As new graduates leave college and transition into adult life, there are many aspects of their financial situations that will change. Here are some financial areas that you may want to talk about with recent grads.
- Develop a Discipline to Control Spending– Managing expenses will be one of the first financial tasks a new graduate will have to conquer. Creating a budget to monitor larger costs like housing and transportation, as well as smaller everyday expenses can help keep track of where money is being spent and can help identify unnecessary splurges.
- Saving for the Unexpected– The next goal for a recent graduate should be to save up an emergency fund that will cover 3-6 months’ worth of expenses in case of an unexpected expense or loss of employment. This can be difficult when student loan payments are due and getting a start on retirement savings is being constantly encouraged, but an emergency fund should be a high priority.
- Student Loan Debt– Most recent college graduates will begin their careers with a fair amount of student loans to pay off. Student loans or any other forms of debt that charge the highest interest rates should be paid off first. Just meeting the minimum payment may be the best option early on though as an emergency fund is built up and money is diverted towards retirement savings.
- Saving for Retirement– Once debt is under control, saving for the future, namely retirement, is the next big step. Starting early is crucial for young new grads as they have one major advantage; time. Taking advantage of their employer 401(k) plan with a company match is a smart place to start.
- Investing Long-Term– Retirement savings should be invested with a long-term view, as a recent graduate who starts saving in their first few years will allow that money to compound for the next 40+ years. Short-term market fluctuations, even drastic ones, should not be cause to panic.
- Credit Rating– A young adult will also want to familiarize themselves with their credit rating and how missing a loan payment or electricity bill could affect them when making a big purchase down the road, like a car or house.
All of these responsibilities will take some time to implement, but they will offer the recent graduates a good learning experience in balancing their short and long term financial goals.
