The best tip someone gave me that I didn't listen to was -Don't buy a car as soon as you get that first job. When you land your first real job and you are finally getting a paycheck for your hard work (as opposed to school) it is so easy to march into the car dealership and start test driving.  And just because you got approved for a $25k vehicle doesn't mean it is right for your budget. Give yourself time to adjust to your new pay check and decide what really matters.  Save for a trip to Cabo with your college buds?  Pay down some student loans?  Put more into your 401k?  Because once that car payment starts, it just keeps coming. That college car you've been driving for the past five years starts to look pretty cool once you see your bank account growing instead of disappearing. -Anonymous