Skip to main content
Home
  • About us
    • Our company
    • Our strategy
    • Our purpose
      • Our purpose
      • Our brands
      • Community investments
    • Governance
      • Governance structure
      • Board of Directors
      • Executive Committee
      • Governance documents
    • Compliance
      • Group Compliance
      • Insider Dealing
      • Code of Conduct
      • Speaking up
      • Workplace harassment prevention
      • Financial Economic Crime
      • Know your customer
      • Compliance documentation
  • Investors
    • Annual reports
    • Financial results
    • Presentations
    • Shareholder meetings
      • Annual General Meeting
      • Extraordinary General Meeting
    • Financial calendar
    • Dividend
      • Latest
      • Dividend history
      • Dividend policy
    • Share buybacks
    • Debt and ratings
      • Guiding principles
      • Debt programs
      • Senior notes
      • Capital securities
      • Fixing Schedule Perpetuals
      • Subordinated notes
      • Ratings
    • Investor information
      • Contact investor relations
      • Major shareholders
      • Retail US shareholders
      • Financial and shareholder FAQs
      • Share price tool
      • Financial calendar
      • Analysts
  • Media
    • All news
    • Contact media relations
    • Media kit
  • Sustainability
    • Our priorities
      • Climate change
      • Inclusion and diversity
    • Our approach
    • Our commitments
    • Our ratings
    • Our reports and policies
    • Business conduct
      • Human rights
      • Responsible investment
      • Responsible tax
      • Responsible procurement
      • Government and policy affairs
  • Careers
    • Vacancies
      • Search
    • Why Aegon
    • Inclusion & Diversity
    • Career development
    • Graduates and interns
  • Aegon country websites

    Select another Aegon website from the list of links below.
    • country flag
      Transamerica (USA)
    • country flag
      Aegon Spain
    • country flag
      Mongeral Aegon (Brazil)
    • country flag
      Aegon Asset Management
    • country flag
      Aegon in China
    • country flag
      Aegon United Kingdom

Managing money when starting your first job

September 11, 2019, 14:15 CEST
2 minutes

Breadcrumb

  1. All News

Our new financial awareness series highlights financial well-being for key stages of your life. We begin with a few things you might want to consider when starting your first job.

1. Pay down that student debt

Congratulations. You will now have a salary coming into your bank account, but are you forgetting that student loan? Generally speaking, student loan repayments extend to a period of 10 years. However, who wants to have debt hanging over them that long? To be debt-free sooner, try to pay more than the minimum when payment is due.

2. Try to maintain a positive bank balance

Cash flow, the money that is moving in and out of your bank account, shouldn't be a one-way street. To keep a positive balance, establish where your money goes (e.g. health insurance, phone bills, rent, etc.). Knowing your cash flow will give you an overview of your earnings and enable you to plan your spending wisely.

3. Set yourself a budget

Budgeting can save your bank account from ending up in the red. Differentiate your essentials costs (e.g. housing, food) from the luxury ones (e.g. dining out, entertainment). Once you've settled the necessities, draw up a budget for the month, allowing yourself to splurge only up to a certain amount.

4. Start saving for your retirement

As a starting point, and before signing an employment contract, check whether your prospective employer has an employee retirement. If not, consider building up your own fund. Try to invest at least 10% of your monthly income in your retirement fund. If you aren't able to save up to this amount, try saving 3 to 5%. Your future self will thank you.

5. Make your dreams come true

Who doesn't enjoy a bit of daydreaming? When you think of the future, you might dwell on life's big milestones, whether that is further education, owning a home, taking a world tour or having children. If it brings a smile to your face, make sure you have the cash to make those dreams come true, and start saving now towards your goal.

6. Exercise and healthy living are invaluable

You may feel the need to work long hours and skip breaks to impress your first employer. A dedicated, can-do employee can go far, but not if you put the job ahead of your physical and emotional health. Taking regular breaks, exercising and having an active and healthy life beyond work will allow you to get much further in life.

Share your top financial tips with us

Contact

  • Media relations
  • Investor relations
  • About us
    • Our company
    • Our strategy
    • Our purpose
    • Contact Aegon
  • Investors
    • Annual reports
    • Financial results
    • Presentations
    • Investor information
  • Media
    • All news
    • Media relations
    • Media kit
    • Newsletter sign up
  • Sustainability
    • Our approach
    • Our priorities
    • Business conduct
  • Careers
    • Search vacancies
    • Why Aegon
    • Career development
Site logo
  • Privacy statement
  • Cookie statement
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
Aegon ©2025