You have officially made it out of college and into the real world, which brings with it a new financial reality. Even if you are excited to start bringing in a regular paycheck, you are likely also facing some new expenses as well, like rent payments and groceries — not to mention student loans.

You may feel like you have plenty of time before you have to start worrying about the financial nitty-gritty. But the sooner you start giving your finances some thought, the better you can set yourself up for the long run.

Figure out a budget