Seven ways college students can manage their finances — because money decisions impact financial security when starting a first job after graduation

Heading off to college is exciting, but it also involves new adult responsibilities.

That makes it a great time to start getting comfortable with credit, building healthy spending habits and learning how to manage money .

It’s important for all students to build a solid foundation in managing their finances, said Sara Wilson, director of product innovation at Student Connections, an organization that helps students overcome financial barriers.

“You have to consider the financial decisions you make in college because they impact what your financial security is going to be once you enter your first job,” Wilson said.

If you’re starting college this fall or you’re currently a student, here are some expert recommendations: 1.

Start building your credit College is the perfect time to start building your credit score, said Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate at Credit Karma.

A credit score is a mathematical formula that helps lenders determine how likely you are to pay back a loan.

Credit scores are based on your credit history and range from 300 to 850.

A low credit score makes it more complicated or more expensive to obtain car loans, mortgages, credit cards, auto insurance, and other financial services.

“College is an ideal time to start building a credit report, because the earlier you start, the more time you have for that credit to build and then work in your favor when you eventually need it, whether it’s for a loan or an apartment,” Alev said.

Alev recommends starting your credit card journey with secured credit cards.

These credit cards are opened with a one-time deposit that serves as collateral.

This first deposit is usually returned when the user closes the account with zero balance or when they move to an unsecured credit card with the same bank.

Another starting option is student credit cards, which are easier to qualify for and tend to come with lower credit limits.