Helpful Tips for Fresh Graduates Starting Out in Debt

1. Make a budget you can stick to.
Writing in the amount you pay for bills each month is the easiest part of making a budget. Tracking other expenses - the ones you pay cash for or the ones that tend to change from month to month is where making a budget gets harder. Many 20-somethings get into trouble financially with these so-called variable expenses. Tracking everything you spend--from the amount you pay from student loans to the amount you pay for fast food - will help you create the best and most successful budget. Try searching for online calculators and different budgeting tools to help you make sound financial decisions. Pick the one that bests suits your needs and stick to it.
2. Consider the potential for financial disaster and protect yourself from it.
If you want to protect yourself from financial disaster, you will need to carry your own health insurance, car insurance and renters insurance. Accidents happen, and because you are young and just starting out, even minor ones can ruin you financially especially if you don't have your own insurance.
3. Find a job.
One of the biggest problems plaguing the country today, particularly among Americans aged 25 and younger, is the high unemployment rate. If the job you want is elusive, consider temporary employment with a staffing service, or a temp-to-hire position that will get you where you want to be but might take a little longer in doing so. If available, seek an intern position within the department of the company you want to work in. According to a recent study, interns who completed their program, 58% of them are hired on to full-time positions.
4. Conquer credit cards
Learning how to use credit wisely is the first step in building your credit and financial footing. Many 20-somethings at the beginning of their careers have a hard time doing this correctly. Obtaining a credit card and an auto loan is the easiest way to establish credit. The credit card should never be maxed out and both should be paid on time every month. Your credit score can lose as much as 100 points if you miss one payment, one month.
5. Have an emergency fund.
According to the Consumer Federation of America, the average person encounters about $2,000 in unexpected expenses annually. Stay on track financially by having at least this amount saved in an emergency fund.
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