As an adult, you will have many new responsibilities you may not be used to. The resources below may be helpful to you as you learn how to manage your money, build your credit, file your taxes, and have proper insurance coverage.
Managing Your Money
Part of being an independent adult is knowing how to manage your money. There are many ways you can manage your money, including:
Building Credit
Your credit report will tell banks and companies if they should lend you money or allow you to open an account with them. Your credit will be looked at before you are able to do many things, like buy a car, buy or rent a home, or open a cell phone account. As a young adult, you will start out with no credit – so you have to build credit. It’s important for you to know how to build your credit and how to read a credit report.
Filing Taxes
If you have a job and earn money, you must file state and federal taxes each year by April 15. Filing your taxes can feel overwhelming and complicated, but there are resources that can help. It is important for you to learn how to prepare and file your taxes so you can make sure you file them correctly and on time. Here are some helpful tips to help get you started.
Car Insurance
You should have car insurance if you own a car (owner’s insurance) or if you are driving someone else’s car (non-owner’s insurance). Car insurance helps protect you and other drivers in case you are in an accident. Insurance may help pay for car repairs or medical bills, which can be very expensive. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
Preventing Identity Theft
It is important to protect your personal information such as your social security number, date of birth, name, address, and bank account information. If any of this information gets into the wrong hands, you can have your identity stolen. Here are some helpful tips on how to protect yourself: