Living Independently
The resources on this page are designed to assist you with understanding your needs and lifestyle choices as an independent adult just out of college. Though they are not designed to be comprehensive, they should give you a place to start as you begin life after St. Olaf. In no way does this constitute legal or financial advice. For personal and detailed financial advice, consult a certified financial advisor. For legal advice, consult an attorney.
Living arrangements
- How to find the right living arrangement for you
- My First Apartment- the hunt, moving in, money, roommates, etc.
- Online Apartment Listings (apartments.com, forrent.com, move.com, apartmentguide.com, rent.com, mynewplace.com)
- Use your local newspaper for finding individuals subleasing a house or apartment
Understanding employment benefits
Ask your Human Resources representative to go over these, and any other, benefits you may receive with your position. Make sure to get clarification on the policies and don’t be afraid to ask questions- benefits can be complicated!
- Overview of common benefits
- Health insurance
- Retirement plans
- Life insurance
- Vacation, sick time, or PTO (Paid time off)
General money management tips, tools and resources
- iSeek Reality Check Tool- This interactive tool is a fun way to identify the cost of your desired lifestyle. (Designed for living in Minnesota)
- Money Tips for Recent Grads
- General Financial Articles from Young Money
- More for your money
- Living within your means
- The benefit of spending less calculator
- Home budget calculator
- Salary calculators
Loans, credit and debt
- Buying a car 101
- Paying back federal student loans
- Understanding your credit report
- Understanding your credit report and score
- Your 5 minute guide to credit cards
- Your 5 minute guide to managing debt
Savings and retirement planning