{"id":57656,"date":"2017-08-07T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/"},"modified":"2023-10-18T13:04:35","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T17:04:35","slug":"we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self","status":"publish","type":"rbc_my_money_matter","link":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/","title":{"rendered":"We Ask Twelve Graduates: &#8220;What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-single-article-header\">\n\t<section class=\"section-grey cover pad-t-hlf\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-inner w-half w-mob-full centered-margin cover section-grey pad-tb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/savings\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Savings<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 mob-pad-lr-hlf h2 has-black-color\">We Ask Twelve Graduates: &#8220;What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?&#8221;<\/h1><p class=\"mar-b-0 mob-pad-lr-hlf author-text\">By Christine Nguyen<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\t<div class=\"article mar-t-dbl\">\n\t\t\t\t<section>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-inner socials-section\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-socials-bar mob-mar-b-hlf\">    <div class=\"social-links mob-mar-b-hlf mob-mar-t-hlf\">\n            <a class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-custom sharing-email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=We Ask Twelve Graduates: &#8220;What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?&#8221; &#038;body=Hi, I thought you might be interested in this article from RBC My Money Matters: https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-email.svg\"\n          alt=\"envelope icon\">\n        <span>\n          Email        <\/span>\n      <\/a>\n      <div class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-copy-wrapper\">\n        <button class=\"sharing-custom sharing-copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-related.svg\"\n            alt=\"copy icon\">\n          <span id=\"sharing-copyUrl-Label\">\n            Copy URL          <\/span>\n        <\/button>\n        <input type=\"text\" class=\"sharing-copy-text\" aria-labelledby=\"sharing-copyUrl-Label\">\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-inner w-half w-mob-full centered-margin pad-tb-0 mob-mar-t-hlf mob-mar-b\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cover-pub-line text-xs mar-b-hlf\">Published August 7, 2017 \u2022 4 Min Read<\/p>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block pos-rel\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block section-inner w-half w-mob-full\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<p>The good news is that you&#8217;re not alone. We asked 12 recent graduates what advice they would give to their freshman selves that would&#8217;ve helped them navigate their first year at school a little more smoothly. Here is what they had to say:<\/p>\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7521\" alt=\"Christian, McGill University; Civil Engineering, 2011\" title=\"Christian, McGill University; Civil Engineering, 2011\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img><\/p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Do Frosh and Orientation week. It was one of the best experiences in my first year and I met so many of my friends there. Tutorials are also a good place to meet people from your program and a way of making friends and form study groups.&#8221;<\/i><b><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>Christian, McGill University; Civil Engineering, 2011<\/b><\/p>\n\n[hr]\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Althea-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7522\" alt=\"Althea, University of Toronto; French Linguistics and History, 2014\" title=\"Althea, University of Toronto; French Linguistics and History, 2014\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Althea-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Althea-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img><\/p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Your student loan is a loan \u2014 use it properly and don&#8217;t go spending it. It&#8217;s not free money.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n\n<p><i><\/i><b>Althea, University of Toronto; French Linguistics and History, 2014<\/b><\/p>\n\n[hr]\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Kailee-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7523\" alt=\"Kailee, Ryerson University; Photography, 2015\" title=\"Kailee, Ryerson University; Photography, 2015\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Kailee-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Kailee-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img><\/p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Focus more on learning and less on getting good grades. There was so much I missed because I was too focused on memorization and studying. I wish I had just listened to my professors rather than transcribed every word they said.&#8221;<\/i><b><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>Kailee, Ryerson University; Photography, 2015<\/b><\/p>\n\n[hr]\n\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Alison-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7524\" alt=\"Alison, University of Guelph; Studio Art, 2016\" title=\"Alison, University of Guelph; Studio Art, 2016\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Alison-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Alison-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Don&#8217;t buy food at school. Bring a lunch from home. Food at school&#8217;s expensive and it&#8217;s not that good.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n\n<p><i><\/i><b>Alison, University of Guelph; Studio Art, 2016<\/b><\/p>\n\n[hr]\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Shai-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7525\" alt=\"Shai, University of Laurier; Kinesiology, 2014\" title=\"Shai, University of Laurier; Kinesiology, 2014\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Shai-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Shai-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img><\/p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Get involved with extracurricular activities. I was involved in different sports and clubs and you meet really good people in those areas who know how to balance their lives, who are always pushing themselves to be better. That&#8217;ll inspire you and push you to be better yourself.