<prompt> Human: I am curious as to how I can best protect myself in the event of a financial crisis such as the 2008 recession. I am 24 years old and I recently graduated from college. I currently am paying off my student loans and will be doing so for the next 10 years. What can I do now to best protect myself when the next recession hits?  <response>: Establish an E-fund to tide you over in the event of job loss.Work in an industry less likely to be affected by downturnjob losses.Make yourself invaluable at whatever new job you get so that youre last on the chopping block.Avoid over-leveraging yourself with debt, particularly real estate.Pay extra on your student loans to knock them out, so that in the event of a job lossdownturn you no longer have to make that payment. You may be on a 10 year plan but thats only if you make the minimum payments. Im on a 10 year plan but on track to be paid in around 6.3. This will also save you money on interest.Keep your resume up to date and interview a couple times a year even if currently employed to stay sharppracticed. 