Teens and young adults have plenty of things to consider when it comes time to plan for college, think about getting a driver’s license, land the first job, and many other life-changing decisions. While there are no two situations that are exactly alike, most teenagers face a relatively common set of basic challenges and dilemmas as they pass out of the late childhood phase into young adulthood. For most, the central issue is money.
The entire concept of personal finances is really at the heart of topics like getting a job, figuring out how to pay for college, finding a car to drive, and so many other everyday obstacles and milestones. Selecting a paying job can have major consequences in terms of later career choices. Navigating through the college choice process, which includes coming up with a way to pay for school, is the first test for many people along the road to becoming responsible adults. Consider the major decisions that nearly every teenager must make before moving into the world of post-college careers and social life.
Earning Money
Part of embracing life as a teenager means recognizing that you need to start earning your own money at least to a certain extent. Long before high school is over, most young people must deal with several decisions related to earning money. Not only do they have to choose a part-time job that pays well enough to meet their financial needs, but they also must do a bit of budgeting. Everyone has a different set of financial obligations, some of which include car insurance premiums, car payments, spending money, and similar needs. Another consideration can be finding a job that prepares you for a future career. That’s why summer jobs at law firms, medical offices, construction businesses, and accounting firms are in such high demand.
Getting & Paying for a Degree
Obtaining and financing a four-year degree is a daunting hurdle for many youngsters who realize the necessity of higher education. Fortunately, taking out a student loan to cover some, most, or all of the related expenses for college is the most efficient path for the vast majority of future graduates. However, it can be tricky to figure out in advance how much the monthly payments on an education loan will be. To crunch the numbers in a simple, streamlined way, most prospective college attendees use a helpful tool like the Earnest student loan calculator to get a reasonable estimate of what their post-graduation obligation will be each month. Utilizing the power of a calculator is the smartest approach for responsible applicants who prefer to know how much they should borrow to offset the total cost of attending a college or university.
Cars, Driving, and Insurance
A majority of all teens discover a way to gain access to a car. Some borrow the family vehicle, while others opt to save enough money to purchase a reliable used one. But there are numerous chores that go along with that main goal, including taking a driving test and passing it, buying an insurance policy, and having enough spare cash to pay for fuel, repairs, and normal upkeep of the vehicle. For a large number of young adults, getting a driver’s license and a car are the core challenges of their pre-college years.
Where to Get Good Advice
You have to know whom you can trust. The roster of eligible candidates varies based on circumstances. For teens who have large families or who attend big-city schools, the best sources of dependable advice are parents, older siblings, academic counselors, older friends, trusted adults, and job supervisors. A wise strategy is to begin with parents and relatives and then branch out from there, taking points from each source and developing your own plan of action for particular decisions.
Health
All sorts of health-related decisions can shape a younger person’s life. They include making serious choices about whether or not to use tobacco, alcohol, or other substances that can have profound effects on one’s entire life. Additionally, teens should think long and hard about the potential impact of risky behavior, exercise habits, and getting enough sleep. For those who are still on their parents’ medical insurance plans, it’s important to have an in-depth discussion with moms and dads about your desire to get regular checkups. But for so many young adults, simply avoiding the social pressure to smoke or use illegal substances is the primary way to maintain good health.