In thinking about the topic of money, I know I’ve learned most of what I know as a result of trial and error, what I learned from my mom or other sources.
My mom taught me how to balance my checkbook. Her words of advice in regards to money was to spend within your means, always pay cash for consumables (food, gas), get a good job with benefits and put money in your 401K. I’ve done those things but there is more to it than that.
I worked many part time jobs to put myself through college. I worked hard. I worked a lot of hours while going to school full time. I barely had a social life. When I look back I know I was fortunate to have some great bosses that worked with me and my crazy schedule. I so appreciate them and will forever be grateful for their support!
One thing I wished I had learned in the early days of my working life but which you can benefit from is that many companies offer paid internships. The positions tend to pay pretty well, give you the opportunity to not only see the type of work you may do in your future but also give you the opportunity to meet people and help you to start developing your network. Professional organizations often have student memberships which can be leveraged for scholarships, networking and job leads.
If you can utilize your company to pay for or contribute to your education, do it. Learn the rules of the loans, scholarships, or grants that you take out. Read the small print as it can benefit you greatly in different ways.
Educate yourself & get help to support you.
Here are some books I have found interesting on the topic of money you may be interested in:
- The Spender’s Guide to Debt-Free Living: How a Spending Fast Helped Me Get from Broke to Badass in Record Time by Anna Newell Jones
- The Art of Money: A Life-Changing Guide to Financial Happiness by Bari Tessler
- The Soul of Money: Reclaiming the Wealth of our Inner Resources by Lynne Twist
I’m just starting to read Beautiful Money: The 4-Week Total Wealth Makeover, A Holistic Approach to Increasing your New Worth by Leanne Jacobs.
I’m looking forward to the soon to be released book (Feb 2017), Worth It: Your Life, Your Money, Your Terms by Amanda Steinberg.