---
title: Best Money Tricks for New Grads
description: From paying bills to saving for retirement, us new college grads learned a few tricks.
authors:
  - name: Katie Meyer
    url: https://money.com/author/katie-meyer/
    at_money_since: 2016
    articles: 7
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    former_staff: true
published: '2016-05-19T13:42:07.000Z'
modified: '2024-04-17T01:58:56.000Z'
section: Education
tags:
  - Adulting Guide
  - College
  - New Grads
word_count: 170
canonical: https://money.com/best-money-tricks-for-new-grads/
type: Article
source: structured-blocks
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![Businesswomen leaning on table discussing plans](https://img.money.com/2016/05/gettyimages-4508142911.jpg)
*Two businesswomen leaning on table discussing architectural plans in office*

*For this three-part video series, we asked recent college grads working at* Money *and Time Inc. for their best advice to the Class of 2016. Here's what they told us they've learned about handling money (now that they finally have some).*

Stretching those early paychecks as far as they can go (and sometimes beyond) is a common theme among our recent grads. Among their favorite tricks:

**Pay yourself first.** That is, have some money automatically taken out of your paycheck and put into savings before you ever see it.

**Avoid late fees.** Pay your credit card bill the day you get it, and before you can forget it, one staffer suggests.

**Plan ahead for big bills.** For example, put some money from every paycheck aside for your rent.

**Look for untapped assets.** Have extra room (or at least a sofa)? Consider renting it for some extra cash to supplement your salary.

*Other videos in this series:*

**[*New Grads' Biggest Money Mistakes*](https://money.com/new-grads-biggest-money-mistakes/)**

***[The Most Valuable Thing I've Learned Since College](https://money.com/most-valuable-thing-learned-since-college/?xid=homepage)***

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