SoFi

As adults, we tend to bounce from one big financial quest to the next. We need money to buy a car, to go to college, to own a home, which usually means we have to keep asking for loans.

You’d expect it would get easier as you go, but sometimes it doesn’t, especially if you’ve made mistakes along the way. Unfortunately, your missteps could keep you from qualifying for a mortgage—the Mount Everest of money-borrowing pursuits. If you’ve buried yourself in credit card and other debt, it’s crucial to get clear before you can move forward.

Consolidating Credit Card Debt Before a Mortgage Approval

Your credit card debt and mortgage approval can sometimes go hand in hand. Mortgage lenders want to know that you can afford to pay back the loan they’re offering, so they’re going to be curious about what you already owe others. While every lender is different, they’ll typically look at what you earn every month versus what you’ll be paying for your home and other debt obligations. Our home buyer’s guide is an excellent resource for first-time home buyers or existing homeowners looking to brush up on the home buying process.

Even if you have a good credit score and a debt-to-income ratio of 43% or less, high credit card debt payments could still make it difficult for you to pay a mortgage.

Credit cards typically come with a high interest rate and as long as you don’t pay your balance off in full every payment cycle, interest can continuously compound.

Taking out a debt consolidation loan is a way to help break the debt cycle. While you’ll then have to take out a personal loan, the interest rate may be lower than your credit cards, and personal loans usually offer fixed interest rates.

Think of it as your borrowing base camp—a personal loan can help you catch your breath and get your finances in order before you move on in your quest for a mortgage.

Recommended: Home Affordability Calculator

Using a Personal Loan To Consolidate Debt

Let’s get into more detail about how it all works:

You’ll combine the credit card debt into one manageable bill with a single payment due date. That means you’ll no longer have to worry about multiple payment due dates (or what will happen to the interest rates attached to those accounts if you don’t make your payments on time).

You may also qualify for a lower interest rate. The average interest rate on credit cards hovers around 16%, which is pretty hefty. Or maybe you accepted a higher rate on a new card a while ago when you needed it to build your credit and never got the rate adjusted. If you have a good credit record, a consistent job history, and a solid income, you may be able to bring your interest rate down with a personal loan.

Those high interest rates might be the very reason you got into trouble in the first place. Perhaps you aren’t an over-spender or maybe you just got into the habit of paying the minimum on your credit cards each month, figuring you’d catch up “someday.”

And it wasn’t until you started thinking about purchasing a home that you realized you’re on thin ice. With a lower interest rate and just one bill, you could help set yourself up for success with a better chance of staying on top of your debt.

Having the balance of one or more of your credit cards near the credit limit may negatively affect your credit score. Credit utilization is one of five major factors that help determine your credit score (along with payment history, the age of the credit, credit mix, and the number of recent credit inquiries).

Credit utilization is a comparison between the amount of credit you have available to you (your account limits) and what you’re actually using (your balances). If your credit utilization is high, a lender might see you as more of a risk, and the ratio can impact up to 30% of your credit score . Paying off your credit cards —and keeping them paid off—may help you boost your credit score.

Being on firmer footing with debt also could boost your savings sense. You’re probably going to want to get home-loan-ready one careful step at a time, and knowing you’re doing something about your debt might inspire you to make other savvy moves, like spending less and saving more.

If you reduce your monthly debt payments with a consolidation loan, you could put that extra money toward the down payment you’ll need for your new home. And putting down more up front will ultimately mean you own more of your house—and have a smaller mortgage.

Using a personal loan to lower the amount you’re required to pay on your debt each month may help improve that statistic lenders lean so hard on: the debt-to-income ratio.

Lenders may conclude that those with higher debt-to-income could have more difficulty paying their mortgage. You may seem like a safer bet in the eyes of a lender with a lower debt-to-income ratio.

Understandably, they just don’t want the risk, so why give them an excuse to turn you down? Your consolidation loan won’t magically make your debt disappear, but by paying regularly on your personal loan, you can get a better grip on your debt load and eventually improve your credit profile.

