📚6 Money Moves Every Young Adult Should Learn

Most schools don’t teach you how to manage money. You learn about mitochondria and quadrilaterals, but not how a credit card works. That ends here. Whether you’re flipping sneakers, babysitting, or just saving birthday money, your money mindset starts today.

Here are 5 simple moves that will level up your money game before you hit adulthood.

1) Know Where your Money’s Going

It’s not about how much you have—it’s about what you do with it.

Start tracking what you spend, even if it’s just $5 on snacks. Apps like Greenlight or a simple notes app work just fine. Once you see the patterns, you can make better choices.

$$ Legacy Tip: Think before you tap. Will this purchase continue adding value in some way?

2) Learn to Budget Without the Boring Math

Budgeting isn’t punishment—it’s FREEDOM. Try the 60/30/10 rule:

• 60%—> Needs (like phone bills)

• 30%—> Wants (yes, that hoodie)

• 10%—> Save & invest

3) Automate Your Money

The best way to honor your money (and yourself) is to make saving and investing automatic.

When you set up automatic transfers to savings, high-yield accounts, or retirement funds, you remove the “decision fatigue” that keeps most people from paying themselves first.

Think of automation like hiring a personal assistant for your finances: it shows up, does the work, and makes sure your goals are prioritized—even on busy weeks or when temptation strikes.

Benefits of Automation:

• Builds consistency without relying on willpower

• Ensures you’re investing in yourself first

• Creates freedom to focus on your goals, not just bills

4) Understand Credit Before You Use It

A credit score can decide your future: car, apartment, even some jobs. Learn how it works before you get your first credit card. Paying on time = POWER. This means working within the means you’ve outlined in your budget.

Mess it up early? It sticks around for years.

$$ Legacy Tip: Your total debt payments (including credit cards) should not exceed 20% of your take-home income.

In simple terms:

If you bring home $2,000 a month, try to keep all your debt payments under $400. That means your credit card balance should stay low enough that your monthly payment doesn’t eat up your income.

5) Start Earning— Even in Small Ways

You don’t need a 9-5 to make money. Tutor, mow lawns, resell clothes, or make digital art. Every dollar earned builds confidence as well as income.

6) Let Your Money Work for You

The earlier you start saving, the more you make—without lifting a finger. This is the magic of compound interest: your money earns money, and that money earns more. It’s like planting a money tree.

Example: If you invest $20/month starting at 16, you could have $30K+ by your early 30s. (I should have led with that).

Final Word:

Legacy starts with learning. The earlier you make these moves, the more control you have over your future. No one hands you a blueprint—we help you build it.