Most American graduates today wonder why they don’t receive some kind of monetary education in school. They are thrust into the real world, expecting to understand premiums, insurance rates, and interest rates without any warning. As a result, many 20-year-olds make some seriously awful money management mistakes before they hit 30.

Here are 5 ways to make sure this doesn’t happen to you:

1. Student Debt:

We know student debt is incredibly high today. Set up your monthly payments and begin chipping away at your debt the second you land your first job. Student debt is not something you want to push under the carpet.

2. Credit Cards:

Do not give yourself bad credit before you’ve even had the chance to buy a car or a house. Get a card with a small maxed limit, something around $1,500 or so. Be sure to set up reoccurring payments in your bank account so the payment is automatically deducted.

3. Enroll in a 401(k):

If you’re working with a company, enroll in the 401(k) immediately and begin contributing to your retirement. Many times, the company will match your deposits.

4. Emergency Funds:

Life can be full of a lot of unexpected surprises. Some of them include apartment robberies, fires, and eviction. Start an emergency fund that will back you up if anything catastrophic happens.

5. Create a Budget:

Once you find an apartment and map out your work transportation expenses, sit down and measure what you take home every month. Be sure to make a budget that also includes a certain portion being deposited into your bank account. You want to start saving money in your 20s.

Managing money doesn’t have to be terrifying. Slow down, make a budget, and pay off your outstanding loans.