Graduation creates a lot of new challenges. It usually means more money, new goals, and new social situations. In addition, most students spend their four years in college focusing solely on graduating and finding a job. Building a career, purchasing a house, and planning for retirement is all new for a lot of graduates.

List 5 post-graduation tips. They don't have to be the most important or the most ground breaking things you can think of. Feel free to list things that you are glad you have done or regret that you haven't done. This is not just limited to financial decisions. Feel free to post about service organizations, your most fun trips/experiences, etc. Basically, list the things that have helped you become the person that you are and put you in your current career/financial/social position.

My list:
1. Don't allow a car to control your finances. If you have to finance a car it shouldn't be too expensive and be prepared to pay cash for the next car that you buy.
2. Buy a house, but don't be "house poor."
3. Skip the Angus Barn dinners and travel on the weekends with the money you save. I can't think of a single meal that brings back better memories than any of the weekend lake/beach/ATV/snowboarding/etc trips that I've taken over the last 5 years. A cheap hotel can almost always be had for less than $30 a person.
4. When you ride in someone else's car/boat/plane/etc. don't be stingy with the gas money. What is an extra $20 when you aren't the one paying for the $50k boat? It is a good way to make sure you get to enjoy it again someday.
5. Help your friends move whenever you are available. You'll be glad when it becomes your turn to ask for help.

Go...

12/12/2005 4:27:47 PM

1. Don't graduate
2. Do not graduate
3. Fail to graduate
4. Do not gain the credits that graduation would require
5. Stay in college forever

12/12/2005 4:38:19 PM

1. when your company's HR rep give you this thick book on all your benefits, take it home and actually read it. learn your 401k, look up definitions and terms you don't know. the sooner you start investing, the sooner you can retire.

2. actually sit down and go through your finances. realistically sum your expenses and compare them to your earnings. then live accordingly.

3. credit cards are ok (especially when they give back rewards) but don't go into debt. pay it off at the end of the month.

4. if you live far away from home, visit your family often. your grandparents won't be around for too much longer. if they are really sick, go home and spend time with them. it is worth whatever the plane ticket costs.

5. travel. go new, exciting places. who cares if you don't have a travel mate. go alone if you have to. you may not get the chance later on.

12/12/2005 5:55:53 PM

Cut your Hair often
Invest in quality clothing, it will last longer and hangs better
Polish your shoes regularly (nothing looks worse)
Credit Cards are evil
Don't get married immediately, give it some time so you don't freak out.

12/12/2005 6:29:01 PM

1) Don't rush things. Just because you have a fancy new house/car/etc doesn't mean you have to outfit it within a month. Its much better to have it empty for a while and buy what you really want than to buy everything twice or be unhappy two months later with what you bought.

2) Don't go overboard with a car. I could have gotten something much more expensive, but the maxima I bought (2 years old w/ 27k, loaded in perfect condition) is nicer than anything I had in the past. Its way more car than I need and I paid $13k less than the sticker. This makes my payments a lot lower, and I feel much more comfortable having my older truck around.

3) I made the mistake of always thinking I would buy a house later and not saving up for a down payment. To avoid the Loan Insurance (forget what they call it) you need 20% down. On a 150k house that is 30k up front. Now I realize I have a long way to go to hit that point and could have planned for it much better.

4) Putting money into 401k or the like is a good thing to a point. I was having nearly 16% of my salary go to investing before it hit my account. Putting less into saving would have allowed me to save up for a house faster and still have been an investment. The other side of it though is before my brain wasn't in house mode so I might have spent it else where.

5) Save up on certain things in the beginning. At the very least put in what you employer will match into 401k. Its free money you will never get back later on if you choose not to. Also taking trips is nice, but where I work I am trying to build up vacation time. Everything here is PTO, so if I am sick, go on vacation, or want to skip town because someone died it all comes out of the same pool. Its nice to have time built up in case you break a leg or something.

12/12/2005 7:41:02 PM

Limited to five?

