For College Grads

Your personal finances will change after graduation. Saving and budgeting are key for everyone but definitely need to be a priority for recent grads. More tips to consider that could really help in creating a solid financial foundation for yourself include:

1. Live within your means. Be careful to spend within what you can afford and shoot to have some of your paycheck left over to stick in your savings. This may not be possible for all situations but saving should definitely be a goal for everyone.

2. To establish a saving habit, put it in your budget. Plan for a specific and reasonable amount to set aside every pay period or every month. Planning for savings will help ensure that you have some left over after your other finances.

3. Establish credit as soon as possible. Maintain a good credit score by spending only what you know you can afford. Good credit helps with other big financial expenditures later on in your life.

4. Pay bills on time. Timeliness is key to avoiding extra late payments. Being on top of finances will save you from spending extra money and take away any added stress that comes with bills and finances.

The big take away is to always plan ahead. Think about what you can do for your future self, financially, and work toward meeting those goals.