Financial Decisions for College Grads

Recent college graduates have some important money choices they have to make soon after graduation. Some articles in the New York Times and on MSN Money Central take a look at a few of these big financial decisions.

Buy a Home vs Rent an Apartment

The subject of the New York Times article, Madison Nipp, is a recent college grad who earned a degree in financial planning. She warns graduates to look past just the price of buying a home and to keep in mind the costs of upkeep, taxes, and insurance. Typically young professionals are on a pretty limited income since they’re just starting out so if they base their estimated expenses on their projected mortgage payments and a bunch of other expenses crop up they could run into a cash flow shortage.

MSN Money reminds graduates that if they go the rental route they need to check into renters insurance that can provide coverage not only for stolen or damaged property but also for liability.

Of course, grads can always move back in with their parents to avoid mortgage payment, rent, or renters insurance.

Where to Find Health Insurance

How to bridge the insurance gap between graduating and getting a job that provides insurance is always a question for college grads.

MSN Money points out one thing that newly hired graduates may not be aware of, that some companies have probation periods before health insurance coverage goes into effect. That, of course, assumes a graduate has a job. In today’s economy, unless you have a degree in engineering or accounting you may be on the job hunt for a while.

Read the entire article.