Student Loan Hero/ Master Money in Your 20s With These Personal Finance Blogs and Tips

Rebecca Safier

Updated on June 20, 2018

Are you wondering what kind of repayment plan is best for your student loans? How about how much you should be contributing to your 401(k) or which career path is best for you?

Welcome to the wonderful world of your 20s, where you have a lot of questions but not a whole lot of answers (yet).

Although it’s up to you to figure out how to live your best life, you’re not alone when it comes to figuring out how to manage your money. Dozens of personal finance blogs are spilling the beans about smart money management.

Follow these tips from expert personal finance blogs

To get started, check out these eight financial tips for 20-somethings from the writers behind a few leading personal finance blogs.

1. Pay off your debt ASAP

Even though you’re young, you might already have some major debt to deal with in the form of student loans. In 2017, the average graduate left school owing $39,400 in student loan debt.

You might also be dealing with an auto loan or credit card debt, which can be especially tough to pay off because of high interest rates.

Instead of letting debt hang over your head, Marissa Lyda of The Budgeting Wife recommends making debt payoff a priority.

“Pay off your student loans, car loan, and credit cards as quick as possible for a foundation to your financial future,” said Lyda.

If you make extra payments, you can get out of debt ahead of schedule. Once you’re debt-free, you can shift your focus to other financial priorities.

“When you’re young and in your 20s, you have the power to build some serious wealth for your future,” said Lyda. “But it all starts with being debt-free.”

2. Build a 3- to 6-month emergency fund

Although paying off debt is a priority, it shouldn’t eat up all your spare money. It’s also important to put money into an emergency fund so you’re prepared for any unexpected expenses that come up.

“If you don’t have a strong financial foundation in place, you need to start there,” advised Brad Ruttenberg, a certified financial planner and co-creator of The Money Twins. “Among other things, that includes an emergency fund of three to six months of your monthly needs.”

Of course, not everyone’s salary makes it easy to build a multimonth emergency fund. But setting aside even a few hundred dollars could be a big help if your car breaks down or you need to make an emergency room visit.

Stephen Nelson, who runs the personal finance blog Per Diem, recommends putting your emergency funds into a savings account so you’re not tempted to spend it. In particular, he said online banks are your best bet since their accounts come with high interest returns. Ally Bank, for instance, has a savings account with a 1.65% rate.

“This is a phenomenal place to park money you are saving,” said Nelson. “It also adds a layer of self-restraint because there aren’t any ATMs around for these accounts. You have to first transfer it to your regular bank account, which takes a few days. This allows you to think twice before dipping into your savings.”

Plus, you can set up recurring transfers between your checking and savings account so you’re building your emergency fund one week or month at a time.

3. Create a budget and stick to it

According to David Carlson, founder of one the top personal finance blogs for young people, Young Adult Money, the best step you can take in your 20s is to create and follow a budget.

“Set aside time to review your spending each month,” said Carlson. “If you don’t know how much you spend on certain categories like groceries, restaurants, or transportation, you will struggle to manage your spending.”

Carlson recommends setting a monthly target amount for each category. Then, track your spending to make sure you don’t go past your limits.

You might use a simple spreadsheet, or you could download an expense-tracking app to do the heavy lifting for you.

Apps such as Mint and YNAB will automatically track your spending and make sure you stay on course to reach your goals.

4. Avoid the trap of retail therapy

Following a budget sounds easy enough, but sticking to your spending limits is a lot harder, especially when you’re having a bad day.

Zina Kumok of Conscious Coins advises 20-somethings to not “spend their feelings.”

“Anytime I feel sad, lonely, or depressed, I somehow end up online shopping,” said Kumok. “Sometimes I’ll order a new top or nail polish color. I usually regret my purchase.”

Instead of charging your credit card, Kumok recommends finding more cost-effective ways to make yourself feel better.

“Take a nice walk, call a friend, or find an affordable therapist,” she said. “Those are cheaper and more sustainable solutions than a new dress.”

If you’re feeling down, the lift you get from retail therapy will be short-lived. And if you’re not careful, it could lead to high-interest credit card debt.

5. Start saving for retirement (yes, really)

Drew Parker, creator of The Complete Retirement Planner, said 20-somethings just starting their career probably aren’t thinking of retirement. But starting when you’re young will pay off in the long run.

“Create a written retirement plan as soon as you start working,” said Parker. “It’s not as much about retirement as it is about controlling your destiny, whatever you want that to be.”

By coming up with a plan, you can set yourself up for financial security. And if you can set aside some money each month into an individual retirement account or 401(k), you will reap the benefits of compound interest over time.

If your employer offers a 401(k) match, try to contribute enough to get the full benefit.

“A financial plan is all about what happens well before retirement so that you won’t have to worry about what will happen during retirement,” said Parker. “You may not be able to predict the future, but you can certainly prepare for it.”

6. Don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary

Although many personal finance bloggers shared tips for saving money, Catherine Agopcan, co-founder of Sisters for Financial Independence, emphasized the importance of making money.

“Don’t be afraid to negotiate [or] ask your employer for a benefit,” said Agopcan.

Learn about effective negotiation strategies before your meeting so you’re prepared when you meet with your manager or human resources. It’ll also help if you do your research on average salaries for comparable positions in your industry.

Besides negotiating your salary, consider alternative employee benefits as a way to boost your earnings, including tuition reimbursement or a gym allowance.

“Small things can add up,” said Agopcan. “It never hurts to get these extras added as part of compensation negotiation at hiring or during bonus time.”

You might have an even better chance if you’re working at a new company.

“Startups and smaller companies are constantly revamping their benefits offerings,” said Agopcan. “Give your feedback so you can take advantage of these alternative financial wins.”

Even if your company doesn’t offer specific benefits yet, it can’t hurt to ask about adding them to your contract.

7. Start a side hustle

Working a side hustle is another way to boost your income. According to Bankrate, more than 44 million Americans have a side gig of some kind.

“Instead of binge-watching the next Netflix show, find a side hustle you can make extra money with,” said Kelan Kline, who co-founded The Savvy Couple with his wife, Brittany. “Make sure it’s something you enjoy because your time should never be traded for money.”

Your side hustle could involve anything from freelancing to starting an online business to driving for Uber. But as Kline said, make sure it’s something you like so you don’t get burned out trying to balance it with your full-time job.

8. Spend less than you make

No list of financial advice would be complete without the golden rule of personal finance: Spend less than you make.

“While this advice is repeated ad nauseam, it is absolutely the bedrock to building any amount of wealth,” said Nelson.

To make sure your spending doesn’t exceed your earning, Nelson recommends setting up automatic savings.

“Each month, have part of your paycheck directed to your savings account automatically,” he suggested. “This will ensure that [you’re saving and] living below your means.”

And who knows? If you follow all the tips listed above, you might be able to live the dream and go into your 30s completely debt-free.