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Given that it's now mid-June, and pretty much everyone that will be
graduating from college this year has done so, I though I'd spend a bit of time
putting together a short list of financial tips for the recent graduate. Here
goes:
1. Spend less than you earn. This is perhaps the most worn out, overused
phrase in the world of personal finance. But guess what? It's also the single
most important financial lesson you'll ever learn. No matter how hard you work
and how much money you earn, you'll never achieve financial security if you
spend more than you earn, so… Do whatever it takes to make sure that this
doesn’t happen. This takes self-discipline, and might require constructing (and
sticking to) a budget, but if you ever want to get to a point where you can
afford all the little niceties in life, you need to make it happen.
Remember: If your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep will be your
downfall.
2. Plan for the future. I’ve been where you are, and I know that “the
future” seems like it’s a million miles away. Do yourself a favor. Sit down and
define short, intermediate, and long-term goals and then put together a plan for
getting there. It’s not easy, and you probably won’t get it right at first but
once you do this, you’ll have something concrete to work from (and to modify in
the future). Start small and work your way up.
Open an online savings account and start making auto-transfers into to
build up an emergency fund. Sign up for your company’s 401(k) and make regular
contributions. Come up with a plan for ditching your debt. Open an IRA (either
Traditional or Roth) and start funding it. And read books about money and
investing so you’ll be ready to take the next step when the time comes.
Whatever you do, don’t wait.
3. Be patient. Building a solid financial foundation takes time. Don’t look
for shortcuts or try to strike it rich overnight with the latest hot investment
tip. Likewise, don’t make major financial decisions without fully considering
the ramifications. This isn’t to say that you should be paralyzed fear. Rather,
you need to do your homework. Turns those unknwowns into knowns, and then make
an informed decision.
4. Learn from your mistakes. Nobody’s perfect. You’re bound to make
mistakes, especially when you’re just starting out. The important thing is to
learn from them and move forward. If you make a bad financial decision, make a
note of it and get yourself back on track. Don’t beat yourself up, and don’t
throw in the towel. |
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发表于 2016-7-10 00:00:40