Life After Graduation

The Money Moves You’ll Thank Yourself For Later

Ah, graduation—the time when people throw confetti in your face, hand you a fancy piece of paper, and say, “Go be an adult!” No instruction manual, no warm-up round—just boom, real life starts.

I get asked all the time, “What should I do after graduation?” And honestly, my answer is simple: Get a job. Unless you’ve got a rich uncle ready to bankroll your dreams, you need a paycheck coming in. Whether it’s your dream job or just a “pay-the-bills” job, the goal is the same—start making money.

Step 1: Get in the Saving Habit (Yes, Even If It’s Just a Dollar)

I don’t care if it’s one dollar or one hundred—start saving. Because let me tell you, the habit is more important than the amount. You might think, “What’s a dollar going to do?” Well, it’s going to sit in your savings account and make friends with other dollars, and before you know it, you’ll have something real. Trust me—future you will be so grateful.

Step 2: Invest (And No, Not in Sneakers)

Once you’ve built up some savings, it’s time to make that money work. And no, that doesn’t mean blowing it all on the latest sneaker drop, hoping they’ll be worth millions one day. (Spoiler: They probably won’t.) I’m talking about real investing—stocks, index funds, or even a retirement account. You don’t have to be the next Warren Buffett—just start small and stay consistent.

Step 3: Create an Emergency Fund (Because Life Happens)

If there’s one thing I can guarantee, it’s that life will absolutely throw you a curveball. Your car will break down at the worst possible time, your phone will take a swan dive into the toilet, or you’ll wake up one day and realize—ouch, dental work is expensive! This is why you need an emergency fund. Trust me, you do not want to put these surprises on a credit card.

Step 4: Build a Financial Future You Can Rely On

If you do these things consistently, you won’t have to depend on Social Security like I did. You’ll be sitting pretty, knowing you’ve got financial security locked in. Imagine sipping iced coffee in your retirement instead of stressing over bills—sounds nice, right?

So start now—your future self is already out there, nodding in approval. And if you’re lucky, maybe they’ll be the one with a rich uncle to pass down a fortune. 😉💰