When it comes to saving, aim at socking away 20% of your income, suggested Tana Gildea, a certified financial planner and author of The Graduate's Guide to Money.
Half should go into what she called a "short-term freedom fund" and the rest is for long-term goals and retirement. The freedom fund will make unexpected expenses manageable.
"If you can consistently set your life to be able to save 20% in total, you are getting a firm foundation for your financial security," said Gildea.
If 20% feels like too much, start out small, but increase the amount every year.
