Advice For The Newly Graduated
To celebrate my baby brother graduating from college, I'm giving some sage advice to the newly graduated, since you are finally becoming real adults.
That's not meant to be insulting; it's simply the truth. And this applies to:
* Undergraduate degrees
* Graduate degrees
* Med School
* Law School
Here's how it works kids: if you haven't worked for 40 hours a week while not being dependent on your parents, you are not a real adult. You see, age does not necessarily mean you are an adult. If you went to college, then straight to your grad degree full time, it doesn't matter that you're 25. You're still just a college student. If you're in med school for 4 years, but are living off of student loans and Mom & Dad's assistance, you're still not there yet. Sorry. No offense: you just can't claim to be an adult if you haven't lived an adults life yet. You're still a college student.
BUT I DIGRESS! This is here to help you. Here's advice for you as you enter the adult world:
* If you're receiving a bonus upon starting your new job, cut it in half. Taxes will take at least 50% of that money.
* When starting your new job, have your 401k contributions set to no less than 10% your first day of work, and 15% by the first week of your fourth month on the job--absolutely no later. Don't get used to living on a certain income and then try to change it--that's almost impossible. And not contributing to 401k is NOT AN OPTION.
* New rule: no drinking on school nights. You have a new focus in life, and partying is not part of that focus.
* Have good insurance--car, renters/homeowners, and medical. Don't skimp on any of those costs, you will need them.
* Get your favorite recipes from your parents, family, or friends. You can't eat out all the time, and if you don't like to cook it will be easier to motivate yourself to do so if you know you like what you're making. Plus you need to be able to cook something to impress members of the opposite sex.
* Most of the posters you hung on your wall in college are no longer acceptable. Neither is the 20 gigs of porn you shared on your dorm/frat network.
* Get into an exercise routine, and stick with it. It doesn't have to be a lot--I'm not saying you have to lift weights for an hour and jog for an hour every single night--but make sure you do something at least every other day.
* Remember: you're not in college anymore. Most of the drama/gossip/high school crap that used to fascinate you in college do not apply anymore, and you should not partake or be a part of.
* That being said, you will quickly realize that most people don't ever grow up past high school, so be prepared to rise above all that crap.
* Call your parents. At least once a week.
* I know you're going to do it anyway, and I did/would do the same thing in your position, but the good advice is still this: don't do long distance.
* Find time to read.
* For the love of God, don't ruin your credit. Our generation handles this HORRIBLY. If you have credit cards you applied for in college, CLOSE them. Not cancel; call and request the companies close them out. If you apply for any cards from, say, an electronics company for free interest on a big screen TV, as soon as you have paid off the item call and close the card. Do not ever pay a credit card bill late--give them at least something, and you should pay off your credit card bill fully at the end of every month. Never apply for a credit card with a variable rate: fixed APR at 10% or less or f it. Do not get into credit card debt.
* Women, have pepper spray (not mace) easily accessible in your house. Also keep some in your purse, and no matter how uncomfortable it is, take it jogging after dark always. It can happen to you.
* Stay at your first job at least one year.
* The first floor sucks. It's loud to live under your neighbors, and no it's not as safe. Knuckle up and live on the top floor.
* Learn at least a little something about wine.
* Look over your bills. If they're wrong, call them and tell them they're wrong, and tell them you're not going to pay it. Remember: once you start making money, everyone wants to take you money. An easy way to take money is to make errors on your bills and hope you just pay it instead of calling the errors in. You are the customer. You are right. Don't settle for them stealing your money.
* Be honest: do you really need a new car right away? Waiting 6 months to get one can make a significant difference.
* Two words: Roth IRA. Go find out what it is...and go start one immediately.
* And finally, most importantly: get your parents a thank you card at graduation. And not one you got for your graduation invitations, a real one, and tell them how great they are, how thankful they are, what a good job they did, and how much you love them.
* Congratulations...and good luck!