&#8221;<\/i><b><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>Shai, University of Laurier; Kinesiology, 2014<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>University of Laurier; Teacher&#8217;s College, 2015<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>George Brown College; Chef&#8217;s Skills Training, 2016<\/b><\/p>\n\n[hr]\n\n<p><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christine-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7526\" alt=\"Christine, OCAD; Graphic Design, 2015\" title=\"Christine, OCAD; Graphic Design, 2015\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christine-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christine-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Learn how to do your taxes. School will teach you calculus, but not how to do your taxes. It&#8217;s a crucial aspect that people need to learn how to do in their everyday life, especially for me since I&#8217;m self-employed now.&#8221;<\/i><b><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>Christine, OCAD; Graphic Design, 2015<\/b><\/p>\n\n[hr]\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Lindsay-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7527\" alt=\"Lindsay, University of Waterloo; International Development, 2012\" title=\"Lindsay, University of Waterloo; International Development, 2012\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Lindsay-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Lindsay-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img><\/p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Have a social life. Learn balance and prioritize your friends and doing things, because you&#8217;re going to take those behaviours with you. If you don&#8217;t learn these positive behaviours in university, it&#8217;ll affect your life after you graduate.&#8221;<\/i><b><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>Lindsay, University of Waterloo; International Development, 2012<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>Simon Fraser University; Public Health, 2016<\/b><\/p>\n\n[hr]\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Bethany-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7528\" alt=\"Bethany, Humber College; Public Relations, 2015\" title=\"Bethany, Humber College; Public Relations, 2015\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Bethany-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Bethany-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img><\/p>\n\n<p>&#8220;<i>Pay off what you owe \u2014 school bills, phone bills, rent, food. Then pay yourself to save for the bigger things \u2014 a house, a car. Then pay yourself a second time for things that help you invest in yourself, like traveling, memberships to different groups, a class, starting a business. The rest you can spend on material things, like clothes.&#8221;<\/i><b> <\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>Bethany, Humber College; Public Relations, 2015<\/b><\/p>\n\n[hr]\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Maria-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7529\" alt=\"Maria, George Brown College; Marketing, 2016\" title=\"Maria, George Brown College; Marketing, 2016\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Maria-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Maria-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img><\/p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Accept help from other people and reach out to peers or seniors in your program. A lot of people will keep to themselves and not ask for help, but don&#8217;t try to figure it all out on your own because independent learning is not as easy as it seems.&#8221;<\/i><b><\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>Maria, George Brown College; Marketing, 2016<\/b><\/p>\n\n[hr]\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Ian-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7530\" alt=\"Ian, McGill University; Philosophy and Literature, 2013\" title=\"Ian, McGill University; Philosophy and Literature, 2013\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Ian-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Ian-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img><\/p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;The most important skill set you will ever acquire is the ability to learn, un-learn, and re-learn as we move to a world of flexible specialization. If anyone was ever to deride my B.A., I happily counter that my Philosophy was training in Strategy and my Literature was training in Marketing, which allowed me to navigate the world of entrepreneurship.&#8221; <\/i><\/p>\n\n<p><b>Ian, McGill University; Philosophy and Literature, 2013<\/b><\/p>\n\n[hr]\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Michoel-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7531\" alt=\"Michoel, Concordia University; Human Relations, 2016\" title=\"Michoel, Concordia University; Human Relations, 2016\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Michoel-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Michoel-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img><\/p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;Always do your readings and keep up with your class work. It sounds like a simple thing but as long as you do it you&#8217;ll be way ahead than most of your classmates.&#8221;<\/i><b> <\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>Michoel, Concordia University; Human Relations, 2016<\/b><\/p>\n\n[hr]\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"2053\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Deborah-33.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-7532\" alt=\"Deborah, Western University; Media, Information &#038; Technoculture, 2014\" title=\"Deborah, Western University; Media, Information &#038; Technoculture, 2014\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Deborah-33.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Deborah-35.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/img><\/p>\n\n<p><i>&#8220;You come first, always. Before academics, before work, before money. Mental health is #1. If it takes you longer to graduate, then do that.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n\n<p><b>Deborah, Western University; Media, Information &#038; Technoculture, 2014<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>First year will be one of the most transformative years of your adult life and you&#8217;ll learn valuable lessons both in and outside of the classroom. While it&#8217;s impossible to have it all figured out right away, you can prepare yourself with helpful advice from other students that have been through it. Additionally, these <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/student-solution\/?ref=dl-107138\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tools and resources<\/a> can help guide you through post-secondary life.