Money sucks. Not having money sucks more. Worrying about money is something that, once you realize you're an adult, with people depending on you, it's something you're going to do all the time. It sucks. It can keep you up nights. It can make you get into fights with your significant other. It's just awful. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make it suck less. Make two checking accounts and a savings account . If you are living with a significant other, then make 3. One is your bill-paying account. Take the check card that they send with that one and cut it into a thousand pieces. You're not going to carry it around with you. If you share your life and your bills with someone else, this one is a joint account. The other account(s) is where you put your discretionary income. Finally, you have a savings account. Make a budget . Figure out how much you have to spend on bills each month. Add around 10% as a cushion. Somewhere along the way. If you...
If you're in my generation, and I'm betting younger, there comes a day when you wake up and say to yourself, "Holy crap! I'm apparently an adult!" You realize that your parents were making all of this up as they went along. The other thing you'll realize that that you have no idea how to be an acceptable adult. Learn from my mistakes and maybe be a more acceptable adult than I am.