That's not meant to be insulting; it's simply the truth. And this applies to:
* Undergraduate degrees
* Graduate degrees
* Med School
* Law School
Here's how it works kids: if you haven't worked for 40 hours a week while not being dependent on your parents, you are not a real adult. You see, age does not necessarily mean you are an adult. If you went to college, then straight to your grad degree full time, it doesn't matter that you're 25. You're still just a college student. If you're in med school for 4 years, but are living off of student loans and Mom & Dad's assistance, you're still not there yet. Sorry. No offense: you just can't claim to be an adult if you haven't lived an adults life yet. You're still a college student.
BUT I DIGRESS! This is here to help you. Here's advice for you as you enter the adult world:
* If you're receiving a bonus upon starting your new job, cut it in half. Taxes will take at least 50% of that money.
* When starting your new job, have your 401k contributions set to no less than 10% your first day of work, and 15% by the first week of your fourth month on the job--absolutely no later. Don't get used to living on a certain income and then try to change it--that's almost impossible. And not contributing to 401k is NOT AN OPTION.
* New rule: no drinking on school nights. You have a new focus in life, and partying is not part of that focus.
* Have good insurance--car, renters/homeowners, and medical. Don't skimp on any of those costs, you will need them.
* Get your favorite recipes from your parents, family, or friends. You can't eat out all the time, and if you don't like to cook it will be easier to motivate yourself to do so if you know you like what you're making. Plus you need to be able to cook something to impress members of the opposite sex.
* Most of the posters you hung on your wall in college are no longer acceptable. Neither is the 20 gigs of porn you shared on your dorm/frat network.
* Get into an exercise routine, and stick with it. It doesn't have to be a lot--I'm not saying you have to lift weights for an hour and jog for an hour every single night--but make sure you do something at least every other day.
* Remember: you're not in college anymore. Most of the drama/gossip/high school crap that used to fascinate you in college do not apply anymore, and you should not partake or be a part of.
* That being said, you will quickly realize that most people don't ever grow up past high school, so be prepared to rise above all that crap.
* Call your parents. At least once a week.
* I know you're going to do it anyway, and I did/would do the same thing in your position, but the good advice is still this: don't do long distance.
* Find time to read.
* For the love of God, don't ruin your credit. Our generation handles this HORRIBLY. If you have credit cards you applied for in college, CLOSE them. Not cancel; call and request the companies close them out. If you apply for any cards from, say, an electronics company for free interest on a big screen TV, as soon as you have paid off the item call and close the card. Do not ever pay a credit card bill late--give them at least something, and you should pay off your credit card bill fully at the end of every month. Never apply for a credit card with a variable rate: fixed APR at 10% or less or f it. Do not get into credit card debt.
* Women, have pepper spray (not mace) easily accessible in your house. Also keep some in your purse, and no matter how uncomfortable it is, take it jogging after dark always. It can happen to you.
* Stay at your first job at least one year.
* The first floor sucks. It's loud to live under your neighbors, and no it's not as safe. Knuckle up and live on the top floor.
* Learn at least a little something about wine.
* Look over your bills. If they're wrong, call them and tell them they're wrong, and tell them you're not going to pay it. Remember: once you start making money, everyone wants to take you money. An easy way to take money is to make errors on your bills and hope you just pay it instead of calling the errors in. You are the customer. You are right. Don't settle for them stealing your money.
* Be honest: do you really need a new car right away? Waiting 6 months to get one can make a significant difference.
* Two words: Roth IRA. Go find out what it is...and go start one immediately.
* And finally, most importantly: get your parents a thank you card at graduation. And not one you got for your graduation invitations, a real one, and tell them how great they are, how thankful they are, what a good job they did, and how much you love them.
* Congratulations...and good luck!
posted by Michael Pondrom at 10:25 PM
4 Comments:
i almost got a little teary eyed there.
and hey, what's wrong with drinking on weeknights?! it IS doable. trust me. ;)
Heck, you can get away with drinking during the day at most places.
New rule: no drinking on school nights. You have a new focus in life, and partying is not part of that focus.
Does this apply to Halo too?
-mjm
HELL NO it doesn't apply to Halo! :-)
Michael
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