If you’re a 20-something college student or a young professional still paying for college, the phrase “personal finance plan” might sound like pure fantasy. First, you believe, you need to get hold of some finances, and then maybe you can start managing them.

But Erin Lowry, a millennial herself, disagrees. And she’s written a smart, fun guide to going, in her words, “from flat broke to financial badass” starting now. The book is titled: “Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By And Get Your Financial Life Together”.

Broke Millennial grows out of Lowry’s popular blog of the same name, which features posts like “Should You Tell Your Friends Your Financial Picture?” and “A Broke Millennial Impulse Purchase: I Got a Dog.” Her advice in the book, as in the blog, is neither pedantic, nor is it preachy – no finger-wagging here. Lowry instead offers witty and relatable topics like:

  • Understanding your relationship with moolah: Do you treat it like a Tinder date or marriage material?
  • Managing student loans without having a full-on panic attack
  • What to do when you’re out with your crew and can’t afford to split the bill evenly

Lowry’s book shows you how to make decisions based on real-life situations. It includes a touch of humor and empathy so potentially boring advice is easy to swallow. You don’t need to be a mathematical genius, she points out, to get your financial house in order. Just keep steps like these in mind:

  1. Set a budget.
  2. Form the habit of saving early and consistently.
  3. Understand your student loans.
  4. Learn the truth about building a credit history and score.

Whether you’re a millennial or a bit older, let Erin Lowry give your finances a “freshman orientation” and graduate to a happier, less stressful life.

Your Turn: Are you in college, or recently out? Need help navigating the waters of loan debt, savings accounts, and 401Ks? Let us know what you think about Erin Lowry’s advice, and share your own.

SOURCES:
http://brokemillennial.com/
http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/articles/2016-08-09/college-students-your-finances-could-use-a-freshman-orientation-too
http://www.businessinsider.com/broke-millennial-shares-her-favorite-childhood-money-lesson-2017-5