How to Manage Your Money in Your 20s?
20多岁的年轻人应该如何理财？
王淑怡 供稿
When it comes to money, today’s 20-somethings have to grow up fast. Between student loans, pressure to start saving early for retirement and expensive urban housing markets, those first paychecks are in demand and there’s little room for error. It’s not too late to start developing healthy financial habits.
说到钱，如今20多岁的年轻人需要学学如何理财了。他们既负担着学业贷款，还面临着提前开始为退休做打算与昂贵的城市房价的压力，在这种情况下，他们的第一份薪水显得尤为重要，容不得半点差错。现在开始培养良好的理财习惯还为时不晚。
1.Create a Financial Plan
1. 制定财务计划
A financial plan can include everything from your career plan to your retirement plan. If that feels like too much, then start out with a five-year plan. Where do you want to be in five years? What do you need to do financially to get there?
财务计划可以包括从职业规划到退休计划的所有内容。如果感觉太多了，就从五年计划开始。五年后你想去哪里？为了达成这个目标，你需要在经济上做些什么？
Then break it down into yearly and monthly goals and steps. Be sure to include long-term goals like retirement as part of your plan. This may include going back to school to get your education to help with your next career goal.
然后把它细化成每年和每月的目标与步骤。一定要把退休等长期目标纳入计划的一部分，其中可能包括接受再教育以帮助你实现下一个职业目标。
2.Save Regularly
2. 定期储蓄
Determining how to save money can be a challenge for a 20-year-old. To simplify the process, have part of your paycheck deposited regularly into a savings account.
对于20多岁的年轻人来说，决定如何存钱可能是一个很大的挑战。简单的做法是，将你的部分薪水定期存入银行储蓄账户中。
Your first savings priority should be establishing an emergency fund large enough to cover three to six months’ worth of living expenses. You don’t have to build that fund overnight. Start by setting smaller, more attainable savings goals, like 2000 yuan every month, and grow it from there.
首先，应当建立一个足以维持你三到六个月生活开支的应急基金。建立应急基金不需要立即完成，可以一步一步来，从设定更小、更容易实现的储蓄目标开始，比如每月2000元，并在此基础上不断增长。
An emergency fund is essential if you are single. It can be the thing that save you from being homeless if you were to suddenly lose your job. It can help cover unexpected expenses and take the worry and weight off.
如果你是单身，应急基金是必不可少的。哪天你突然丢了工作，应急基金不会让你沦落到无家可归的地步。它可以用来对付突如其来的开销，减轻突降而至的烦忧。
For people living on one income, a year's worth of expense is a good goal. This will give you time to find a new job without too much pressure.
对于只靠单一收入维持生活的人来说，应急基金可以设为一年的开销。这会给你充裕的时间去找一份新工作，而不会有太大压力。
3.Focus on Climbing the Career Ladder
3. 专注于事业发展
Now is a great time to focus on the career ladder. It takes time and hard work to move up. Make clear goals and determine what you need to do to reach them.
现在是一个专注于事业发展的好时机。晋升需要时间和努力。制定明确的目标，然后确定你需要做些什么来实现它们。
It may mean switching companies, moving to another city or going back to school. It may mean that you do side work or create a professional network and find a mentor to help you reach that goal.
这可能意味着换公司，搬到另一个城市或者重回校园，也可能意味着你要做份兼职工作，或者建立一个职业关系网，或者寻找一名导师来帮助你实现这个目标。
Break down the steps for the career path you want to take and start taking them. It is okay to switch directions at some point and choose to go a new direction if you find a better fit for you. Dreams can change, but the key is to keep moving forward toward that dream.
列出并实施职业规划中所需的步骤。如果你找到一个更适合自己的方向，有些时候改变方向去选择一条新的道路也并不是不行。梦想可以改变，但关键是要在梦想的道路上持之以恒。
4.Save for Retirement
4. 为退休存款
Saving for retirement might not seem urgent when it’s decades away. However, contributing early and regularly means that you can get by with contributing a lower overall percentage of your income and you do not need to worry about catching up later. It makes sense to plan as though you are going to be responsible for your retirement on your own. This allows you to save enough and will leave you prepared. Ultimately, it may help you to be able to retire early. Doesn’t that sound alluring? Make plans and save for the future!
现在离退休还有几十年的时间，似乎还不用急着为了退休而存钱。但是，提前定期缴纳养老金意味着你只需以较低的百分比缴纳就可以了，而且，也不需要担心以后需要高额补交。明智的做法是，你要按照自己退休养老的打算去做计划，这样可以让你存够钱并且做好充分准备。最终，你或许还能提前退休。听上去很诱人吧？那就制定计划，为未来存够钱吧！
【VOCABULARY】
1.paycheck n. 工资支票; 工薪
2.deposit v. 存钱；储蓄
3.savings account 储蓄帐户
4.side work 兼职