Nobody learns how to manage money overnight. Postponing your first job until after graduation may give you extra study (or party) time, but delaying entry into the workforce may not contribute to a strong familiarity with personal finance. If you never earn a paycheck or pay a bill during college, do you really think you’ll be a natural when you’re on your own?
No one is asking you to fully support yourself while in school, but if you take responsibility for personal expenses, such as cell phone, transportation, and entertainment costs, you’ll learn how to manage your money. Once you move on to the “real” world, these money management skills compound so that the transition to life as a self-supporting adult comes more easily.
Having a job while in school also encourages simple budgeting. Budgeting is the practice of creating a spending plan for your earnings – tracking how much you bring in versus how much you pay out, striving to keep your expenses less than your income. When you budget, you’re deciding how to spend each dollar to avoid overspending, grow your savings, and keep your personal finances in check.