All the sections I have in this guide are important, but if I could emphasize one topic, it would be building a budget and saving money. Without having a budget (a list of planned expenditures) or savings (how much money you have set aside) building good credit, paying for apartments, loans, and cars would be almost impossible.
Having a budget has helped me know how much money I am spending on things. This has been helpful for when I am considering where I should spend less money. It has also helped me, a lot, when it comes to saving money. In every budget, I set aside an amount that for my savings account. Honestly, having a savings account and money set aside has saved me so many times. When I first applied for my apartment, I didn't know both a security deposit (which was the same amount as the first month's of rent) and the first month of rent were due at signing. Thankfully, the money I had set aside came in handy. I was able to use some of my savings to pay for the unexpected expense. It also came in handy when I needed to visit home at the last minute, when my laptop stopped working, when I sprained my leg (that wasn't fun) and so many more things.
This section will focus on how to build a budget and start saving. You don't have to have a lot of money to start saving. Even a little bit can go a long way if you make it a habit!
