However, eventually life hits us as we walk through every back door for a job interview. If we are lucky, we land an internship position or a dream job in a few tries, but sometimes luck is on the other side and we are forced to scale back and re-think our choices. Student loans and other debts begin to pile up while we wait for the opportunities to knock.
The question is: how do we avoid financial meltdown before it’s too late?
Here are a few tips and tricks I’ve compiled to help you with this problem.
1. Keep In Mind That Your First Job Isn’t Your Safety Net.
If you’ve noticed, many of us make the same mistakes repeatedly. We assume the first job we land with mediocre pay becomes our safety net. We assume that the very first job is the perfect reflection of our identity and we stop exploring. Nelson Mandela once said that being comfortable is the most dangerous feeling humans can have. This statement becomes prominent, especially among fresh graduates, as we over-commit ourselves. We put in our first instalment for a car, we purchase a brand new wardrobe, get a new apartment lease, pile up on credit cards, and gather many other unnecessary debts. Initially, we enjoy over-indulging ourselves. However, as months go by, our expenses increase and we find it hard to keep up with it. We end up in a loop of debt and payments among other fresh graduates. Eventually, we end up playing catch-up with bills that restrict our freedom to explore other opportunities. If you’re fresh out of university, always keep in mind that it’s better to save and invest than to purchase material items. Credit cards and car instalments just add up to more debt. Keeping it smart and simple is the best way to ensure your financial security. Opportunities are everywhere, so never assume your first job is your safety net. Instead, give yourself the freedom to explore.
2. Love Isn’t Going To Pay The Bills.
Love is a beautiful feeling shared between two people, and after several years we often feel the need to commit to one another for better or for worse. Unfortunately, many make the fatal mistake of proposing as soon as they’re out of university, with the excuse being time and circumstance. These couples often fail to see that a key part in creating a family or committing to marital life is financial stability. As the initial honeymoon period settles, many realize the combined responsibilities of bills, accommodations, food, and many other expenses have begun to take their toll. You should always keep in mind that love alone isn’t going to pay the bills, but it definitely can wait. If the person is right for you, then encourage them on their path toward self-development, achieve great accomplishments together, and once you’re confident enough in your financial stability, you can tie the knot. This ensures that you and your family can avoid any unforeseen financial uproar later in your marriage .
3. Realize That This Is The Age To Take Risks.
Being fresh out of university is the best time to take risks. However, fear and hesitation can lead many to avoid taking that leap of faith. We stay in jobs that frustrate us, spending hours trailing back and forth on our monitors while looking for new opportunities, but never making any moves. We fail to realize that this is the right time to take some risks. As a fresh graduate, you aren’t bound by unavoidable responsibilities and circumstances — you’ve got nothing to lose. You can explore the journey of trial and error and learn from your mistakes. You can take the risk of investing and growing your own legacy. These tiny risks allow you to expand your horizon. Eventually, these risks give you the freedom to ensure your own financial stability, which will possibly give you the freedom to retire and enjoy the comfort of perfect financial stability for the rest of your life. In a nutshell, these tips could be your savior in navigating this new realm of independence. Take the time to try to relate and understand how you can avoid financial meltdown. Featured photo credit: Juan Ramos via images.unsplash.com
