you secure your money early you’ll be thanking yourself later!
Finally, learn to get a hold of your debt as soon as possible. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but student loan debt is only the tip of the iceberg. If you keep spending recklessly and buying assets which depreciate, you’ll only end up with an increasing amount of debt over your head. This will grind down the value of your assets, and force your personal net worth. A lot of graduates find that the amount of luxuries they buy while getting into bet is the fun part. After that, having debt following you around is a massive hindrance to your quality of life. Look into your debt as soon as possible, and start trying to manage it. Pay off the debts with the highest interest rates before anything else. When you’re in this habit. It will become harder for debt to sneak up on you later down the line.
Being smart with your finances as a graduate isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible either. The sooner you take an active interest in your personal finances, the more stable your life will be in the long run.
Add Comment