A survival guide for young adults to turn financial chaos into financial order
Consider these facts. The average college student graduates owing almost $20,000 in student loans. In addition, nearly 10 percent of undergraduates owe more than $7,000 in credit card debt. Young Americans aged 15-25 filed bankruptcy at a record rate in 2000, accounting for nearly 7 percent of the nation's personal bankruptcies. Clearly, young people today need help managing their money better.
Don't Spend Your Raise, by one of America's leading advocates for personal finance education, offers young people in college or just starting out in the real world practical, doable "money rules" to help them handle their money more wisely and dramatically increase their personal wealth. It does not contain lengthy, complicated charts and equations for financial analysis and planning.
Instead, it presents 60 clear, uncomplicated, easy-to-follow dictatessuch as Never have more than two credit cards, never buy a new car, and don't fly first class for the free cocktailswhich, if followed, will guarantee fewer money mistakes and more money successes.
A easy-to-understand guide to mastering your money and getting a smart start on your financial life
If you're a college student or recent grad, chances are you're drowning in debt. That's because, like most Americans, you probably spend more than you make. In fact, the average college student graduates owing almost $30,000 to student-loan agencies and credit-card companies. But it's never too late to start making smart money choices. And with the easy-to-follow advice found in Don't Spend Your Raise, those choices don't have to be painful ones.
Written by one of America's leading advocates for personal finance education, this book offers dozens of practical, painless "money rules" guaranteed to help you make fewer money mistakes and instead make smarter decisions. You can start leading a more prosperous life with these simple, but powerful rules:
Never have more than two credit cards
Balance your checkbook
Develop a credit history during college
Never buy a new car
Check your future spouse's credit report
And many more
Take charge of your financial future today! And remember: money doesn't buy happiness, but money troubles will make you miserable.
Dara Duguay is the executive director of Jump$start Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, an advocacy group promoting financial education for young adults. She appears regularly on MSNBC, CNBC, Fox, Bloomberg, and many other TV and radio venues, and is regularly quoted in Money, Parenting, Kiplinger, BusinessWeek, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Times.