Life After College 3

3

READ PART 2
Five must-have pieces in your closet.
Many people ask us what clothing they need to have in their closet. What classical pieces can be used for a few different seasons and be paired up with trendier, seasonal pieces? We have put together this list to help you shop for more classical pieces of clothing:

A Great Looking Suit. Every woman should have one great looking suit. You can wear the uniform to job interviews, client presentations, and important meetings to impress your boss and clients.

A dark suit that looks good on you is a great classic thing and a significant investment.

A Nice Pair of Pants. Everyone has a great, favorite pair of pants. These are versatile pants that you can wear to the office, and you can dress them up a bit and wear them out as well. They are usually dark and made from a material so that they can last for a while. A great pair of pants can be worn in the winter with a cute sweater and in the summer with a summer blouse or a dressy top. For men, start with two pairs of dark-colored denim. You can dress jeans up or down, making them incredibly versatile in most parts of the world. It's essential to choose the best jeans for your body type and make sure they fit. Next up, you want two pairs of slacks. Here are some options to pick from:
Gray flannel is an excellent option for colder climates. This will match pretty much any shirt, jacket, and pair of shoes in your wardrobe.
Khakis are more casual but can work if they fit you well. Chinos are smarter, lighter-weight, and often made in lighter colors like tan, red, and blue.
Commuter pants are slacks in a hi-tech stretch fabric that you can wear on your cycle commute as well as at work. The key is to make sure they're not made in too casual a style.
Finally, you can have one pair of shorts. Just the one. Shorts are incredibly casual and don't look good on most body types. If it's hot where you live, instead of multiple pairs of shorts, look at tropical weight wool trousers. They're just as relaxed and comfortable – and infinitely more stylish.

A Little Black Dress. Every woman should have a little black dress. This is a dress that you look and feel gorgeous in. This is a dress you can use any time there is a last-minute party or a reception that you didn't have the time to buy an outfit for. Your little black dress will save you every time.
A Dress Shirt for Men
Every man should have at least seven collared shirts. These men's wardrobe essentials come in two flavors: dress shirts and collared button-downs.
Dress shirts are more formal and made to wear under a jacket. But how do you identify a dress shirt?
A dress shirt typically has no more than one pocket. It won't have badges or any other decorative features. It'll generally be in a solid color or a stripe or check.

A Great Blazer. A great blazer is also a very versatile piece. It can be worn with pants to the office. It can dress up your regular jeans. You're sometimes you can wear it with the little black dress, just in case you get cold. Sometimes a grey or a dark blazer is appropriate. Other times, it is a brighter blazer that will go with the rest of your things and will add a little color to the rest of your outfit.

When shopping for a blazer, consider other things you have in your closet, as well as the fact that you will be wearing it for a few years.

A Great Coat. A stylish coat goes a long way - you can wear it to work, wear it to parties, and wear it on top of the little black dress to the opera or theater.

Once you have the classic pieces, you can buy cuter, trendier pieces to match, and to wear with them. For example, bright blouses will look great with your dark, classic suit. Enjoy putting together your classic pieces and matching them with the rest of your things.

The power of networking
Networking has long been recognized as a powerful tool for business people and professionals.  Knowing more people gives you greater access, facilitates the sharing of information, and makes it easier to influence others for the simple reason that controlling people you know is more comfortable than altering strangers. The creators of LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have built their empires on the presumption that their social networking tools help people build their networks and remain better connected than ever.

Social networks allow you to learn about other people you might never have known of otherwise.  On LinkedIn, you can build awareness of your products or services, join groups of people with similar interests, search for job opportunities, or look for people who might be qualified to fill a position in your company.  And Facebook enables you to find long-lost classmates or share with friends what you liked about a new film, what you saw during your trip to Venice, or what you ate for breakfast.
But these benefits of social networking, while valuable to some degree depending on how robustly you use these networks, miss the essence of what makes networking such a powerful tool for leaders and other highly influential people.  The research on power and influence shows that well-networked people are three times more influential than people who aren't.  But their ability is based on the social capital they have developed in building relationships with the people in their network—and you can't make sufficient capital with people by merely "friending" them on Facebook or accepting an invitation to connect on LinkedIn.
Networking can be a powerful tool.  It can enhance your ability to lead and influence other people—but only when the people in your network value being connected with you—and value you for more than just one of the hundreds of people in their network.  The power of networking lies in how well they know you, how much they trust you, how much they gain from having you in their system, how frequently you communicate with them, and how many other influential people there are in your network.
Social networks like LinkedIn are useful, but they are no substitute for direct personal connections and the kind of history you develop with people when they have known you for a long time, when they have learned to trust you, and when they have come to value the relationship.

