Provident Personal Services

For most of us, developing sound financial habits is the last thing we’re thinking about in college. With meal plans and pre-paid student debit cards, money seems about as real as Monopoly cash. We’re more preoccupied with classes, meeting new people, indulging in novel experiences. But with all of that newfound freedom comes responsibility. Especially with the rising costs of college and mounting student loans, now is the perfect time to learn how to spend, save, and plan wisely with these products:

You’re driven, ambitious, dedicated. You’re after success. Nothing is more exciting than getting that first paycheck, or more deflating than watching the majority of it go to rent, food, and bills. In this stage of your life, your hard-earned money has a funny way of disappearing. But soon, there will come a tipping point, and all at once you will be able to save a little, and then a little more. The key to surviving and thriving here (and not eating ramen noodles for the rest of your life) is learning to live within your means, maximizing your earnings, and saving like a squirrel for winter (because saving gets much harder when and if there are baby squirrels in the nest). Here’s how to do it:

You’re nesting: saying “I do,” buying a house, getting pregnant, looking toward the future.  With a joint income, you have more money at your disposal now—and more demands on that money. You’re thinking about a mortgage, furnishing your home, single-handedly keeping Pampers in business. Suddenly there are family vacations and dance recitals and basketball games and piano lessons to worry about. And most daunting of all, your children’s education. Now, more than ever, whether you’re single or married, whether you have kids or not, you need to wield smart money management skills and save for a sound financial future. Start with:

This is not like your twenties and thirties when you were fighting to pay the bills, scrimping and saving every penny. You have more discretionary income, a little more room to breathe. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to budget—after all, there are so many expenses for your children’s sports and extracurricular activities it makes your head spin. This is the big middle, when every part of your life grows and expands and gets bigger and better: your house, your car, your vacations, your hobbies. Just don’t forget to keep saving because retirement is what comes next. Your life is like a helium balloon. Fill it with:

They might not feel like golden years at first: being an empty nester, downsizing, and hanging up your professional hat are big adjustments that take some getting used to. But soon you’ll come to appreciate spending time with your children as grown adults and then discover the sweet delights of grandparenthood. You’ll find deep satisfaction living somewhere warm and having free time to travel, relax, and have fun! You can take up golf, learn German, or even teach part-time. Wait a minute; this stage is not pure bliss. You’ll still have to be smart about spending to ensure that you’re still living the lifestyle you want while your assets outlive you!