Class of 2018: 8 Ways to Prep for Financial Adulthood

Whether you're graduating from high school or college, a diploma and a job represent the beginning of your personal " and financial " adult life. It's an exciting, sometimes overwhelming

Teddy Nykiel

Whether you're graduating from high school or college, a diploma and a job represent the beginning of your personal " and financial " adult life. It's an exciting, sometimes overwhelming time.

When you have the inevitable 'I have no idea what I'm doing' freakout, remember these tips:

1. Set clear financial priorities

You probably can't save, invest and pay off debt all at once, so prioritize in this order:

Save $500 for emergencies, because there will be emergenciesIf your employer offers a 401(k), contribute at least enough to get any 'employer match' " it's free moneyPay down high-interest debt, like credit cards2. Learn a simple budgeting strategy

Identify your after-tax income on your pay stub, then use the 50/30/20 rule as a budgeting guideline:

Use 50% for necessities like rent, groceries, transportation, utilities and minimum loan paymentsPut 20% toward savings and debt repaymentSpend 30% on nice-to-haves like restaurants, travel and entertainment

If 50% isn't enough to cover living expenses, dip into your nice-to-haves bucket.

3. Learn how credit works and why it matters

Credit is adulthood's currency. You need good credit to qualify for travel rewards credit cards, get the best rates on loans and insurance and eventually buy a house.

To have a good credit score, you generally must:

Use credit by taking out loans and opening credit cards. You don't need to carry a balance on them, thoughConsistently make payments on timeUse less than about 30% of your available credit. If you have a card with a $3,000 limit, for example, charge no more than $1,000
Check your credit score �to see where you stand. If you have bad credit or no credit, consider getting a secured credit card or credit-builder loan to boost it.4. Do some money multitasking

In fact, credit-builder loans can help establish credit and save money at the same time.

You can get credit-builder loans through some credit unions, community banks or the online lender Self Lender. Borrow a small amount " say, $1,000 " and repay in installments over a year or two. The lender holds the cash until the loan is repaid. Then you'll get the money, minus some interest.

Assuming you make full, on-time payments, you'll get some positive credit history under your belt " and have cash on hand for that emergency fund or retirement account.

5. Leverage your youth to build wealth

Speaking of retirement, saving for it is one of the best uses of your cash now. Compound interest over decades is like magic: A small amount invested today will be worth more than a larger sum you invest 10 years from now.

For example, every $1,000 you invest at age 22 becomes nearly $20,000 at age 72, assuming a 6% rate of return, according to NerdWallet's compound interest calculator. If you put off starting by a decade, you'd have to save almost double to have the same amount by age 72.

6. Start saving for retirement

We didn't use age 72 by accident " that's the age at which the class of 2018 can expect to retire, assuming they contribute 6% of their incomes to a 401(k) and have a 50% employer match, according to a 2018 NerdWallet analysis.

If your employer offers a 401(k) with a match, sign up and contribute at least enough to get the match. Increase your contributions annually or whenever you get a raise.

If you don't have an employer-sponsored retirement account, open a Roth IRA through a brokerage or robo-advisor and contribute up to $5,500 yearly. The account's earnings will be tax-free.

7. Make a plan for your student loans

Student loan payments typically come due six months after you leave school, giving you time to get a job before payments begin. But interest accrues during this grace period " except on federal subsidized loans " so begin making minimum payments sooner if possible.

Once you have very good credit and a job with a steady income, consider �refinancing your student loans �to save money by lowering your interest rate.

If payments on your federal student loans are overwhelming, review your options carefully. Income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness may offer relief, but both require meticulous attention to detail and annual maintenance to pay off.

8. Research your job's market value

Advocating for yourself can be a particularly challenging part of adulthood. As your career progresses, you'll feel empowered to negotiate your salary if you back your ask with hard numbers.

Research the going rates for similar roles in your field, at your skill level. Then, reference your findings during the negotiation conversation. Even if the employer declines, they'll likely respect your preparedness and confidence.