Spend less than you earn - The more money you’re able to save, the less likely you’ll ever get into debt.
Stick to a budget - The more organized you are with your finances, the better off you’ll be for anticipating big expenses and ensuring you’ll have the money to pay for them. By maintaining a solid budget that takes into account your income and expenses you’ll never get caught off-guard or end up short at the end of the month.
Build your credit - Your credit report is a critical tool for your financial arsenal, even if you aren’t someone who wants a lot of credit cards. Having a good credit score can mean saving thousands on mortgages or car loans and might even be a factor in whether or not you get a job (depending on your industry).
Save more - Having an emergency savings account should be a requirement for everyone looking to avoid debt. Start with a goal of getting a savings account that holds $500 for emergencies only and let compound interest do its thing. Once you hit that goal, shoot for setting aside 6-12 months’ worth of your normal expenses so you can weather any financial storm. Once you’ve got that down, it’s time to start maximizing your investment and retirement accounts. The sooner you start, the better off your finances will be so get to it!