Young adults confront something of a juggling act once they begin their professional lives. For many, that challenge begins with landing and starting a first job, arranging a payment plan for student loans, finding a place to live, and determining savings and personal finance goals. Although entering the workforce and taking a big step toward financial independence can be exciting, it also comes with financial responsibility.
Setting a strong financial foundation as early as possible helps establish long-term financial security. These tips can help young professionals manage their money more effectively.
• Take a money management course. Young professionals may be tired of heading to class or making the grade at this point in life, but educating oneself about some of the basic rules of personal finance can help bridge knowledge gaps in this arena. Many young adults have never been taught the basics of applying for credit and staying out of debt. If you’ve been riding your parents’ financial coattails throughout school, now is the time to learn more, whether it’s through an online course or reading up on the subject.
• Set SMART goals. The acronym SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, and can serve as a road map to achieving various goals, including those related to money. Develop a clear plan for your money, which can make it easier to budget and achieve savings-related goals.
• Minimize debt. The Education Data Initiative says university graduates owe an average of $28,244 on student loans after they leave school, with a monthly payment between $200 and $299. Some graduates have even more debt and higher payments. Managing debt is vital to anyone’s finances. Create a debt repayment plan at the earliest opportunity. With a “snowball” strategy, borrowers pay off their smallest debts first. Once a debt is paid off, the payment amount for that debt is then applied to the next smallest debt, gaining momentum with each payment. The “avalanche” approach involves paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first.
• Aim to pay with cash more often. Unless you can afford to pay off the balance in full every month, using credit cards a lot can contribute to debt accumulation. LendingTree says that, as of September 2024, the average APR on all new card offers was 24.92%. Buying items with cash or debit will reduce the likelihood of spending what you don’t have, offers Investopedia.
• Set up an emergency fund. It might be challenging to set aside a lot of money right now when you have an entry-level position and some debt. But setting aside as little as $1,000 for unexpected life events separate from your own personal savings can shield you from issues that arise from unexpected expenses.
• Participate in employer benefit plans. Look for the various ways that your employer can help you save money. This may include participating in retirement plans (including those with employer contribution matches), health spending accounts, gym memberships, and additional opportunities.
• Start saving and investing now. According to SmartAsset, if you start investing $150 a paycheck at age 25 and your investments have an average annualized return of 8%, after 40 years you’ll have about $1.1 million in your account. Investing the same at age 35 means cutting nearly half of that total simply by procrastinating.
There are many ways young professionals can develop strong financial skills. Working with a certified financial planner also can help young professionals grow wealth over the course of their lives.