1.) Definitely agree with the above about financial management. It's something that's really not taught in school, and most families really don't discuss it. That being said, live frugally your first four months or so and keep track of all your expenses (preferably in something like Quicken or MS Money). Having done that, then start to plan out your budget. Don't forget to factor in savings--IRA, 401k, TSP, playing the stock market, and of course, emergency savings. You never know when you'll need to cough up a couple hundred or even a few thousand dollars to pay for a repair or some other bizarre expense that will simply pop up out of nowhere.

1a.) Know what happens to your money after you put it in an IRA, 401k, TSP, etc. You may be maxing out your IRA, but if you need to fix your car right now, that money won't be doing you any good (unless you're 59 1/2 years old). Read up on all of them (get a "Personal Finance for Dummies" book or something like that) and save wisely. The sooner you start saving, the greater your wealth will increase in the future.

1b.) Learn how to cut expenses. It's fine to splurge here and there, but you can soon learn to regret spending exorbidant amounts of money on a $3 Starbucks coffee every day, or the highest-end sports car or plasma screen TV. Not saying don't buy one if you have the money, just evaluate your needs. Set yourself up economically well before you have kids.

1c.) Definitely take as much as you can out of your paycheck automatically so that you don't miss the money one bit. I don't have the highest paying job, but I put away a grand a month. I sometimes get that paycheck-to-paycheck feeling but hey, I managed through college, I can manage now.

2.) Map your career out for the next 5-10 years. It doesn't need to be a linear progression, it could have multiple branches and decision points along the way. However, be aware of your career options now, and know what steps you will need to take to reach the various paths you mapped out for yourself.

3.) Get a calendar and a to-do list. (I think this is even in that book, "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People".)

Just as managing money is an important skill, managing time is an even greater skill. PArticularly since you will have MUCH less free time after you graduate.

I use a PDA, although a "Day Runner" and a set of note cards can work almost as well. Most businesses keep a calendar of events, meetings, etc. Copy this into your calendar, along with all your personal events. I even add in workouts, meals, and sometimes even when I am going to sleep (days get hectic sometimes). This gives you an accurate assessment of where you will be spending your time (which is great, since I don't have as much free time to begin with).

As a side note, also put in your calendar reoccurring events. For example, if a report is due every Wednesday, make a note that it's due (preferably complete it Tuesday evening or whatnot). It never surprises me in the workplace how people can be late--even surprised--by known events every time.

As for tasks, a technique is to tack note cards on a cork board and just rip down the note cards every time you complete the task. (Although I use the task list on my PDA for this).

My PDA's helpful as I keep track of all those "anytime" tasks that I have that I keep putting off (Update Officer Record Brief, etc), and helps me prioritize them with more immediate tasks.

4.) Learn a little bit about group dynamics and how it relates to the office. Most people don't get a good lesson in group dynamics and/or office politics in college. They're thrown to the sharks and have to learn the hard way. Learn how to work with others in college, as well as how to give effective presentations (Speaking classes and how to use Powerpoint). Kind of a lost art these days, but you need to be up on it.

5.) Be a low-drama individual at work. You will go far in life if you keep your personal life personal. It never ceases to amaze me how many people have to leave work to deal with divorces, child issues, etc. (I think I should also blame myself for allowing this once or twice). If you keep your personal life to yourself and commit yourself at work, you'll gain a reputation as being far more reliable than your peers and bosses.

6.) If you're the air mission commander flying as the second aircraft in a formation and flight lead takes you into an impact area, do a lead change in flight now before he takes you into an impact area for a second and third time that night, resulting in you getting kicked off the range. (Range Control LOVED that one).

I think that if that happens again, I really won't need the retirement money after all.

[Edited on December 12, 2005 at 7:58 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on December 12, 2005 at 8:22 PM. Reason : .]