You might find you don’t even need those credit cards anymore—at least not as many or not so often. Maybe when you were starting out on your own, you used credit to get by when times were tight. Now that you’re earning more money and your finances are more in order, that’s hopefully not true anymore.

You might find yourself chopping up some of those extra cards. After all, if your personal loan comes with a lower monthly payment, you’ll likely have more cash in your pocket to pay for the small stuff.

Other Options For Knocking Down Debt

If you think you have the resources and discipline to knock down your credit card balances on your own within six months or so, you probably don’t need to bother with a loan.

Or you might want to look into using a balance transfer card—that is, if you think you can focus on paying it off within the required timeline to take advantage of the low interest rate…and you can resist the temptation to keep charging.

But, if it feels as though your debt is becoming a slippery slope, and consolidation would help you set up a new and better payment structure for getting rid of it, you may want to consider a personal loan.

Consolidating debt before buying a home can be a wise first step. And if all goes as planned, when you’re ready to purchase that home, you could decide to apply for a mortgage loan through SoFi.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .
The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
SoFi Mortgages are not available in all states. Products and terms may vary from those advertised on this site. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria#eligibility-mortgage for details.

SOPL18133

Millions of students across the U.S. take out student loans every year as a way to finance their college education. Student loan debt in America is at an all-time high, reaching nearly $1.5 trillion in 2018. About 70% of college students graduated in 2017 with student loan debt that was expected to average $38,000 .

After years of record low interest rates, 2018 marks the second year in a row that interest rates on federal student loans have increased. Interest rates on federal student loans for undergraduates have increased from 4.45% to 5.05% for the 2018 to 2019 academic year . This student loan rate increase of 0.595% applies for any new loans taken out on or after July 1, 2018.

Student loan interest rates also increased for graduate students—rising from 6% to 6.6%. Rates on PLUS loans, which are available to parents and graduate students, increased from 7% to 7.6%.

How Does Student Loan Interest Increase on Federal Loans?

Since 2013, the interest rate on federal student loans has been set annually by Congress based on the 10-year treasury note . Each year, the new rates take effect on July 1 and apply to loans taken out for the following academic year. Under this formula, rates can increase, decrease, or remain the same.

Federal student loans have fixed interest rates, so the new rate hikes only affect new loans taken out in the 2018 to 2019 school year. Because many students rely on federal loans to pay for college every year, the increases could still result in borrowers paying more money each month, even though the interest rates on federal loans are fixed.

Assuming a 10-year repayment plan, the latest interest rate hike in July 2018 will increase monthly loan payments by about 2.8% . And although the interest rate on federal education loans remains the same over the life the loan, when a student takes out an education loan for the next school year, that loan might have a higher interest rate. Higher interest rates on student loans lead to more debt, which can make it harder for graduates to pay off their student loans.

In an effort to keep the interest rates on student loans from skyrocketing, Congress has set limits on how high interest rates can go . Undergraduate loans are capped at 8.25%, graduate loans can never go higher than 9.5%, and the limit on parental loans is capped at 10.5%.

How Does Student Loan Interest Increase on Private Loans?

If you have private student loans, the federal rate hikes won’t directly affect your loans. Most private lenders look at your credit history and income, among a few other factors to determine if they will lend to you and what rate you will qualify for. Many private lenders offer fixed and variable rates for student loans.

Often variable rate loans are tied to the one-month LIBOR, a common global index that reflects short-term interest rates and can change monthly. The one-month LIBOR rate generally rises and falls in small increments each month. As the LIBOR fluctuates, the variable rate on your loan will fluctuate as well. For example, in 2017, variable and fixed interest rates on private student loans rose nearly a point.

Private lenders generally add a margin to the rate which is determined by your credit score or the credit score of your co-signer if you have one. Depending on your lender, variable rates can change monthly, quarterly, or annually.

