Congratulations! You’ve just graduated. Now what? Some go on a break before finding a job, while others step right into employment search right away. Whatever you choose to do, it is important to think of conserving your resources during these financially difficult times. Here are some suggestions on how to do just that:

Always make a budget and stick to it. This is the most basic idea in saving money, but it is also the most neglected as well. Allocate your resources according to your needs. If you’re living alone, consider the utilities and food as priority.

If you need to pay off school loans, or other debt that you needed to make in order to survive through college, then try to take charge of them right away. This might mean, looking for a job immediately to help pay the loans. Look at how much you owe and the interest rate. Make sure you pay off at least the minimum monthly payments (more would be better). When you’ve found work, re-assess and create a payment plan that would get you off of debts more quickly.

Get rid of credit cards. Keep one for emergency purposes, but never use it for day-to-day spending. If you are paying off loans as what have been discussed above, then creating more debt is not going to help. Cash is more controllable so you use it instead.

Find ways to spend less. This includes shopping for food, clothing, and other leisure items. If you are to socialize, make sure that you do it in your own means. Avoid spending for what you can’t afford.

Save. Even if you are doing part-time work and receiving minimum wage, allocate a bit for your savings. When your financial situation improves, you can eventually increase the amount.