1. Budgeting 做预算

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.

负责任地生活，第一步就是做预算。虽然很多人对预算都有不好的看法，觉得预算让人倍受束缚，但你应该清楚是预算给你了更多自由。理性选择开销所在，你也是在掌控着自己的将来。预算使你为未来存钱，防止积累越来越多的负债。如果你不想每天记账跟踪花销，你还可以把一月预算放进信封里。

2. Finding Your First Apartment 寻找住处

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.

学校毕业，开始工作，你需要为自己寻一个住处。一般来说一年以后再考虑买房的事，这一方面帮你建立工作安全性，一方面确保你是否喜欢现在的环境。你可以独居一室，或者找人合租。

3. Paying Student Loans 缴还助学贷款

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.

如果上学时申请了贷款，现在还钱的时候到了。这个还钱的过程也许看上去很漫长，但你是有办法缩短它的。确立一个目标，尽早还清贷款，也就尽早减轻这部分开支压力。你可以通过合并还款的方式把利律降低，以节省金钱。如果你预算紧张，就需要另行寻找还款方案了。

4. Insuring Yourself 为自己投保

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，你就对自己的支出和紧急事项负责。无论如何，你都应该有一份健康保险。另外你可以考虑一下你的公司提供的保险措施。不要忘记购买一份房屋租赁保险，这能保护你在遭遇盗窃和火灾时得到赔偿。

5. Understanding Your Benefits 了解你的津贴

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.

拥有第一份真正的工作后，你会对自己的津贴和薪水产生很多疑问。要充分利用自己的津贴。它能在缴税和其他账单上帮助你。怎样能让薪水支票上的数字每月增长一点点？你可以通过津贴发放调低计税收入来实现这一目标。

6. Managing Your Accounts 管理个人账户

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.

寻求经济自由的必要之处在于每天管理钱财。开始工作之后花钱更有余地，有更多机会花钱，有更多机会借钱。这些多出来的机会，你一定要小心对待。如果在大学期间你已经积累了信用卡债务，你现在应该致力于还清它们了。你也应该学会管理你能利用的这些信用资源。

7. Investing for Your Future 为将来投资

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让你的钱为你工作。这样一来你可以缩短工作时间，早一些享受退休生活。另外，这些年你也能生活得更舒适。现在一点小牺牲，将来能有大收获。要清楚的是建立真正财富并非简单的积累，你需要花更多的时间去学习理财和投资。