<\/p>\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-abab2af9-242d-495b-8bd3-1c24451cc115\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-rbc-default-collapsible\"><p><button class=\"collapse-toggle collapsed\" data-target=\"#collapse834a1009\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse834a1009\" data-dig-id=\"LP-57738-834a1009\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"accordion closed\" action-closed=\"accordion closed\" action-opened=\"accordion open\" data-dig-label=\"Things our lawyers want you to know\"><span>Things our lawyers want you to know<\/span><span>Things our lawyers want you to know<\/span><\/button><\/p><div class=\"collapse-content collapse\" id=\"collapse834a1009\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-collapsible-inner-block collapse-inner\">\n<p>This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-7dec75c4-6e49-40b2-8b86-23a3f82ae498\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center h5 mar-b\"><strong>Share This Article<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"socials-block\">\n\t\t\t    <div class=\"social-links mob-mar-b-hlf mob-mar-t-hlf\">\n            <a class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-custom sharing-email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=We Ask Twelve Graduates: &#8220;What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?&#8221; &#038;body=Hi, I thought you might be interested in this article from RBC My Money Matters: https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-email.svg\"\n          alt=\"envelope icon\">\n        <span>\n          Email        <\/span>\n      <\/a>\n      <div class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-copy-wrapper\">\n        <button class=\"sharing-custom sharing-copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-related.svg\"\n            alt=\"copy icon\">\n          <span id=\"sharing-copyUrl-Label\">\n            Copy URL          <\/span>\n        <\/button>\n        <input type=\"text\" class=\"sharing-copy-text\" aria-labelledby=\"sharing-copyUrl-Label\">\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-977762e2-5208-4491-95bb-3922414a3ab0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-single-post-topics related-topics-links\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"h5 mar-r-hlf\">Topics:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/education\/\" class=\"btn topic mar-t-0 mar-r-qtr mar-b-hlf\">Education<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/savings\/\" class=\"btn topic mar-t-0 mar-r-qtr mar-b-hlf\">Savings<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block pos-rel mob-pad-t-dbl\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block section-inner\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading mar-b mob-mar-b-dbl mar-t-0\" id=\"h-read-this-next\">Read This Next<\/h2>\n\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"related-posts-type-2\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"related-post-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"grid-wpr eh-wpr\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class= 'grid-one-third grid-tb-full grid-mob-full mar-b'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"col-wpr mar-b-0 mar-r-0 mar-l-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"postcard-img-ctr post-card-image col-md-12 col-xs-6 mob-mar-b-0 pad-l-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"721\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_624590444.jpg?quality=80&amp;w=1024\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Two people smiling and holding shopping bags after a shopping trip\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_624590444.jpg 5213w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_624590444.jpg?resize=300,211 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_624590444.jpg?resize=768,541 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_624590444.jpg?resize=1024,721 1024w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_624590444.jpg?resize=1536,1082 1536w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/03\/shutterstock_624590444.jpg?resize=2048,1443 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-details mob-mar-b-0 mob-mar-t-0 pad-r-0 col-md-12 col-xs-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy primary-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tManaging Expenses\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/what-is-lifestyle-creep-signs-examples-and-how-to-stop-it\/\" class=\"card-title h4 mar-t-0\">What is Lifestyle Creep? Signs, Examples and How To Stop It<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class= 'grid-one-third grid-tb-full grid-mob-full mar-b'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"col-wpr mar-b-0 mar-r-0 mar-l-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"postcard-img-ctr post-card-image col-md-12 col-xs-6 mob-mar-b-0 pad-l-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"930\" height=\"620\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-account-matchmaker_402x-2.jpg?quality=80&amp;w=930\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-account-matchmaker_402x-2.jpg 930w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-account-matchmaker_402x-2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-account-matchmaker_402x-2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-details mob-mar-b-0 mob-mar-t-0 pad-r-0 col-md-12 col-xs-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy primary-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/banking-basics\/account-types\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAccount Types\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/banking-basics\/account-types\/account-matchmaker-should-you-get-a-chequing-account-savings-account-or-both\/\" class=\"card-title h4 mar-t-0\">Account Matchmaker: Should You Get a Chequing Account, Savings Account or Both?