Want to Be More Influential? Improve Your Social Skills
Dale Carnegie got it right when he said that to win more friends and influence more people. You need to improve your interpersonal skills.  Twenty years of research on power and influence shows that people with superior social skills are substantially more influential than people with average social skills.
Being Known
It is significantly easier to influence people you know than people you don't.  So go out of your way to make yourself known.  If you're in an organization, this means increasing your visibility throughout the organization.  Introduce yourself to people.  As you get to know them, let them know who you are.
Being Liked

Sometimes, you know the person you want to influence but aren't as influential as you'd like with him or her because of bad chemistry. We are more inclined to say yes to people we want than to people we don't, which is why friends are more likely to do favors for each other than they are for people they don't know.  So to be more influential, do what you can to be more likable to the people you want to influence.  Of course, we each have whatever physical gifts (or challenges) we were born with, but you should do the best you can with what you have. Proper grooming, posture, dress, and manners go a long way toward making you more attractive to others.  In business, as well as many other walks of life, these things matter.  The same is right with interpersonal behaviors that people like: friendliness, generosity, warmth, caring, and acceptance.  When we act with these qualities, people are more inclined to like us.  Conversely, if we are pushy, arrogant, boastful, self-centered, rude, disrespectful, or otherwise annoying, people will be inclined to dislike us.  Personality is a critical component of likeability.

Learn when to say yes and when to say no now!
Some people say "yes" to everything, "Can you do this?" "Can you help me?" "Will you go there?"
And then there are some whose default is "no" to everything, "You want to come?" "That's a good opportunity" "You want to do that?"
It can be balanced. You can adjust your yes and no. And in that balance can we all find our happiness, as well as seamless opportunities.
The key is self-awareness.
Is Will doing this make me upset?
Is it essential for my growth?
Can I spare that much time?
Is it worth doing?
Don't have a go-to response. Get self-aware and respond to every request or question accordingly. Some can be a "yes." Others can be "no." But every yes and no should be based on your happiness and growth and not on the ignorance of having a default answer.


BAD HABITS YOU DON'T WANT TO PICK UP
Food Habits
"You are what you eat!"
While that statement may be a bit trite and overused, it does have a ring of truth.
If you eat a lot of "comfort foods," you will likely end up beautiful and comfortable, with extra padding around the middle, lounging around all day sweet and lazy.
On the other hand, while cruciferous vegetables may never make your mouth water, they do a heck of a lot to give you energy and increase your health.

The bad eating habits listed below run the gamut, from only overeating to emotional eating, where it is difficult to sense how much food you consume (and you don't care how bad it is for you).
Now let me be clear: I am by no means saying that you can NEVER partake in any of these bad eating habits. That would make for a reasonably dull diet.

But all of these bad habits are a slippery slope.
It is easy to say, "One piece of chocolate today won't kill me," because it won't. But then you start to have chocolate every day. Then the pieces get bigger and bigger, and soon enough, you have a chocolate problem.
If your healthy eating efforts feel like they are being undermined, you may be making some tricky eating mistakes. Several sneaky habits can sabotage your weight-loss efforts. While there are no "bad" foods, there are smarter ways to eat, especially if you're trying to lose weight.

