Tips for Recent College Grads

It's the wonderful time of year when lots of college students graduate and join the ranks of the "real world". For most, it probably means paying student loans and getting a full time job. Here are some articles of interest.

• This article on blitizing college debts from MSN Money is at least two years old (I found it when I graduated from college two years ago), but the advice is as good as it was the day it was written.
• This article on building your first budget, also from MSN Money, is good in that it suggests practical percentages that are a little more realistic, especially those with lower-incomes.
• When I've gotten a change in pay, I always want to know how much my paycheck is going to be, after all of the various deductions. I always check out PaycheckCity, where you can plug in your pay, input your state/fed allowances, and input all of the deductions like 401(k) contribution, health insurance and get the net amount.