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class= 'grid-one-third grid-tb-full grid-mob-full mar-b'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"col-wpr mar-b-0 mar-r-0 mar-l-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"postcard-img-ctr post-card-image col-md-12 col-xs-6 mob-mar-b-0 pad-l-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"930\" height=\"620\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-what-empty-nest_402x-2.jpg?quality=80&amp;w=930\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Father with young adult son sitting together in a living room, smiling and laughing conveying a sense of togetherness and harmony\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-what-empty-nest_402x-2.jpg 930w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-what-empty-nest_402x-2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-what-empty-nest_402x-2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-details mob-mar-b-0 mob-mar-t-0 pad-r-0 col-md-12 col-xs-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy primary-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/life-events\/finances-and-relationships\/parenthood\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tParenthood\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/life-events\/finances-and-relationships\/parenthood\/when-adult-children-move-back-home-how-parents-can-protect-finances-and-relationships\/\" class=\"card-title h4 mar-t-0\">When Adult Children Move Back Home: How Parents Can Protect Finances and Relationships<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<style class=\"advgb-styles-renderer\">\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-abab2af9-242d-495b-8bd3-1c24451cc115 {\n\t\theight: 96px;\n\t}\n\n\t@media ( max-width: 640px ) {\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-abab2af9-242d-495b-8bd3-1c24451cc115 {\n\t\t\theight: 30px;\n\t\t}\n\t}\t\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-7dec75c4-6e49-40b2-8b86-23a3f82ae498 {\n\t\theight: 96px;\n\t}\n\n\t@media ( max-width: 640px ) {\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-7dec75c4-6e49-40b2-8b86-23a3f82ae498 {\n\t\t\theight: 30px;\n\t\t}\n\t}\t\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-977762e2-5208-4491-95bb-3922414a3ab0 {\n\t\theight: 60px;\n\t}\n\n\t@media ( max-width: 640px ) {\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-977762e2-5208-4491-95bb-3922414a3ab0 {\n\t\t\theight: 30px;\n\t\t}\n\t}\t<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We asked 12 recent graduates what advice they would give to their freshman selves that would&#8217;ve helped them navigate their first year at school a little more smoothly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":57275,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[81,48],"rbc_content_type":[31],"rbc_audience":[49],"rbc_lob_group":[50],"rbc_difficulty_level":[33],"rbc_mmm_category":[302,303,348,328,312,306],"class_list":["post-57656","rbc_my_money_matter","type-rbc_my_money_matter","status-publish","hentry","tag-education","tag-savings","rbc_content_type-article","rbc_audience-students","rbc_lob_group-students","rbc_difficulty_level-beginner","rbc_mmm_category-debt-stress-relief","rbc_mmm_category-goals-aspirations","rbc_mmm_category-going-to-college-or-university","rbc_mmm_category-managing-expenses","rbc_mmm_category-school-and-career","rbc_mmm_category-struggling-to-make-ends-meet"],"acf":{"contently_publication_id":"107138","custom_author":"Christine Nguyen","rbc_video_header":"","rbc_media_duration":"","rbc_toc_for_mmm_tag":"h2","rbc_toc_for_mmm_limit":6,"rbc_toc_for_mmm":null,"rbc_toc_for_mmm_action":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We asked 12 recent graduates what advice they would give to their freshman selves that would&#039;ve helped them navigate their first year at school a little more smoothly.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"RBC Royal Bank\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-10-18T17:04:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"RBC\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/person\/565fe74483a298c05d1be363c890c7b0\"},\"headline\":\"We Ask Twelve Graduates: &#8220;What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?&#8221;\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-08-07T16:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-10-18T17:04:35+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/\"},\"wordCount\":712,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Education\",\"Savings\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/\",\"name\":\"We Ask Twelve Graduates: \\\"What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?\\\" - My Money Matters\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-08-07T16:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-10-18T17:04:35+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"My Money Matters\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Debt and Stress Relief\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Struggling to Make Ends Meet\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Managing Expenses\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":5,\"name\":\"We Ask Twelve Graduates: &#8220;What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?&#8221;\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/\",\"name\":\"RBC Royal Bank\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/person\/565fe74483a298c05d1be363c890c7b0\",\"name\":\"RBC\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"RBC\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_description":"We asked 12 recent graduates what advice they would give to their freshman selves that would've helped them navigate their first year at school a little more smoothly.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/","og_site_name":"RBC Royal Bank","article_modified_time":"2023-10-18T17:04:35+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/"},"author":{"name":"RBC","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/person\/565fe74483a298c05d1be363c890c7b0"},"headline":"We Ask Twelve Graduates: &#8220;What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?&#8221;","datePublished":"2017-08-07T16:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-10-18T17:04:35+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/"},"wordCount":712,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg","keywords":["Education","Savings"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/","name":"We Ask Twelve Graduates: \"What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?\" - My Money Matters","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg","datePublished":"2017-08-07T16:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-10-18T17:04:35+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/08\/Christian-33.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"My Money Matters","item":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Debt and Stress Relief","item":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Struggling to Make Ends Meet","item":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Managing Expenses","item":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"name":"We Ask Twelve Graduates: &#8220;What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?