Find out if any of these are trumping your best efforts and learn how to get back on track.
Keeping Tempting Foods Around
It's hard to resist temptation when it's staring you in the face. You're much more likely to grab cookies, candy, or ice cream if it's always in your house. Do yourself a favor and keep tempting foods out of your sight. If you're going to stay irresistible snacks at home, stash them inside a cupboard (maybe on a top shelf?). Keep your fruit displayed proudly out on the counter and pre-chop veggies, so they're ready for snacking.
Skipping Breakfast

You might think that skipping breakfast-a whole meal!-would help you cut calories, but the research says that eating breakfast can better assist you in losing weight. Breakfast eaters tend to weigh less and are more successful at losing weight and keeping it off than those who skip the meal. What's more, people who typically eat breakfast also get more fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C, riboflavin, zinc, and iron.  Not hungry when you first get up? Don't worry. Eating breakfast doesn't have to be the first thing you do each day. Just make sure that when you do eat, your meal will sustain you for a few hours. It should include some fiber and protein.
Distracted Eating

You're eating alone, so you reach for your phone and text, scroll the 'gram, or play games. Or you read the paper, watch TV or use your computer. All of these distractions take your attention away from eating and make it harder for you to experience and tune in to how satiated/full you are. That can lead you to eat more than you're hungry for, either now or later. Aim to be more mindful when you eat and tune into how hungry and full you are.
Eating Straight Out of the Bag

If you're noshing directly out of the package-whether, you're eating chips, crackers, cookies, or ice cream-it's easy to eat several servings without realizing it. A critical step when you're trying to lose weight is watching what you eat-being aware of what and how much you're eating. That's why keeping a food journal is so effective. Get a handle on runaway portions by measuring out a serving…if you want more, measure that too. Being conscious of what you're eating will help you meet your weight goals.
Eating on the Run
You are eating in the car, snacking at your desk, drinking a high-calorie smoothie or latte while walking around-it's all too easy to take in excessive calories if you're eating on the go. To curb this type of distracted eating, sit down to eat.

Bad Spending Habits
Many consumers unknowingly practice lousy spending habits that leave them deep in debt. Learning how to stop bad spending habits and how to stop overspending takes commitment, awareness, and practice.

Chief among lousy spending habits is carrying too much debt. Although some level of debt is expected, taking too much debt can result in dire outcomes.
If consumers are seeking to establish financial security, an excellent place to start is to get serious about debt reduction. Begin by identifying lousy spending habits, make adjustments to reduce cash outlays, and take steps to reduce debt.

The following list identifies some everyday lousy spending habits as well as suggestions to help develop successful money management habits:

1. Failing to Budget
Failing to keep track of income and monthly expenses is a recipe for financial disaster. Consumers that "spend as they go" without planning for upcoming obligations run the risk of coming up short.

Set up a budget by compiling a list of all monthly expenses. Divide the list into two columns:
Necessary expenses (rent or mortgage, food, utilities, phone, car payment, insurance, etc.); and,
Discretionary Expenses (entertainment, clothing, club memberships, etc.)
Next, subtract the two amounts from income. The difference reveals positive or negative cash flow. Cut expenses if overspending. Reduce discretionary costs to increase available cash.

2. Impulse Buying
Retailers today are savvy when it comes to consumer buying habits. There is a reason goods are placed near the checkout, on the shelf at eye level, or marked down. Retailers want consumers to buy, and they understand buying triggers.

Try these tips to learn how to stop overspending and gain control of the shopping budget:

Shop with a list: If an item is not on the list, don't buy it. Unplanned buying equals overspending.
Delay unplanned purchases: Take 24 hours to decide if the purchase is essential.
Shop without your kids: Kid-centric products are placed on shelves at a child's-eye level to entice them to ask parents to buy their favorites.

3. Accruing Credit Card Debt
Credit cards can be lifesavers when emergencies arise, but using them to buy staples such as food, entertainment, and day-to-day bills can result in balances that can quickly get out of control. Limit credit card use to emergencies. Is the unplanned purchase an emergency? If not, don't put it on a credit card.

Coach yourself with cash: Adopt an envelope system for a few months to track where the money is going. Label one envelope for each expense ("food," "gas," etc.) and put the necessary cash for each payment into specific containers. Train yourself to buy food with only the money allocated to food, gas from the gas envelope, etc.

4. Overdrawing Accounts/Late Fees
Banks make big bucks from overdraft fees. (The three biggest banks earned more than $1 billion  in taxes in a single quarter of 2015!) Financial institutions penalize consumers when they slip into an overdraft or make a late payment. Those fees can quickly drain an account.

Set up alerts from checking and credit card accounts that notify consumers by phone or email when minimum balances are met. Most banks and credit card issuers offer this service for free and even provide apps to make tracking balances easier.