12/12/2005 7:48:23 PM

for those not ready to jump into a career:

1) don't go straight into grad school unless you
A) aren't burned out and
B) know exactly what field you want to go into

-changing temporary employment is a lot easier than realizing you don't like your field of study

2) spend time with your friends if they're still around
in a couple years, everyone will have moved away or will be too busy to hang out

3) cook, or learn how to cook
the money you save will add up

4) gain work experience
even if it you have to start with a shitty job, you'll
A) meet people and
B) figure out what kind of careers you do or don't want to pursue

5) have fun
chances are you'll be working a lot, maybe 2 jobs, but if you're like me, the freedom you experience right after college will be some of the best times in your life

12/12/2005 8:17:19 PM

6) Don't fuck strippers.

12/12/2005 8:51:29 PM

7) Profit

12/12/2005 9:25:20 PM

1) Find a job you enjoy
Nothing's worse than getting up and doing something you hate day in and day out.
2) Spoil yourself... sometimes
Go through your finiances and determine what you can and cannot afford. Get yourself 1 small thing you shouldnt be able to afford every few months to keep yourself motivated.
3) Enjoy where you live
Whether its a fixer-upper house you plan on buying, a mansion you're lucky to afford, or an apartment you're renting, make sure you are happy there.
4) Be social
Either at work, at home, or at nights, dont be afraid to talk.
5) Keep in touch with family once a week
They're happy you have that piece of paper. They want to know what you're doing and if you're happy.

12/12/2005 10:01:38 PM

Quote :

"but I put away a grand a month."

holy crap

we could have done that when we were DINKs but decided to pay more on the car payment get a washer/dryer, some quality furniture, etc. Either way we have NO money now as we just had our first baby girl 3 weeks ago today. Wife is going to be a stay-at-home-mom.

I'll reitterate some things

1. Put in to your 401k whatever amount your employer will match. Don't want to throw away free money.
2. Don't live like you have all the money in the world or get into CC debt.
3. Buy a house. We decided to go a little bigger since we didn't want to move in 4-5 years after purchasing a first home. So that 's the main reason why we're struggling now. Plus that interest rate...couldn't beat it
4. Buy a used car (IF YOU HAVE TO). I had to have something more reliable since we were planning a family but it was a mistake to buy new, even though it is a reasonable car. Our cars were at 280,000 and 180,000 miles.
5. save your money and get dsl lite, cheaper/no cable, don't go out to eat so often opr alway be upgrading to something that doesn't payback (computer, car). $20 here and there really adds up.

12/12/2005 10:03:14 PM

1) Dig your well before you're thirsty. I'm refering to networking. Make contacts everywhere.

2) Save early and save often.

3) Sow your oats.

4) Get in the habit of giving.

5) Own shit. Don't let shit own you.

12/13/2005 7:17:52 AM

1. make it a habit to stay in shape. with a full time job, sometimes its tough to find the energy/time to workout. if you make a regular habit out of it, it will really pay off. more energy, feel better, look better, etc.

2. save (i think its been beat to death already in this thread). my Dad always told me to "pay myself 10% first". so i save atleast 10% each month (usually more, but if i have a lot of expenses, i can cut back.

3. get a credit card with points/miles/rewards. Why pay with cash if you can earn rewards? The only times i pay with cash now is when i go bar hopping. in a little over a year, ive earned a free plane ticket, and im about half way to another one. i always pay of my bill each month however, so i dont use it to buy more then i can afford.

4. live life. youre young. go out an have fun. theres no reason to stop having fun now that you are out of college.

5. watch your cornhole.

[Edited on December 13, 2005 at 8:14 AM. Reason : df]

12/13/2005 8:14:10 AM

1) travel--I talk about this damn trip all the time on here since I got back, but my trip to Italy was the best thing I could have done for myself. If you can't afford a trip like that then take one that you can afford and I recommend doing it alone (ladies, be sure to travel with your thinking caps on and your beer goggles off). You learn so much about yourself and life when you travel--it just feeds your soul. Plus it's a great break for your mind before jumping into the real world.

2) if you haven't already started saving then start now. as mentioned above, live frugally so you can figure out what kind of expenses you'll be having each month, but be sure to set some aside.