Even if the variable interest rate on your loan rises, you could still be paying less money in interest over the life of the loan if you pay it off in a short period of time. (Because paying it off quickly means there is less time for interest to accrue!)

On the other hand, if rising interest rates are causing your student loan anxiety to increase as well, you could consider refinancing your variable rate student loans to a fixed interest rate.

Protecting Yourself From Student Loan Rate Increases

When you refinance your student loans, you essentially take out a new loan with a new (hopefully lower) interest rate. That new loan is used to pay off your existing loans.

Refinancing your student loans can allow you to adjust your repayment timeline by shortening or extending the term length. These options can change the total amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan and your monthly loan payment, too.

If you have a mix of federal and private loans and you want to get a new interest rate, you won’t be able to consolidate your loans with the government. At SoFi, you can consolidate your federal and private loans through refinancing.

Keep in mind that if you do refinance with a private lender, your loan will no longer have federal protections like income-driven repayment plans or Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

But if you don’t anticipate needing these programs, refinancing with a private lender might result in a lower interest rate.

With SoFi, there are no application fees or prepayment penalties. And you’ll have the opportunity to choose between a fixed rate loan or a variable rate loan. Both options offer strong opportunities for borrowers to reduce the money they spend on interest depending on a variety of factors such as the total amount of the loan and the overall length of the loan.

To get an idea of how refinancing and the different interest rate options could impact your loan, take advantage of SoFi’s easy-to-use student loan refinance calculator.

SoFi is a leader is the student loan space—offering both private student loans to help pay your way through school, or refinancing options to help you pay off your loans faster.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.
The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

SOSL18168

We’re reading a lot about cryptocurrency being here to stay, but for many of us, it’s still not a regular part of our everyday financial lives. Why is that? Could be lack of education among investors, and the general lack of current, regular commercial use of cryptocurrency. However, if acquiring the right financial knowledge is a roadblock, let’s move that out of the way right now and do some schooling on cryptocurrency trading for beginners.

The Basics of Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is digital currency (used exclusively online) that acts as a direct financial exchange between users without the involvement of a bank or other third parties. Think of it as an alternative currency to traditional forms of payment, like cash, checks, and credit cards.

The information used within the system is kept safe through the use of encryption techniques . These methods scramble the info to make the activity secret and difficult for outsiders to access.

When you and others use a cryptocurrency system, everyone and everything remain anonymous. Each exchange that takes place is woven into a group called “blocks” (hence the term blockchain), which again is coded (encrypted) in order to keep it private and secure.

The basic unit of value of cryptocurrency is expressed as a “token,” which is used exclusively by members of the group involved in the blockchain. Every time a transaction happens, a “miner” updates the blockchain (more about this later).

Cryptocurrency is not created by any bank system or government agency, which means it’s in a universe of its own. Also, it isn’t regulated to the same degree as other financial products, like banking and investments. At least not yet.

Many people find this freedom to be a very cool vehicle to ride. Its popularity is growing in an organic way too; this makes it hard to predict where it’s going and where it will end up.

Cryptocurrency can be bought and sold on special exchanges ; the most commonly known cryptocurrency is bitcoin. SoFi also allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrency.

Recommended: A Beginner’s Guide to Cryptocurrency

The Future of Cryptocurrency

Of course, not everybody is on board with cryptocurrency being a given for the future. Although there are have been more than 2,000 cryptocurrencies on the market, more than 800 of them are now no longer operational.

Another fact to note: the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has denied more than a dozen applications for permission to list bitcoin exchange-traded funds (EFFs). The reason, though, could be to your benefit as an investor: the need to minimize risks of fraud and manipulation, and to increase investor protection.

“We’ve seen some thefts around digital assets that make you scratch your head,” SEC Chairman Jay Clayton said at CoinDesk’s Consensus Invest conference. “We care that the assets underlying that ETF have good custody and that they’re not going to disappear.”

That said, are you a believer? Are you thinking about taking a leap, or at least getting in on the ground floor, before the anticipated mad mainstream rush?

