Financial Tips for Recent Graduates

June 19, 2013

Almost two million people recently graduated college and the fortunate ones are now entering a new chapter of life called the working world. For the class of 2013, the average graduate is already weighed down with $32,500 in debt when they leave college, according to a study of college graduates by Fidelity.

Many college graduates are now more cautious about adding new debt. Young adults are carrying less debt than before the start of the 2008 recession, primarily because they own fewer major assets, according to recent analysis from the Pew Research Center. The percentage of younger households with debt of any kind dropped to 78%, the lowest level since the government began collecting this data thirty years ago. The share of young adults with credit card debt declined to 39% in 2010 from 48% in 2007.


This reluctance to add debt is a good start. Here are some additional financial tips for new graduates:

* Save and invest now. If you are single or married without kids, you have fewer financial obligations than you will have after you start a family. This is a good time to spend wisely and save for the future. Maximize your retirement accounts because even though the stock market is volatile, time and compounding growth are on your side.

* Pay down your debt. If you went to college, you may be starting out with significant student loan debt. 40% of the people under 30 have outstanding student loans, and the average outstanding student loan debt is approximately $25,000. On top of that, you may also have credit card debt. Start by paying off the debt with the highest interest rate and pay as much as you can above the minimum payment. If you get extra money as a gift, bonus or tax refund, use this as an extra payment on your debt. Clip coupons and take your lunch to work, and use the money you save to immediately make micropayments on your debt.

* Build up your credit score. Test scores are behind you, and now is the time to focus on your credit score. This score is more important than any exam because it represents how lenders judge you. Your credit score affects the terms and interest rates for all loans–credit card, mortgage and auto. The higher your credit score, the lower your interest rates, resulting in more money you can keep. Your payment history and how you handle money is so important that it may be used for apartment rental or insurance applications.

* Make a budget and put every dollar in place. Start with your net income–your income once taxes, healthcare and retirement are taken out. Don’t underestimate expenses. Track your spending for a month or two to get an accurate understanding of your expenses and where your money goes.




* Pay off your credit card debt as soon as possible. If you are carrying a balance from one month to the next, do not put any new purchases on your credit card. If you can’t pay for it with cash, you can’t afford it, so don’t buy it.

* Monitor your credit history with free annual credits reports through You can get a free credit report from each of the three credit agencies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) every year.

* Know everything about your student loan. Find out when the payments begin, who owns the loan, and the loan’s interest rate. If you have a little extra cash, you can even prepay your college loans.

* Set a payment schedule. If you are not trained in paying bills, it is easy to misplace a bill or pay it late. Late fees compound the problem and paying late can lead to lower credit scores. The easiest way for young people to pay bills is to do so online with scheduled email reminders of payments.

* Know the warning signs that you are heading for financial trouble. Warning signs could include: credit cards being charged up to the credit limit; your debt growing each month; bouncing checks; and getting calls from creditors. If you have any of these signs, take action now. Get an understanding of how your money is being spent. This is a good time to talk with your parents or a credit counselor about living within your income. simplifies the confusion of shopping for credit cards. It is a free, independent website that helps consumers easily compare credit cards in a variety of categories such as lowest rates, rewards, rebates, balance transfers and lowest introductory rates. It also gives an unbiased ranking and review for each card. The Complete Credit Card Index is the most objective and comprehensive resource on the Internet which allows consumers to compare rates for over 1000 credit cards offered in this country. Created by Hampton & Associates, the company has been analyzing the credit card industry and supplying objective websites on various consumer expenses for 13 years.

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