<prompt> Human: Hi late teens and early twenty somethings. A late 20 something here giving you a bit of advice after working for 4 years and seeing the results of my choices vs my peers.After graduating high school, like many of you, I didnt have one main passion to pursue. Initially, I wanted to be a dietitian, so I started off a community college. Had to deal with all my peers going to big name schools, wearing their college hoodies senior year, and flashing acceptance letters around with hopes of a big future. Even had an ex-girlfriends dad ridicule me saying Ill never become anything just going to community college.After a semester, I realized it was only going to be a 2 year degree and wouldnt net me the income I wanted, so I switched to accounting. Completed the associates degree there, then 2 more years at a public school to finish the BS. Followed with with 1 more year in the MBA program while working for the college through the GA program paid tuition only. Walked out with less than 500 to my name and a rusted beat Subaru wagon.Got a job in finance, have worked for 4 years while seeing many of my peers fall off the financial path along the way. Just clocked over 105k in net worth.Here are my tips:- Dont get tricked into a big name college experience. Id recommend most go to community college for 2 years before going to the school of your dreams. This is mainly to save a good bit of cash, but also because your first year or two are just basic classes. You dont have to go for an associates degree, but absolutely make sure all your classes transfer to the school you want to go to afterwards. Youll thank me for saving you 30-60k over 2 years for doing this. Most community colleges pool together professors from the colleges around you wanting to teach more because they actually enjoy it, or those looking for an extra paycheck at night. Just because you go to a 30kyear school does not mean youre getting a better education tahn someone else.- Avoid student loan debt at all costs Student loan debt is a epidemic and crippling to 20 somethings today. Limit it as much as possible, but you may not be able to get out scot-free. Following the above should drastically help. If you do take out loans, understand you probably wont be making 80k right out of school. Also understand even if you do many 50k out of school, not all of that 50k will be able to go directly to loans. Ive seen tons of my peers think theyll make 50k for three years and pay off their 100k student loan debt in 2-3 years. Never pans out that way.- Put effort into school and dont slack off. A 3.5GPA is a minimum. Utilize the library. Go to class. Basic stuff here folks. Many classes have 25 of the grade just attendance. Party on the weekends if you like, but dont be that guy or gal not showing up to Monday or Tuesday classes, or being hungover during the week. This is your future.- Commute if you can. The college experience is fun, but room and board is expensive. Community college saves you two years of living at home. If you can commute for your next 2 years, do so. If not, youll have to live on or near campus.- Eat cheap, but healthy. Work out, eat cheap, and dont spend all your money on booze or going out. College is the time for being a cheap ass and loving it. Youll look back on the time and laugh at it. Cheap beer and liquor is your friend if youre into that sort of thing. No one is judging you. Many colleges have take home boxes if you eat int he cafeteria - people usually wont bat an eye if you eat there and take some home for later.- Do internships if you can. Shadow for free if thats not available. This one I didnt follow, but I think it would have helped. Many of the peers who did internships got jobs quickly or just slid into companies.- Work in the summers and take classes. I took classes mainly as a backup if I ever needed to drop out of a class or failed. Never needed it, but at the end, my last two semesters were easy. I was then able to enjoy myself and friends.- Dont drop 3-5k on spring break because your friends are going to Cancun. Have fun and enjoy the time, but dont spend money you dont have on trips you most likely wont remember.- Apply for jobs early. Job fairs werent helpful for me. I did apply for 200 companies and even totally botched an interview for a financial firm before landing a job. Hell, I was even turned down for a job K-Mart to work part time after graduation. Apply early and often. 3-5 a day starting in your last semester.- Move back home out of school. Oh god, living with your parents after partying for 2-4 years! Most parents will allow this, so take advantage of it. Get on your feet, pay off any debt, build an emergency fund. If you cant live at home because your parents wont allow it, it is what it is, but swallow your pride if you can. Again, no one is judging and its becoming more accepted that people do.- Take advantage of employee matches if your company offers it. Contribute the max to an IRA if once your 50 is matched. Employers will often match 50 of your contribution up to a point. This is free money, take it. Most of my friends are not even matching this amount - I look at them like theyre insane and try not to preach to them.- Balance personal and financial goals. Maybe your dating a long term partner or feel the need to rush to get married. Id honestly say to hold off until you have a job and finances straight. Ive seen so many of my peers get married within a year of graduation and spend 25k on weddings only to be put more in debt. This is a personal choice, but dont let your heart get ahead of your finances. Side note, about 50 of people I know who have gotten married straight out of college are divorced.- Keep wedding costs to a minimum. Ive been to 4-5 weddings in the last year. One had 20k alone in decorations. Need I say more.- Avoid having children within 5 years of just starting your career. Dicey subject, but goes with the above. Youre just starting out and learning to provide your yourself. Life isnt a race. Your friends and peers will be getting married, having kids, and seemingly moving on with great lives. Theyll have 134 likes on Facebook for these announcements, but youll have 1340 extra dollars a month in our pocket ... er, you get the picture. Think about the costs associated with life choices and plan accordingly.- Learn and move up. Your first 2-3 years will probably suck working. Schools dont teach hands on things anymore and much of your schooling isnt applicable to your job unfortunately. Learn, get frustrated, overwhelmed, and put in the hours. Promotions and wage increases are key. After 5 years experience, you should be able to move around more.- Avoid spending 1k on housing. Ive seen a lot of people spend up to 50 of their paychecks on rent without saving a dime. You are only at your residence in the sleeping and after work for 3-4 hours. Its a place to store your stuff essentially. No one really care if you have a fancy apartment just starting off.- Dont buy a new fancy car straight out of school. Believe me, Im a car guy and love going fast. You dont need that BMW just yet. Dont buy a new car out of school. Again, more debt payments and burdens.- Youre young. Invest aggressively. Move up and take chances with jobs. This is a time in your financial life with limited financial burdens. You can take more risk and chances now than ever. Go for it.- Do not buy a house immediately. Ive seen many many people buy houses. A lot of single females specifically, but many guys too. A few long term couples. Problem with this is that it ties you down to one area. Along with the above, you are limited in your job opportunities now and are tied down to one geographical location. Rent first, youll be moving jobs in your twenties.If you follow most of this advice, youll graduate with a good start. Mainly takeaways should be to limit debt and save early.Hope it helps. Have a financially sound 2016!  <response>: Dont get tricked into a big name college experienceCollege is an investment, and as with all investments some are more wise than others. There are some colleges where an in-demand degree virtually guarantees you a high paying job. Meanwhile colleges that arent big name might not. This can vary by industry. The key thing is you must do your research. 