Let’s break down the details of cryptocurrency trading for beginners:

It’s in the Wallet?

Offline, cryptocurrencies are stored in “wallets.” A wallet is a software program that stores both private and public keys that allow you to send and receive digital currencies and keep an eye on your coin.

Hot wallets give you easier access, but they can also more easily be hacked. Cold wallets are harder to open. If you plan on holding on to your investment for a long time, you may want to opt for the cold wallet. If you need to dip into your coin more than occasionally, consider the hot wallet.

There are a number of wallet providers , and you’ll want to do some due diligence before choosing one.

Learn to Chill

Cryptocurrency is still a relatively new technology, which means it can act like a newborn: crying jags, not understanding how things work, crawling and stumbling, and behaving irrationally.

You’ll need to get used to huge price swings, instability when least expected, rollercoaster performance reports, and general anxiety on your part. Be sure you can take it.

Tune Out The Naysayers

Cryptocurrency trading for beginners means getting involved in a new idea. When that happens, get ready for the know-it-alls and Negative Nellies to tell you what’s what. You’re going to hear that cryptocurrency is overhyped, just a fad, or a wicked scam.

Of course, you’re going to do your due diligence and make up your own mind with educated decisions, so let don’t let them rattle you. Also, what may be true and unfortunate for one cryptocurrency may not be the same for another.

Get Professional Insights

Here’s the thing: Maybe cryptocurrency isn’t for you right now. The fact is, cryptocurrencies aren’t endorsed or guaranteed by any government—and they are volatile and involve a high degree of risk.

Not only that, but consumer protection and securities laws don’t regulate cryptocurrencies in the same way that they regulate traditional investment products. If you instead want to learn more about traditional investment products, now’s the time to check out SoFi Invest®.

With SoFi Invest, you’ll get access to financial planning and personalized advice, all based on how you want to invest and what your future goals are. All you need to do is make an appointment to chat with one of our SoFi Invest Advisors.—there is no obligation and no cost.

We’ll work with you to make sense of an investment strategy and help you map out a plan (and stick with it).

With an automated investing account with SoFi, we’ll invest in thousands of assets, actively managing them, which can help you get a clearer vision of your future path. To avoid veering off the road, we’ll automatically rebalance your investments as needed, so that they stay on track.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies aren’t endorsed or guaranteed by any government, are volatile, and involve a high degree of risk. Consumer protection and securities laws don’t regulate cryptocurrencies to the same degree as traditional brokerage and investment products. Research and knowledge are essential prerequisites before engaging with any cryptocurrency. US regulators, including
FINRA , the SEC , and the CFPB , have issued public advisories concerning digital asset risk. Cryptocurrency purchases should not be made with funds drawn from financial products including student loans, personal loans, mortgage refinancing, savings, retirement funds or traditional investments.
The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals and risk profile. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member
FINRA / SIPC .
SOIN19015

Paying off your student loans can feel like a grueling journey, especially if you have a lot of it. And there’s a lot of student loan debt out there—$1.5 trillion to be exact .

It’s becoming clear just how much student debt can have a negative impact on the psyche of the student debt holder. In a survey conducted by SoFi, 83% of respondents felt like they couldn’t relax due to their student loans, and 50% felt that student loan debt has made them feel depressed.

More than a third have reported losing sleep due to student loan debt, and plenty of others say that it’s caused them to miss out on opportunities to travel, practice self-care, and make major life decisions.

If you’re in the throes of student loan debt repayment, you should know that there’s hope: Catie Gould and Veronica Scafe, two SoFi members, show us that it can be done. Not only did they each pay off their nearly $100,000 in respective students loans, but did so in about four years—significantly faster than their original loan terms.

It is important to note that these results may not be typical of every person paying down student loans. Below, these two members share their student debt journeys as well as their tips to help pay off student loans.

