1. Budgeting 做預算

    The first step to living responsibly is to budget your money. Although many people have negative feelings towards budgeting, because they feel it is constrictive or controlling, you should realize that budgeting allows you more freedom. By choosing where you are going to spend your money before you spend it, you are controlling your future. Budgeting will help you to save for the future, and stop you from accumulating a lot of debt. If you do not want to constantly track your expenses, you may consider using an envelope system for your budget.

    負責任地生活，第一步就是做預算。雖然很多人對預算都有不好的看法，覺得預算讓人倍受束縛，但你應該清楚是預算給你了更多自由。理性選擇開銷所在，你也是在掌控著自己的將來。預算使你為未來存錢，防止積累越來越多的負債。如果你不想每天記賬跟蹤花銷，你還可以把一月預算放進信封里。

    2. Finding Your First Apartment 尋找住處

    Once you are finished with school and start your own job, it is important to find housing for yourself. Generally you are better off waiting to buy at least one year. This will help you to establish job security, and make sure that you like the area that you live in. You may be ready to have your own apartment without roommates, or you may choose to still have one roommate.

    學校畢業，開始工作，你需要為自己尋一個住處。一般來說一年以后再考慮買房的事，這一方面幫你建立工作安全性，一方面確保你是否喜歡現在的環境。你可以獨居一室，或者找人合租。

    3. Paying Student Loans 繳還助學貸款

    If you borrowed money to attend school, it is time to begin paying on your student loans. This process may seem like it takes forever, but you can do things to speed up the process. Make it a goal to pay off your student loans early, so that you can free up the money you have to pay towards the loans. You can save money on your loans by consolidating them and locking in a lower interest rate. Additionally you may need to consider other payment options if your budget is tight.

    如果上學時申請了貸款，現在還錢的時候到了。這個還錢的過程也許看上去很漫長，但你是有辦法縮短它的。確立一個目標，盡早還清貸款，也就盡早減輕這部分開支壓力。你可以通過合并還款的方式把利律降低，以節省金錢。如果你預算緊張，就需要另行尋找還款方案了。

    4. Insuring Yourself 為自己投保

    Now that you are truly out on your own, you are responsible for all of your expenses and emergency situations. You should make sure that you have health insurance, no matter what. Additionally you may be considering several different insurance options offered through your employer. Do not forget to get renter's insurance. This will protect you against theft and fire in your apartment.

    完全依靠自己生活，你就對自己的支出和緊急事項負責。無論如何，你都應該有一份健康保險。另外你可以考慮一下你的公司提供的保險措施。不要忘記購買一份房屋租賃保險，這能保護你在遭遇盜竊和火災時得到賠償。

    5. Understanding Your Benefits 了解你的津貼

    Now that you have your first real job, you may have all types of questions about your benefits and your salary. You should take advantage of your benefits. They can help you to save money both on your taxes and in your other bills. You may be wondering how to make your paycheck stretch a little bit further each month, you can do this by lowering your taxable income through a flexible spending account.

    擁有第一份真正的工作后，你會對自己的津貼和薪水產生很多疑問。要充分利用自己的津貼。它能在繳稅和其他賬單上幫助你。怎樣能讓薪水支票上的數字每月增長一點點？你可以通過津貼發放調低計稅收入來實現這一目標。

    6. Managing Your Accounts 管理個人賬戶

    Managing your money from day to day is essential to finding financial freedom. Once you start working you have more flexibility with your money. You will have more money to spend, and more opportunities to borrow money. You should take these added opportunities seriously. If you have accumulated credit card debt while in college you should work on getting out of debt now. You should also learn how to manage the credit resources that you have available to you now.

    尋求經濟自由的必要之處在于每天管理錢財。開始工作之后花錢更有余地，有更多機會花錢，有更多機會借錢。這些多出來的機會，你一定要小心對待。如果在大學期間你已經積累了信用卡債務，你現在應該致力于還清它們了。你也應該學會管理你能利用的這些信用資源。

    7. Investing for Your Future 為將來投資

    The most important thing you can do now is to make your money work for you. By doing this you can shorten the number of years that you need to work and retire much earlier. Additionally you will be able to live much more comfortably over the years. A little sacrifice now will have huge payoffs in the future. You should remember that accumulating stuff is different than building true wealth. You should also take the time to learn as much as you can about money and investing.

    目前最重要的事情是讓你的錢為你工作。這樣一來你可以縮短工作時間，早一些享受退休生活。另外，這些年你也能生活得更舒適。現在一點小犧牲，將來能有大收獲。要清楚的是建立真正財富并非簡單的積累，你需要花更多的時間去學習理財和投資。