Comments on: I’m resolved! Now what?

By: emily gerson

emily gerson — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:34:00 +0000

I was taught a lot about finances as a kid, but not nearly enough. I graduated in May and am still adjusting to being in the real world, and still trying to figure out how to budget on my entry-level salary. I just wrote a blog about it here http://blogs.creditcards.com/2008/01/six-financial-survival-tips-for-young-professionals.php. Love your blog!

By: planner

planner — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:34:00 +0000

Good tips to get started. I never had any kind of education in personal finance until I got into it on my own, and that was two years into college. There was a stock investing project in high school but what I took out of that was that it was a type of game or contest. Then in college there was a big bubble and some easy money in the market. Not until the bubble popped and I started getting my own credit cards and student loan balances showing up did I have enough reason to even think about handling my money.
These ideas here are a great start. Everyone should go at least that far, it does make an amazing difference.
This year I’m hoping to get a little more detailed into the area of professionals like tony suggested. I’m putting together a financial plan and putting it, along with resources that help me, up on my own new blog.

By: Tony

Tony — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:38:00 +0000

Both of my parents are in the finance industry so I guess I’m “lucky” that money mgmt has been drilled into my head from birth (it wasn’t a fun process). I never realized this stuff wasn’t common knowledge; I assumed that I was being taught financial responsibility b/c they were my parents and not b/c they are both bankers or what have you.

Do understand there are free professional (friends are a good place to start but use professionals, please) resources a plenty out there but if you can identify with the blogger – you are pushing 30 and haven’t been contributing to your company’s 401K plan and do not have some sort of savings account – get on it! You are WAY behind but there’s still time, you’ll just have to contribute / save a larger percentage of your income than your peers who, like me, have had a savings account since middle school and actively contributing to a 401K plan for at least ten years.

Don’t be scared, it’s like anything else: it’s easy once you know it … so stop what you are doing and go plan for your future. Who doesn’t want to retire early!?!?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:49:00 +0000

Back in the 80's for highschool, we at least had some education on personal finance, backing, checking and savings. There was nothing in college... even business and accounting courses were all geared to corporate financials. I hope current course requirements from Universities require some real life education before releasing educated guppies into the world. Otherwise they are bound to flounder (pun intended).

Very few parents take the time to teach their kids how to do it right. Probably due to the fact that they are emberassed to admit their own failures.

Use social networks and don't be afraid to ask for help from those whom you respect. They might have just the right guidance you need.

By: Kizz

Kizz — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:01:00 +0000

I giggle reading this because my education and most of my employment has been arts (theatre) related. Conversations like that happen rarely, if ever, and NEVER while we were in our 20s.

Clearly the giggling is nerves since if I’m the person in my circle with the best handle on my money it has to be a sign of the apocalypse.