Meet Catie Gould and Veronica Scafe, SoFi Members

If you’ve got student loans and are looking for inspiration to get rid of them once and for all, Catie Gould and Veronica Scafe are your people. Both paid down nearly $100,000 in student loan debt.

Catie Gould paid off her student loans in just over four years—an impressive feat considering she graduated with around $91,000 in student debt from her dual degrees in material science and mechanical engineering.

Veronica Scafe found herself in a similar situation after graduating with $99,800 in student loans from obtaining her Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Even though Scafe had only expected to leave graduate school with $80,000 in loans, she was able to pay off the balance in an incredible three years and eleven months.

Their Personal Strategies For Paying Off Student Loans

Right out of school, Gould and Scafe deployed similar strategies for paying off their student loans fast; they both worked hard at keeping their expenses low, even with their new, higher salaries.

When Gould graduated from school, she avoided “lifestyle inflation” even though she was making more money than she ever had before. “Not very much changed for me after graduating. I am a saver by nature. I kept driving my old car, living with roommates, shopping at thrift stores, taking local vacations.”

And Gould didn’t stop there. “I bought a bicycle to get around town, tried gardening, and cooked my own food most of the time. I said no to plenty of things, but most never felt like a sacrifice.”

It helped Gould that she didn’t have expensive tastes to begin with: “Festivals were a big thing I never knew about. I was shocked that people pay $300+ to go to weekend music festivals.”

Scafe recounts an experience similar to Gould’s. She and her husband “never expanded our lifestyle to fit our salary so we never had to make cuts.” Scafe added, “We live pretty frugally. We have a modest home. We cooked most of our meals at home and took leftovers for lunch the next day.”

Just as keeping expenses low was an important tactic for both women, so was making additional payments towards their student loans. Neither wanted the emotional burden of paying back loans for longer than they had to, nor did they like seeing so much of their loan payments go towards interest payments and not the principal.

Simply having a long, hard look at how much you’re spending in interest payments every day, week, or month, may be the motivation you need to pay your loans off faster than the standard ten-year repayment schedule.

“I sometimes calculated how much interest I owed every morning just for waking up,” says Gould. From this exercise, she noticed that the daily interest charges on her student loans cost her “more than eating out every day, which I considered pretty indulgent,” and this motivated her to take action, and fast.

Gould and Scafe also refinanced their student loans, which provided them both the extra boost they needed to pay their loans back on such short timelines. By refinancing and qualifying for lower rates, more of each payment could be applied to the loan’s principal and not just interest.

What pushed them to pull the trigger on refinancing?

When Gould started her first corporate engineering job, the company was in the midst of layoffs. Luckily, she kept her job, but she says that “the layoff had a huge impact on me.” This experience at work pushed her to explore even more options for lowering her student loan bill.

The concern of how she’d make payments if something were to happen to her job, along with interest rates that she felt were far too high—some of them at 8.75%—inspired her to tackle her debt through extra payments and refinancing.

Gould refinanced around $36,000 of her debt through SoFi. She said, “Getting out of a higher interest rate was really helpful to pay down my remaining student loan balance. I feel a lot more in control of my future and how I chose to spend my time. It’s steered my life in a direction I never anticipated.”

Scafe also knew the feeling of wanting her loans long gone, and fast. “I obsessed over them and I think that’s what motivated me to get rid of them ASAP.” Having multiple loan payments scattered throughout her month was a nuisance.

“I refinanced to lower my interest rate,” she says, but also desperately wanted to have only one monthly payment. Paying down multiple loans faster than their scheduled repayment terms was a logistical hassle, and required significant manual maneuvering. “It got really frustrating.”

Both women refinanced their loans with SoFi, lowering their interest rates and saving them money on interest while consolidating their multiple loans—both federal and private—into one loan with one easy payment.

Tips to Help Pay Off Student Loans Early

“Tracking your spending is a must,” says Gould. She used Mint to track her spending, though there are many methods of doing so. The important thing, says Gould, is to do it. “The difference between months I looked at my budget frequently and months I didn’t was about $300 to $500 of savings, just from being more aware.” And putting those savings towards a student loan payment seriously expedited her loan payoff journey.