3) take advantage of the fact your friends have moved away for jobs/graduate school--GO SEE THEM! a plane ticket for a weekend is not that expensive, and if flying isn't for you road trips are always fun.

4) buy a car, but only if you have to (ie, your clunker has about had it and you're just not sure if it can make another 30 miles uphill). and when shopping for one think about practicality and dependability. yeah that BMW would be mighty impressive for the ladies, but think about how much it's gonna cost when something goes wrong and the gas prices oh my!

5) Don't be a slacker. Have fun and enjoy yourself but remember it is now time to grow up just a little bit more. What you do during the week WILL show when you're at work. Save the real partying for the weekend.

12/13/2005 10:36:38 AM

yes, definitely travel, and make it a habit to workout

12/13/2005 11:12:09 AM

1. If you aren't happy with the field of study you have chosen, keep your options open to jobs that you may not have ever considered just because you didn't know anything about them or had any experience.

2. Being happy with where you live is definitely something that will help you get by day to day. It can be hard to live somewhere when you know you could be getting more for less.

3. Managing your finances is key to future success. Save when you can, and try to get something started for retirement. This is something that cannot be stressed enough by anyone.

Quote :

"4. if you live far away from home, visit your family often. your grandparents won't be around for too much longer. if they are really sick, go home and spend time with them. it is worth whatever the plane ticket costs."

~I didn't come home for almost 2 years after I moved away from NC. It is amazing how much people in your family can change, and it hurts to not be there to see them through. You always need to try to see the grandparents when you visit because their time is the most limited.

5. Mariage need not be immediate, you need to make sure that you don't rush into something that won't work. (I'm just questioning the idea of marriage because both my parents and my gf's parents have gotten divorced.)

6. Try your best to be optimistic. Pessimism is natural to many of us, but try to see how differently you look at oportunities if you just think of what good may come out of it.

12/13/2005 2:20:37 PM

Quote :

"2. Being happy with where you live is definitely something that will help you get by day to day. It can be hard to live somewhere when you know you could be getting more for less. "

i agree with the first part, but not the 2nd. it is important to be happy where you live, but getting more for less doesnt necessarily equate to happiness. id much rather live in a more expensive area with more going on, then in a cheap area where its boring.

12/13/2005 2:55:12 PM

I was refering to where i am now compared to the raleigh area. Where I am now, it costs more the more you get away from the city, when in raleigh, it costs more the closer you are to the city. Just take it for what it means in my context, and you'll see what I mean. I still agree with you though about living where something's going on vs. living in the middle of nothing.

12/13/2005 3:00:51 PM

isnt cary a more expensive place to live then raleigh? im not seeing what you are getting at.

12/13/2005 3:03:40 PM

i'm saying this...

you can get a house out in fuquay or such (read: country), that is more like a suburb without a lot of shopping/entertainment for a lot less than raleigh or cary.

where i live, if you go out into the "country" everything costs more than in the city.

12/13/2005 3:09:15 PM

where do you live?

12/13/2005 3:11:21 PM

s.eastern mass, near the cape





more graduation tips, anyone?



[Edited on December 13, 2005 at 3:14 PM. Reason : continuance]

12/13/2005 3:12:01 PM

my advice to recent graduates (assuming ambition is a given):

1. start dressing nicer
2. make smart money decisions
3. invest if at all possible
4. maintain good friendships (past and present friendships)
5. maintain a good relationship with your family

-ZiP!-

12/13/2005 5:16:19 PM

k, i'll add to my original 5.

6. def. agree to workout. your metabolism will slow down. that combined with all the junkfood people typically eat sitting at their desk will put a few pounds on quick. exercising is a great way to look good, feel good, meet people, and vent some work related frustrations.

7. try to stay in touch with your closest friends. when families start popping up and work gets stressful, it is easy to get lost in life and forget your past. catching up with your buddies every now and then will put a smile on your face and make you still feel connected.

8. don't give out your work email for personal crap. don't look at porn at work. people get fired for this.

