I will be graduating in 2yrs and I am trying to prepare myself for the real world since I plan on moving out of my parents house when I graduate. I have been doing research on job opportunities/growth in my area, the housing market, and all that other nonsense that goes along with it.

But I was wondering if anyone here had some advice for me. Are there anythings you wish you had done or not done before you moved out?

Don't get knocked up before grad school.

well ... i haven't graduated yet. but i've been in college for two years, and i'm not even halfway through the degree. i wish i could get in more than two classes each semester ...

Get credit. Maintain good credit.

Write down your goals.

Everything from what you want to accomplish this week to what you want to accomplish in the next 20 years.


Update the list regularly.


And if you want to do something....figure out a way to do it. (For example, if you want to go to Paris, then save the money and go....don't keep putting it off.) Before you know it, you'll be married with kids and your "to do" list will have to wait until the kids are out of the house.

Meet this guy.
<<<<<

:D

Graduating in 2 years?

What's your major? I ask because depending on your major, two years before graduation is prime partying time and you should be having wayyyy more fun and less "thinking about the future" moments.

Not that you shouldn't think about the future... I'm just saying you might have your ratio off.

Don't be in too much of a rush to move and "grow up"
Travel, see the world, have fun.
Plenty time for houses and kids and responsibilities.

Are you really set on staying in the same area?

Don't get credit cards.

I never got one, but I can tell you from the experiences of friends- just don't do it.

And thus begins the dichotomy of life...

Actually, that's not a good idea.

You should establish credit as soon as you can. What you shouldn't do is get a credit card and not pay at least the monthly minimum on it.

There are other ways to establish credit besides a credit card. A small bank loan, for example. Car payments. Cell phone bill. All of these report your payment history to credit services, and can be used to establish a credit history. That one MUST have a credit card in order to build credit is a myth perpetuated by credit card companies.

I'm 19 and I have one, it's a good idea to get one to establish a credit rating for yourself. What you shouldn't do is spend money you don't have. Think of it like a debit card - carrying debt on a credit card is one of the stupidest things you can do.

Why would you EVER want to pay interest on something unless it's something major, like a house or small business loaN? IT's like paying the credit card company to spend your own money...

True. There are other ways to establish credit.

A credit card, and being responsible with it, is a very easy way to build your credit rating, though. Plus, you can get one that gives you rewards and stuff.

Even paying the monthly minimums... the interest rates and fees are ridiculous. Unless you can pay the balance off completely each month, the math just doesn't make sense. The majority of people don't pay them off monthly.

I established credit with a small loan for a car, and that's the last time I've borrowed money. You don't need to pay up to 30% interest to build credit.

As someone who has CC debt, I agree...you do NOT NEED a CC to build a credit history.

My opinion is to run as fast as you can from a CC. They will try to suck you in with free prizes for signing up...what they do NOT tell you is that for app that is denied, you get a hit on your credit report. And do you really need another one of the stupid things they give away anyway?

Stay the f*ck away from credit cards.

As a matter of fact, please tell me you won't get any. If you do that and live up to it, I will consider my CC debt well spent.

IMO, the main reason you want to establish credit is to eventually get a good rate on a mortgage for a house. And also to take advantage of options instead of the standard 30 year fixed loan. Specially now when lenders are being taken to task for making "bad loans" in recent years.

I know it seems counterintuitive, but you have to have a history of being able to handle revolving credit and only having a car payment on your credit record "ranks" lower than if you had a car payment, a credit card, and some other form of revolving credit.

Edit: I'm assuming you are a responsible person, btw. If you don't think you can handle it (which requires being honest with yourself) then don't get a credit card.

I'm with you, Marli.

Never had one. You just don't need them. There are so many other ways of building up a good credit rating.

I don't know about the US, but there is almost no weighting here in the UK at all for what goes for and against you in credit ratings. It's binary.

Do a good thing, get a 1. Do a bad thing, get a 0. Anyone checking your credit profile gets to see how many ones you get and how many zeroes. If there are more ones than zeroes your credit rating is good.

Anything else would be a breach of the Data Protection Act and that is a pretty hefty law in the UK.

But the general principle of creating and maintaining a good credit record is a good one.

Make sure all your bills are paid on time, you don't default on any credit or loan payments you do have, and never, ever consolidate all your debts into one easy monthly payment. Ill fortune and shattered kneecaps that way lie.

Not necessary - see all above - I have a mortgage.

Damn... I didn't even think about where Gammerus is located.

What I just said refers only to 1) the US and 2) is based on my experience and the fact that half my friends are in the mortgage business.