When it comes to spending money, try to cut whatever doesn’t bring you true joy. “There is always something forgettable that you are spending money on every month that you can cut.” For Gould, one of these things was dining out. For you, it could be something different, but the lesson here is to identify what really doesn’t produce joy for you, and ruthlessly eliminate it. Spend on only what you love.

“There is no way you can cut out all your expenses, and you need to let yourself have a little leeway to feel like you are living a great life. Some treats I got myself were evening classes in things I found interesting.

I took calligraphy, pottery, Arabic, essay writing. I also have some nice camping gear. I always equated these extra things to lunches—a $10 expense that I wouldn’t miss.”

Scafe, on the other hand, extols the virtues of paying yourself first. Whether you’re paying off loans on an expedited schedule or saving up an emergency fund, it’s wise to spend what is left over after saving and not vice versa.

While you should always keep a buffer in your checking account, too much cash lying around could be just asking to be spent. You can move it towards your loans or a savings account as soon as payday hits instead.

For both women, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel was crucial to their perseverance. They stuck with it, even when it felt like student debt freedom would never become a reality.

For Scafe, having her debt eliminated has been a big stress relief. Gould says that she feels in control of her future and how she chooses to spend her time, and that nothing compares to the feeling of paying off her student debt. And while neither claim that the process was easy, or entirely possible for many on their relatively short timelines, both believe that it was totally worth it.

If you have student loans like Scafe and Gould, keep pushing to reach your goal of being debt free. You can use our student loan payoff calculator to get an idea of when your loan payoff date could be, and it’s never too late to start putting strategies in place to help accelerate your loan payoff—even if it’s just a little at a time.

Also, you can consider refinancing your student loans with SoFi to potentially lower your interest rate and get a shorter term, and therefore help to expedite your own loan payoff journey.

Disclaimer: The savings and experiences of members herein may not be representative of the experiences of all members. Savings and experiences are not guaranteed and will vary based on your unique situation and other factors.
The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.

SOSL18113

Graduating from college can feel like the end of an era. You’re leaving behind the safety of school, and in theory, you now have all of the tools you need to make it in the real world.

While you may be ready to job search, kill it at an interview, or even start a business, many new grads aren’t sure of the best ways to manage their financial health. Here are five financial tips for new graduates.

1. Making (and Sticking to) a Budget

Make a budget. Hear us out. The b-word might make you cringe, but setting a budget is one of the most important things you can do to help set yourself up for financial success.

That doesn’t mean, however, that you need to hire CPA and create a complicated spreadsheet you’ll never look at again. Think of a budget as a tool that helps you get what you want instead of something that limits you.

For example, whether you want to start saving for retirement ASAP, or just want to save enough money to buy a couch, the first step to getting there is usually setting a budget. A key to creating a budget you’ll actually follow?

Make sure that it not only accounts for necessities like housing and student loan payments, but also includes the things you actually like to spend money on, whether it’s weekly cocktails at your favorite neighborhood bar or online auctions for rare action figures.

If you try to go cold turkey on the things you normally spend your money on, you might not have the motivation needed to set aside some of that cash for your larger goals.

One other important thing to remember is that if you accidentally spend more than your budget at first, don’t give up. Financial health is typically a process, and no one is perfect. The most important thing is that you keep trying.

If you keep struggling to stick with a budget, it may be time to take a look to see where most of your money is going and adjust your budget to make it more realistic to your individual circumstances. For better insight into your spending, get started with SoFi Relay. You’ll be able to keep tabs on your cash flow and spending habits, plus find ways to save.

2. Planning For Emergencies

Many of the financial tips for college graduates focus on saving but can leave out what, exactly, you ought to be saving for. This brings us to our second money tip for college graduates: Creating an emergency fund.