9. money is great but if you are miserable in your job, move on, look for something new, even if it pays less. don't wait til it gets unbearable and you end up on meds. you probably won't find something you absolutely LOVE but you can find something that you at least can bear. don't be afraid of switching jobs.

10. try to get along with your inlaws (for the married folks). you have to go into it thinking they are with you for life (despite the divorce stats). don't whine and bitch about your mother in law to your husband/wife... she was his/her mother long before you came along and a little marriage certificate doesn't automatically vault you to the top. if your sign other sides with her, don't be surprised or pissed off... you'd probably do the same. if she gets snippy, just smile and take it. bitch about her to your friends.

11. learn to cook. you don't need to be a pro chef but eating out every night is expensive and isn't good for you. but definitely go out every once and a while and try new places. try new cuisines. don't be afraid to splurge every now and then. everything in moderation.

12. remember saving a little goes a long way. there are tons of little things you can do each day to save some cash - make wal-mart actually match competitor ads (you can save a TON on steaks, ribs, soft drinks, etc doing this), buy snacks to take to work rather than stopping by the vending machine, planning your errand run to minimize gas, etc. more cash early = early retirement. don't be miserly. have fun. BUT do be aware that little things DO add up.

12/13/2005 5:58:32 PM

Quote :

"8. don't give out your work email for personal crap. don't look at porn at work. people get fired for this."

Haha you would think this is common sense, but I guess you've seen it too. People fuck this one up ALL THE TIME.

Oh, furthermore, most of you on TWW will find this crushing, but when you get to the workplace--don't write nasty e-mails (a la the flaming that goes on in The Soap Box or anywhere else around here). Not only does it look unprofessional, but there now exists a record of you being mean, nasty and belittling to your co-workers. Oh, and there's probably a 50% chance you were wrong to begin with. That usually doesn't bode well for you

Correlary: If you DO write a nasty e-mail, for God's sake, don't hit "REPLY TO ALL". What's funny is that about 90% of the time, it's deliberate. I know it's satisfying to insult someone's intelligence via mass e-mail, but please, don't involve everyone in your little flame war.

Exceptions: You need to really have your ducks in a row if you want to break this simple rule.

[Edited on December 13, 2005 at 7:14 PM. Reason : .]

12/13/2005 6:48:54 PM

if someone offers you a shit salary for 60 hours a week, turn it down


or else end up like me.


goodnight wolfweb.

12/13/2005 8:56:20 PM

1. Get a rewards card (like Citibank dividend) and use the automatic credit limit increases. That way you will have an emergency fund even if you can't afford to save, and your debt ratio won't be as high.

2. Replace your jalopy with a new car. Find something sensible with a nice warranty. Don't drive to work in a piece of shit. You might take your boss out to lunch sometime.

3. Buy a home in a white neighborhood. If you suspect the area will be "declining" anytime soon, don't waste your money.

4. Don't use the equity in your home to buy shit.

5. Don't marry a succubus.

12/13/2005 10:12:15 PM

1) go to post graduate studies whatever they may be. school should be finished at once, not work for a bit and think about going back.

2) don't fall into the trap that you HAVE TO HAVE family, kids and what not, just because everyone around you fell in. basically dont settle down YET.

3) don't buy a new car

4) travel internationally

5) date people, different people, find out what you like and dislike NOW, not when you settle down.

[Edited on December 14, 2005 at 12:08 AM. Reason : ?]

12/14/2005 12:08:02 AM

This is by far the BEST collective group of information from NCSU folks I have read since I started accessing this website...i'll post my 5 tips later...thanks for teh informative reading everyone!

12/14/2005 12:09:51 AM

1. Don't graduate... grad school?

2. Don't live above your means. Save 15%. Learn about a 401K. Don't buy a new car.
.
3. Wherever your place of employment, be low-key and don't bitch or create drama.

4. Do not try to "that guy" who is new and tries to impress people. I always hate "that guy." People like to watch "that guy" fail.

