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Key takeaways:
- Getting your first paycheck is exciting, but there are a few budgeting tips you should know about before you spend it all.
- Sticking to a budget doesn’t have to be complicated, and there are some great banking tools designed to help you.
- Banking with a credit union like Power Financial Credit Union can give you an advantage as you learn to manage your money.
But before you spend it all on something fun, we recommend building some good money habits with a budget and some savings. Finding the right balance now in how you manage your money will pay off in the long term.
Understanding Your Pay Stub
First thing's first: What does your pay stub mean? Let’s take a closer look at the different deductions you might see:- Federal income tax: This is money sent to the government based on what you’re expected to owe in taxes for the year.
- Social Security and Medicare taxes: These taxes help fund benefits for older and disabled people.
- Deductions for benefits: This is money taken out to pay for health insurance or retirement if your job offers these benefits.
If you don’t see a deduction for income tax on your pay stub, talk to HR about setting up withholding to avoid getting a surprise tax bill at the end of the year.
Set Up a Simple Budget
After deductions, the money left is yours to manage. This is where smart first paycheck tips can make a difference:Celebrate responsibly. You deserve to do something nice for yourself, but don’t spend your entire paycheck on fun.
You need a budget. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just create categories for your needs, wants and savings.
What your budget should look like depends on your life right now. If you’re still living at home, you won’t have to worry about rent or utilities, but you might still need to cover things like:
- Your phone bill.
- Car insurance.
- Gas money to get to and from work.
- Going to college.
- A “moving out” fund.
- An emergency fund for car repairs.
How to Create a Budget and Stick to It
Having a budget on paper is great, but sticking to it can be tough if you’re not using the right tools. Here’s what we recommend:- Pay yourself first with automated transfers. As soon as you get your paycheck, transfer 20% or more into a savings account for your moving-out fund.
- Open multiple accounts to keep your money organized. For instance, you could have a savings account for your emergency fund and another for college.
- Track your spending with online banking and your mobile app. Get into the habit of checking your balance two to three times a week to make sure you’re on track with your budget.
- Earmark money for specific things. You can use apps or pen and paper to earmark an amount you can spend on bills or fun things to avoid going over.
Look Into Building Credit
Once you’ve mastered budgeting, it’s time to look into building credit:- Get a secured credit card or a credit card for students.
- Use it for small and regular expenses, like your phone bill or a streaming subscription.
- Set aside a pat of your paycheck to pay the balance off in full every month.
Get Banking Right With Power Financial Credit Union
We have one last tip for making the most out of your first paycheck: Make sure you choose the right financial institution.Banking with a credit union can make a huge difference as you learn to budget. Credit unions have lower fees and an excellent selection of products to help you build your finances.
For instance, at Power Financial Credit Union, we offer:
- Checking accounts with no monthly fees and simple mobile banking tools.
- Savings accounts you can open with as little as $5.
- Credit cards with no annual fees and low interest rates.
- We even offer Student Credit Cards that require little to no credit history.
FAQs
What should I do with my first paycheck?
Start by looking at your pay stub so you understand what was taken out, then make a simple plan for how you’lluse what’s left. Aim to cover your needs first, set aside some savings, and leave a smaller portion for fun spending.