By now, almost everyone knows that most Americans don’t have enough cash saved to navigate a $500 emergency . Scary, right? $500 could be one major car repair, hospitalization, or even just an unexpected security deposit on a new apartment.

When you don’t have cash on hand to pay for emergencies, it may be tempting to put it on a credit card, which, if not paid off right away, can spiral into increasing debt.

One easy way to start is to make an initial goal, say $500. As part of your budget (See? Budgets are important!), you could set aside a certain amount monthly towards your emergency fund. Once you reach $500, take a minute to celebrate, but don’t stop saving.

Your emergency fund should ideally be able to cover about six months of expenses so that you can protect yourself if you ever face extended unemployment or serious illness.

Those numbers can certainly sound daunting, so some savers might find it is easier to set incremental goals, like aiming to first save $500, then $1,000, then $1,500, and so on.

3. Putting Down that Credit Card

We know that not everyone has a job lined up right after graduation. Post-college life can be pretty rough. We see you, recent grads crashing with friends and surviving on instant noodles while you job search. It can be tempting to rely on a credit card during times of financial uncertainty, but overusing your credit card can have serious consequences.

Unless you pay off your credit card debt right away (that is, in full every billing cycle), it continues to accrue interest, which in turn increases the amount you owe. That means that, for example, a $900 couch you charged could balloon in cost the longer you take to pay it off. On top of the extra costs of fees and interest, carrying a large balance on your credit card(s) can impact your credit score.

Instead of relying on your credit card, you may opt to save up for big purchases like new furniture, and keep spending in check by following your budget. If you must put expenses on your credit card, you can help keep added interest at bay by prioritizing paying off your balance in full every month.

4. Learning About Investing

Okay, so you’re on board with a budget and have even started to save for an emergency fund. What’s next? Financial tips for recent graduates often focus only on how to manage your money for right now, but a huge part of financial health is putting your money to work for your future.

Right after graduation can be a great time to consider dipping your toes into investing. Investing is not just for super rich old guys in suits. In fact, getting started on investing while you’re younger can allow you to grow your portfolio over time.

One other common misconception about investing is that you need a ton of spare money available to get started.

The truth is that you may be able to start investing with small amounts of money—SoFi lets you start with as little as $100 a month—and grow your portfolio over time. Intimidated by the process? Talk with an advisor who can help guide you toward the right mix of investments for your goals.

5. Making a Plan For Loan Repayment

Finally, perhaps the most timely tip for new graduates: Make a plan for repaying your student loans. You may have a grace period after you graduate. If you do, you can use that time to figure out exactly how you plan on making those monthly loan payments.

Planning for your loan payments in your budget is a great place to start, but if the monthly payment seems too high to manage, there are a couple things to do that may help keep things in check.

First, make sure that you’re on the right loan repayment plan for your personal circumstances. Federal loans offer several different options for repayment , whether you want to pay your loans off as soon as possible or keep your monthly rate as low as possible. Just remember: If you aren’t making payments to at least cover your monthly interest, your loan might actually end up getting bigger!

If the federal repayment plans aren’t doing it for you, refinancing your student loans may be another option. Refinancing your student loans is a process by which you apply for a brand new refinancing loan to pay off all your existing student loans at once. Why trade in one type of debt for another?

Student loan refinancing may help you secure a lower interest rate or better repayment terms—and that can add up to major savings over the life of your loan. Loan refinancing may be especially beneficial to new grads who have secured a well-paying job or have a better financial situation and credit score than they did when they originally took out their loans.

Recommended: 46 Tips for Recent College Grads

Whether you’re ready to take on the real world or are still trying to get your feet underneath you, taking steps to protect your financial health during this time is crucial.

Congrats, grad: You’ve got this!

The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the
FTC’s website on credit.
Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.
The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
The information provided is not meant to provide investment, tax or financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals and risk profile. Advisory and automated services offered through SoFi Wealth LLC. An SEC registered investment advisor. SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA / SIPC .
SOSL18137