5. Accept the fact that college is over. Don't be "that guy" that still hangs around college scene. Embrace your career, find a hobby, work hard during workdays, and live for the weekends.

[Edited on December 14, 2005 at 12:26 AM. Reason : .]

12/14/2005 12:24:55 AM

^must be some sort of complex, there. all that advice is basically, "settle in to a mid-life rut as soon as possible"

12/14/2005 12:49:15 AM

^yeah..depressing...

12/14/2005 4:33:41 AM

1. Do what you want to do. Not what everyone else says you should do. My degree is useless. It only exists because my parents wanted me to go to college. This may sound like obvious advice, but I didn't realize that was what was really happening with me until it was too late.

2. If you can afford a new car, and you want a new car, buy a new car. All kinds of people will tell you that buying used is better because it's going to depreciate anyway, but buying my car brand new was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I have a few friends who bought used cars fairly recently, and they've consequently bought the problems that go along with them. So do your research, and buy what makes you happy.

3. If at all possible live somewhere other than the state you grew up in, or at least travel like everyone is saying. I have yet to get out of the country, but I'm planning on taking a trip within the next couple years. I've been lucky enough, too, to live in a couple different states, and you would be amazed at how drastically living somewhere new will change your life.

4. Save money.

5. Don't let a relationship hold you back. There are billions of people on the planet. You'll always find another one to date.

12/14/2005 6:04:55 AM

i think ill play a little devils advocate on some of these:

Quote :

"1. start dressing nicer"

why? i can understand at work, but at home or when i go out, i dont feel that there is any more need to dress differently then when i was in college. once i leave work, im not trying to impress anyone.

Quote :

"2. Replace your jalopy with a new car. Find something sensible with a nice warranty. Don't drive to work in a piece of shit. You might take your boss out to lunch sometime. "

i can understand if you car is breaking down, but buying a new car just to buy a new car isnt the best financial decision. why not save that money for a downpayment on a house? no one is going to care what you drive to work except yourself.

Quote :

"3. Wherever your place of employment, be low-key and don't bitch or create drama."

i agree with not being a bitch or creating drama, but being low key will keep you unnoticed. you have to step up at times and make yourself known. networking is key to advancement...you cant network if no one knows who you are.

Quote :

"1) go to post graduate studies whatever they may be. school should be finished at once, not work for a bit and think about going back. "

i definately do not agree with that. while it is tougher to work for a long time and then go back to school, you can burn yourself out if you try to do it all at once. besides, why pay for grad school when you can get your employer to pay for it? thats free money right there.

Quote :

" 5. Accept the fact that college is over. Don't be "that guy" that still hangs around college scene. Embrace your career, find a hobby, work hard during workdays, and live for the weekends."

screw that...do what you want to do. i think the best advice so far is right above:

Quote :

"1. Do what you want to do. Not what everyone else says you should do."

...these are nice tips, but they are far from what works for everyone.

12/14/2005 8:37:40 AM

Quote :

"1) go to post graduate studies whatever they may be. school should be finished at once, not work for a bit and think about going back."

Yeah, big-time disagree on this. I've been working for a year and just got accepted to grad school yesterday. There's no way I would have gone to grad school right after graduation. Four years was enough right then and another two didn't sound good at all. Now, I'm not burned out on classes and homework, I'm actually excited to go back and I'm more motivated than I ever was in undergrad, and I attribute that to being "out" for a year.

12/14/2005 9:19:25 AM

^^the "start dressing nicer" tip that i provided was meant to be geared towards an office-appropriate wardrobe. when i buy clothes now, i know that any given article is either a during-the-week item or a weekend-item. therefore, it's tougher to justify a more expensive item if the only time it could be worn is during the weekend. (in theory one could wear whatever in the evenings during the week, however in my situation, i work in the city, so going back to Queens to change during a weeknight isn't really practical).

-ZiP!-

12/14/2005 10:13:32 AM

Quote :

"5. Accept the fact that college is over. Don't be "that guy" that still hangs around college scene. Embrace your career, find a hobby, work hard during workdays, and live for the weekends."

hahahha, crap, wait, what's this site?

