Once you have a job and the money starts coming in, it becomes a lot more tempting to spend your paycheck on activities, restaurants, clothes, and other things you enjoy. I've seen that high school and college students are often the ones who work just to have personal freedom and buy what they want, but it's during these times that people should start saving their money and being responsible about their finances.
When you leave the comfort of school, you are hit with the reality of bills and payments for necessities, like food, electricity, and water. It's not something that students really think about, but these things really should be considered. If you are making an income of any kind, you should be setting aside some money from each check, if available, to put into your future. Even if this just means you giving up a Starbucks every week, or waiting for a clothing item to go on sale, you can save money. Start up a high interest savings account, like ING Direct, and don't touch the money until you need it.
Another thing you should also consider is building your credit. The easiest way to do this is to get a credit card, but make sure you are responsible with your charges. Make a promise to yourself that you will only buy a gallon of gas every month, or that you won't charge more than you can pay from your pocket. You don't want to end up in debt and paying high interest charges. That's an easy way for the money to get robbed from your pocket.
Every dollar counts when you save up for years. Be smart about your finances and make an effort to start saving money from every paycheck.
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