When you were sixteen, having freedom, a place of your own, a job, and your hard-earned money seemed like the epitome of adulthood. Our dream is to have a healthier life, retirement savings, and a good financial life. But as an adult, the meaning of the term changes. Essential life skills are necessary to maintain your home, work, and finances.
Sometimes, in your early twenties, it feels like you're a baby again: you're thrown out of school and into the workforce, from your parents' home into an apartment, and you have to learn new, abstract concepts like credit scores and renters insurance. It's easy to become overwhelmed and shut down when you're getting close to the big '30'.
You're not old. You shouldn't learn everything there is to know about your future at this age, even if your goal is to grow up and become an adult. It goes without saying that you will have a lot of questions after completing your education. Some questions you may ask yourself are, "What will be my career? How much is my salary? Can I really do this?"
It's not necessary for you to discover the answers to each of these questions right away. Let life find its own way.
There are just certain things you have to get good at once you get to a certain age. You can refer to this article as "Adulting 101," but these are some of the skills that will enable you to function in the real world.
Financial planning tips for young adults
Personal finance decision-making can be very difficult. Furthermore, you might have additional financial objectives in mind but be unsure of how to reach them.
You might want to start a budget in order to get your finances in order and plan ahead for the future. Making a plan for how you'll spend and save money to support your goals is part of the process of creating a budget.
We've compiled the following advice on budgeting for young adults to assist you on your financial journey:
1. Monitor your spending.
You need to know where your money is going before you can begin creating your young adult budget. There are various methods to accomplish this, such as organizing your receipts, utilizing an application, or creating a spreadsheet for your monthly expenses.
To help you understand what you're spending your hard-earned money on, it can be useful to categorize your transactions when tracking your spending. Rent, groceries, utilities, clothes, entertainment, and more might all fall under this category.
2. Automate your savings.
Automating your savings is a fantastic way to assist with budgeting. Your savings or checking account may allow you to schedule monthly automatic transfers. Splitting your paycheck into two bank accounts for each pay period is another way to automate savings. This way, some of your money goes straight into a savings account where it is out of sight and out of mind, and you can use it as your emergency fund.
In this manner, you can focus on other areas of your financial health, such as saving money or generating additional revenue, knowing that your savings objectives are being fulfilled without you having to do anything.
3. Use personal finance apps.
There are a ton of personal finance apps available for those who want to use technology to help with budgeting ideas for young adults and take charge of their finances. Furthermore, personal finance apps are an excellent way to keep track of your spending and budget no matter where you are, especially if you don't monitor your after-tax salary. Some of these apps even let you link your credit or debit cards to view your monthly spending in real time.
4. Get started with health insurance.
Health insurance is a necessary expense, even if your main objective is to save as much money as possible. No matter how careful you are, accidents still happen, and having medical insurance can mean the difference between a small out-of-pocket expense and enormous medical bills. This is a good backup for your emergency cash. Having insurance also means having health benefits.
Even something as trivial as an unintentional sports injury could cost you thousands of pesos if you don't have insurance, which would be a major obstacle to reaching your financial objectives.
5. Talk to a professional.
A financial advisor is frequently consulted by people who wait until they are extremely wealthy or face a financial emergency. With you, though, that need not be the case.
You can assist in creating a plan that is customized to your income, expenses, and financial objectives by being proactive and reviewing your bank account with a professional. Having someone who can assist you in creating a customized budget based on professional advice and respond to all of your inquiries also doesn't hurt and can protect your financial future.
Career vs. job
Whether we like it or not, work consumes a significant portion of our lives. For the next 30 to 40 years, you will probably work eight to nine hours a day. Even though nearly 30% of people change careers after college, career paths are far less linear now than they were in previous generations. Nevertheless, as you make your way through the working world, an integrated plot arc or at least a somewhat recurring subject will probably emerge in your work.
An excellent place to start considering your career goals is at your first job. You will be able to try out activities and acquire skills that you feel would be appropriate for you. Examine your feelings honestly on a daily basis. What aspects of your work make you feel as though you've just had twelve cups of coffee, and what aspects make you wish that your desk had a bed underneath it?
Your work can teach you something about yourself, even if you'd prefer to be CEO than work in retail. This self-awareness will guide your decisions about how to advance in your work.
Who told you that you needed to find the ideal job in 25 years and receive a huge annual salary? You may believe that setting deadlines for yourself will inspire you to reach higher goals in life. If the deadlines you set for yourself are making you lose weight and stressing you out more than they motivate you, is it really worth it? Thus, act like a grownup and maintain sensible, flexible goals for your life without setting unreasonably tight deadlines.
It's unrealistic to think that you'll figure everything out right away because the most difficult years of becoming a responsible adult are the initial ones.
If nothing else, adulting is about not checking out. Try to look at figuring it all out as a challenge when it all seems too overwhelming for you. You're maturing as an adult, whether it's by opening a savings account, understanding the distinction between revenue and profit, or articulating your needs in a clear and respectful manner at work.
You don't want negative emotions to hit you because you haven't experienced any until you're 20 or 25. But being an adult means having the capacity to deal with negative feelings. You are not alone in experiencing difficult times in life; they are a common occurrence. Adults are always equipped to deal with and overcome negative feelings.
Keep in mind that becoming an adult is never easy. However, life is a journey. Individuals never stop learning, and having a curiosity about new things can help you become a better adult. So use these pointers to get ready for an amazing life ahead!