-ZiP!-

12/14/2005 10:14:31 AM

^^ touche...i agree with that.

12/14/2005 11:23:19 AM

1) Before everyone moves away to different cities and states, try to take one last trip with your college friends. I went on a trip with all my college buds after Christmas but before everyone started working, and I'm so glad I did it. If you can't go on a trip, hang out with them as much as possible. Odds are you'll hang out with them much less than you think in the future.


2) Get a handle on those finances. Get a credit card if you don't have one, but pay it off every month. Spare money should go to credit card debt, car/house loans, student loans, savings, investment in that order. Invest in 401k and get your budget straight ASAP. Don't try to live beyond your means and live in debt.

3) The single biggest pitfall I've found is to be inactive after work. You'll be tired and want to just hang out with friends and/or do nothing at home, but make an effort to continue working out, going out, etc.

4) Don't freak out about getting old. Everyone I know in my position in life(including myself) constantly bitches about getting old. We've just recently graduated from college...bitch about getting old when you're 35, or better yet, 45.

5)Have some fun. While you may not be able to party for 24 straight hours on a Tuesday or go on 4 day benders like you could in college, there are all kinds of fun you can have now that you are out of school. You should have more money to take trips, etc.

12/14/2005 3:34:47 PM

Quote :

"1) Don't rush things. Just because you have a fancy new house/car/etc doesn't mean you have to outfit it within a month. Its much better to have it empty for a while and buy what you really want than to buy everything twice or be unhappy two months later with what you bought. "

I might add to this wait for deals... Pieng and I didn't have anything but a bed for about 3 months (and camp chairs) in our house, she wound up working at the furniture market (shes and IE for UPS) and outfitted the whole house furniture wise for $300.... not too shabby might i add, got one marble table that wholesales for $500 for $40, my baby loves a bargin

12/14/2005 4:54:59 PM

im going to skip the obvious and mention the things i've found in the short period since i've graduated (graduated back in may).

1) the job.
know your co-workers. they are the people you see everyday. get on good terms.
do your job well and dont bitch about the amount of work you have. everyone hates the guy who thinks he is a better person because he has so much to do. make it look easy. people respect that more than making an obvious effort to show your sweat and tears.

2) stay active. do not let yourself go. i was lazy in college and i paid for it.
join a gym. get a hobby. join a local sports team. if possible don't pay for cable (i don't have cable or the internet at my place which forced me to find new ways to spend time)

3) the social scene. one of the hardest things for me was making new friends and contacts. you have got to get out of your place. start doing things that interest you. go to bars, take classes, join clubs. just because you have to get up for work the next day doesnt mean you cant go out.
most importantly, get over your fear of people. start conversations and get involved.

4) yes, do save money, but enjoy having it also. the great thing about having money is that you have the means to do more. having money will give you a new level freedom. just dont spend it on stupid crap.

5) keep learning. just because you are out of college does not mean you know it all and there are most likely many things that interest you that you havent found yet. read books, take classes, learn from professionals. this applies to everything business and personal.

Quote :

"6) Don't fuck strippers."

preach it.

12/14/2005 5:35:01 PM

Quote :

"1) the job. know your co-workers. they are the people you see everyday. get on good terms. do your job well and dont bitch about the amount of work you have. everyone hates the guy who thinks he is a better person because he has so much to do. make it look easy. people respect that more than making an obvious effort to show your sweat and tears."

Haha, I love this one. What's funnier is that I notice that most of the people who play this game merely use it as a "smoke and mirrors" act. They're nowhere near as busy as they like to think they are.

Not to mention if they can't handle that amount of work they have now, how are people going to trust them with greater responsibility?

12/15/2005 12:13:19 AM

1) Chew your words before you spit them out...in other words think about what you say and how it could impact you later. This is basic, but once you leave college trash talking in the work place, gossiping and the like will travel quickly. People in offices talk; alot. Those you think are your friends will sell you out in a heartbeat if it plays into their plan. Be aware of what you say and who you say it around.