5. Paying for Unused Services
One study determined four-out-of-five gym memberships go unused. In most cases, even if club memberships go unused, consumers are expected to pay the monthly dues. Review bank and credit card statements to determine which services are not being used and cancel these memberships. Apply this money toward paying down debt.

6. Emotional Spending
Shopping addiction is a common reaction to the pressures and stress of life. Giving in to the temptation to ease that stress by buying a new outfit, eating out, or impulsively purchasing a big-ticket item can result in a quick emotional "fix." Still, buyer's remorse and adverse financial consequences can follow.

Thinking Everyone Is Mr/Mrs. Right
Do you always seem to go for the wrong guy?
You think he's Mr. Right, but he turns out to be a waste of space in the end.
Perhaps he lets you down by being unfaithful or just won't commit to any kind of recognizable 'relationship.' Maybe he seems high at first but ends up putting you down and maltreating you.
And what's more, you've found yourself putting up with being mistreated by a guy.
Reading the signs
Indeed, you don't know what someone's like immediately, but there are always signs if you are clear-headed enough to know what to look.
The trouble is when you're infatuated or lusted, you don't see the wood for the trees. There are things wrong in the relationship that you just don't want to see.
You make excuses for all those little signs that it just won't work in the lo long term. Or maybe you've been falling into the trap of the 'I'm the one who can change him!' (This is perhaps the most significant relationship trap of them all).
Infatuation stops straight thinking.
Infatuation stops you from thinking straight. Strong emotion makes you pick the wrong guy and prevents you from seeing what's going on. You end up feeling hurt and stupid.
What about all those nice guys?

Then there are the guys you know would be faithful, beautiful partners, but they just don't do it for you. They're 'too nice' and not exciting. But there has to be a middle way; a stimulating and enjoyable long term partner material.
The reason that the 'nice guy' may not always do it for you is that being too cute may also indicate a lack of courage. Women like brave men because brave mates are, from an evolutionary point of view, better able to survive.
So if you are not attracted to a man who seems too kind, there may be good reasons for this, but you need to find a balance.
Developing dating savvy
To find a man you are attracted to but who is also suitable for you and knows how to support you, you need to think about what is important to you then keep your head when you start dating so that you can see what is in front of you.
The common mistakes when dating Mr. Wrong are:
Making excuses for him
Blaming yourself

To avoid this, you need to give him responsibility for his behavior and make him accountable for his behavior. If he flirts outrageously with your best friend, you need to know his response, not a reflection of you.
Falling for the wrong guy - what's important to you?
So if reliability and trust are essential to you, then does his behavior generally meet your criteria? If the answer is no, then you need to look at what's going on and keep a part of yourself detached. Real love takes time to develop - infatuation and desperation blind you.

If you have low self-esteem because of the way you have been conditioned in life, you may get into the habit of going for and staying with men who mistreat you. If this is the case, you need to think about what you need, not what you think you want. The way to do this is to calm down and see it.
Relationships go wrong because people can't see clearly what's going on.

WAYS TO KEEP A BALANCED LIFE (IF YOU DON'T LISTEN TO ANYTHING, LISTEN TO THIS)
Balanced living means having a positive outlook, focusing on good habits, and lowering stress. Everyone longs to be healthy and happy.  While focusing on a healthy lifestyle by exercising and eating right is great for your body, balanced living means protecting your mental and emotional health, too.

Finding balance in life can bring a sense of fulfillment and meaning. Use strategies to help you gain balance and perspective in how you're living your life, such as prioritizing your time, making compromises, and being optimistic. Engage in activities that are healthy and beneficial to you, and that adds meaning to your life. Start or continue a hobby, find meaningful work, take care of your body, and cope with daily stress. Above all, make time for people and activities that are meaningful to you. Enjoy time with family and friends, and find meaningful ways to connect to those you love.
Maintain a schedule. One way to ensure a balanced life is to schedule your time. If you're spending all of your time at work or most of your free time doing one activity, it's hard to maintain balance in all areas of your life. A schedule can help you to balance your time in various fields that are important to you. Keeping a plan can help you accomplish goals and create balance in how you spend your time.