&#8221;"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/","name":"RBC Royal Bank","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/person\/565fe74483a298c05d1be363c890c7b0","name":"RBC","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"RBC"}}]}},"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"We Ask Twelve Graduates: &#8220;What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?&#8221;","url":"http:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/managing-expenses\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":""},"articleSection":"Uncategorized","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"RBC"}],"creator":["RBC"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"RBC Royal Bank","logo":""},"keywords":["education","savings"],"dateCreated":"2017-08-07T16:00:00Z","datePublished":"2017-08-07T16:00:00Z","dateModified":"2023-10-18T17:04:35Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"We Ask Twelve Graduates: &#8220;What Advice Would You Give Your First Year Self?&#8221;\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\\\/en-ca\\\/my-money-matters\\\/debt-and-stress-relief\\\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\\\/managing-expenses\\\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\\\/en-ca\\\/my-money-matters\\\/debt-and-stress-relief\\\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\\\/managing-expenses\\\/we-ask-12-graduates-what-advice-would-you-give-your-first-year-self\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"\"},\"articleSection\":\"Uncategorized\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"RBC\"}],\"creator\":[\"RBC\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"RBC Royal Bank\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"education\",\"savings\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2017-08-07T16:00:00Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-08-07T16:00:00Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-10-18T17:04:35Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rbcroyalbank.com\/p.js"},"featured_img":false,"coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/author\/fclaussen\/","display_name":"RBC"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 9 years ago","modified":"Updated 2 years ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on August 7, 2017","modified":"Updated on October 18, 2023"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on August 7, 2017 12:00 pm","modified":"Updated on October 18, 2023 1:04 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","tax_additional":{"post_tag":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/education\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Education<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/savings\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Savings<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Education<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Savings<\/span>"],"slug":"post_tag","name":"Tags"},"rbc_content_type":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/content-type\/article\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Article<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Article<\/span>"],"slug":"rbc_content_type","name":"Content Types"},"rbc_audience":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/audience\/students\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Students<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Students<\/span>"],"slug":"rbc_audience","name":"Audiences"},"rbc_lob_group":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/lob-group\/students\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Students<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Students<\/span>"],"slug":"rbc_lob_group","name":"LOB Groups"},"rbc_difficulty_level":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/difficulty-level\/beginner\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Beginner<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Beginner<\/span>"],"slug":"rbc_difficulty_level","name":"Difficulty Levels"},"rbc_mmm_category":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/debt-stress-relief\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Debt and Stress Relief<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/goals-aspirations\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Goals &amp; Aspirations<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/going-to-college-or-university\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Going to College or University<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/managing-expenses\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Managing Expenses<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/school-and-career\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">School and Career<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Struggling to Make Ends Meet<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Debt and Stress Relief<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Goals &amp; Aspirations<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Going to College or University<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Managing Expenses<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">School and Career<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Struggling to Make Ends Meet<\/span>"],"slug":"rbc_mmm_category","name":"Categories"},"ep_custom_result":{"linked":[],"unlinked":[],"slug":"ep_custom_result","name":"Custom Results"}},"series_order":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"primary_tag":"48","primary_rbc_mmm_category":"328","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_my_money_matter\/57656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_my_money_matter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rbc_my_money_matter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_my_money_matter\/57656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81342,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_my_money_matter\/57656\/revisions\/81342"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_my_money_matter\/57275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57656"},{"taxonomy":"rbc_content_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_content_type?post=57656"},{"taxonomy":"rbc_audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_audience?post=57656"},{"taxonomy":"rbc_lob_group","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_lob_group?post=57656"},{"taxonomy":"rbc_difficulty_level","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_difficulty_level?post=57656"},{"taxonomy":"rbc_mmm_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_mmm_category?post=57656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}