2) Find someone who makes you happy. Whether it is a boy/girl friend, a buddy or co-worker; meet someone who makes you smile when you see them, it makes the bad days more enjoyable.

3) Take time to look around you and realize EXACTLY how LUCKY YOU ARE (to have a degree, a job, a family, a lover, etc.) Remember that being humble is the greatest gift of all.

4) As stated before, learn your 401K and also learn about INSURANCE (how it works, what co-pays and deductibles are) and never skimp on your insurance, it is truly what separates salary workers and good jobs from the others.

5) Take PICTURES. Document your life. When you have no one to talk to or nothing to do being able to sit down and look at what you've done in the past is an awesome way to spend an afternoon. You want your kids and grandkids to be able to see what you were able to do back in 1999.

12/15/2005 12:29:44 AM

I've gotten most of it wrong since i graduated, but one thing i did manage to get right was staying in shape. when you lose your campus gym rights, go and buy a membership somewhere and stick with it. it will pay off in the long run for your health, and it's a proven fact that interviewers gravitate towards people who are better kept.

12/15/2005 2:01:15 AM

1.) Take your mom and dad out to eat
2.) Start investing
3.) Keep your old car(fix it up if you have to)
4.) Don't have a baby
5.) Don't buy anything you can't afford

12/15/2005 3:40:20 AM

Quote :

"1) Before everyone moves away to different cities and states, try to take one last trip with your college friends. "

Kind of funny, since I talk to almost nobody in NC. I'm not thrilled with this, but the friends I've made after college are (for whatever reason) a million times closer than the ones I made in college.

Quote :

"2) Find someone who makes you happy. Whether it is a boy/girl friend, a buddy or co-worker; meet someone who makes you smile when you see them, it makes the bad days more enjoyable. "

Holy crap, yes.

Quote :

"Remember that being humble is the greatest gift of all."

Actually, for me realizing that I deserved every good thing I had was the greatest gift of all. I'm grateful, I know I'm lucky, and I deserve it. I spent most of my life bashing myself and hating myself and feeling unworthy, and it obviously got me nowhere. Once I realized I didn't have to be treated badly by myself or other people my whole life changed for the better.

I would recommend getting out on your own as much as possible while you're in college. My parents frowned on me moving out of the dorms, and didn't want to help buy a car, and had ABSOLUTELY NO ADVICE WHATSOEVER once I finally graduated. The result was I had a piece of shit car because it was the only thing I could afford, no credit because I had never had a credit card or anything in my name, and was constantly worried about money, even though I always payed my bills on time without problems.

12/15/2005 10:26:10 PM

1)dont get married
2)dont have a kid
3)dont stop binge drinking
4)manage the cash flows
5)learn how to get by on less sleep

12/18/2005 4:18:00 PM

Quote :

"everyone hates the guy who thinks he is a better person because he has so much to do. make it look easy. people respect that more than making an obvious effort to show your sweat and tears."

i got the opposite problem. my coworkers seem to think i work too much even though i am always downplaying what i do. how the hell did that happen

12/18/2005 6:58:14 PM

1) If you must look at porn at work, make sure they're not tracking your web usage
2) Find out which shitters use used less frequently and make use of them
3) Find out who the bosses ass kisser is and stay away from him
4) If you fuck a girl from work, marry her otherwise you're work like will be hell when you break up
5) Use all of your vacation

12/18/2005 9:04:49 PM

get a fed job, temp disaster work has been hot the past two years you get to travel, you get M&IE, and you get lots of OT, initially....and you only have to work about half a year(but get what a normal job would make in a year). Very little expenses and you bank most of it.

Bad, no benefits, but you make plenty to pay your own....and also, no disaster, no job.

cant beat being in S Florida this time of year



then the six other months go on unemployment and do nothing

[Edited on December 18, 2005 at 9:21 PM. Reason : w]

12/18/2005 9:18:37 PM