For example, write a schedule based on your priorities each week. You may work a set of hours each week, but spend your after-work time with family, friends, and meaningful activities. Participate in a weekly bowling league, schedule regular dinners with your spouse, and plan time for your kids.
Think about what activities you have to do, enjoy doing, and want to do. Then, try ranking these activities in order of their importance to you and then assign an appropriate amount of time to each event.
Make compromises. You rarely can "have it all," so agreements are necessary to keep yourself (and those around you) happy. It can be hard to balance your own life, but if you have a partner or spouse, children, extended family, and friends, you must also consider their needs alongside your own. However, whatever you deem to be balanced may come at its costs. For example, if you want to focus more on family and less on work, this can affect your job opportunities and income. Decide your goals and primary focus, and know that you will likely make compromises along the way.

For example, if you're a student, you may make compromises for your studies that reduce spending time with friends and having fun, at least for a time. These compromises may be painful but can help you attain a job later.
Think positively. Your thinking can shape how you perceive each day and situation. Maintain a positive approach to life and the changes that come across your path. Reduce your negative self-talk, such as, "I can't do that" or, "They would never pick me" and focus on positive things about yourself or situations. If you tend to expect the worst, find something that can go well and how to prevent bad things from occurring

For example, you may fear the worst if you fail an exam. Say to yourself, "I'll be disappointed if I do poorly. However, I know that I can take more exams and bring the grade up later."
If you start thinking, "This presentation is going to be awful" or "I can't believe I messed up so much," take a step back and focus on the positives. Say to yourself, "I've worked hard, so there's no reason for things to go badly" or, "Even if I messed up, it doesn't mean I'm a failure. I can try again and do better."

Surround yourself with supportive people as well to help yourself stay positive. Try to spend your free time with positive and supportive people and limit your time with negative or critical people.
Have hobbies. Make regular time for activities that you enjoy. Whether you enjoy hiking, stargazing, playing piano, or woodworking, set aside time to engage in fun activities. Having a hobby is one way to feel fulfilled and create a sense of meaning in your life. Make time during your week to engage in your hobby so that it's something to look forward to in your schedule.
Engaging in a hobby is also a great way to make friends and meet others who have similar interests.
If you don't have a hobby, think of something that interests you that you'd like to try. Maybe you'd like to pick up ice skating or karate or knitting.

Spend time with family and friends. It's essential to make time for people you care about. Even when you are busy or stressed, make time to hang out with your friends and family. Friendships can help you lower stress and increase your overall sense of well-being.
Make time for your friends, even when you're busy. A once-a-month volleyball night or karaoke night can help you connect with others and have a great time.

Stay connected with your family. Whether you have children or are near your extended family, make time for the meaningful relationships in your life. Plan activities around holidays such as meals or game nights.
Relax. Daily relaxation is a healthy outlet for stress. Practicing relaxation for 30 minutes each day can help you stabilize your moods and cope with stress more effectively. Instead of letting daily frustrations build over time, relaxation helps you to deal with problems regularly and encourages you to feel calm and centered.

Find a practice that you enjoy and stick with it. Try daily yoga, qi gong, tai chi, and meditation.
Find adequate employment. Find a job that meets your needs on multiple levels. This may include having fulfilling work you enjoy, contributing to or creating something meaningful, or having a job that meets your needs and needs. Think about what needs your job fulfills for you, and whether you want to work there long-term. If you enjoy your job yet, you don't get paid what you need or are required to work overtime often, consider if this job contributes to a balanced life. Keep your work life in balance by finding enjoyment at your workplace and keeping work and other events separate.

Think of all of the things you want from a job and rank them in order of importance to help guide your search and decision making.
Leave work at work. This may mean leaving your laptop at your desk, not bringing it home, or disconnecting emotionally from difficult situations at your workplace. Don't dwell on office disputes or "bad days" at the office.
If your job feels unbalanced in your life, make some changes. You can discuss adjusting your hours, increasing your pay, or transferring to a different department or another job. If this makes you anxious, then you may want to work on some assertiveness training. You can do this on your own, such as by reading books or rehearsing what you will say with a friend, or you can work on becoming more assertive with the help of a therapist.

Connect with spirituality. Whether you are religious or not, a meaningful spiritual practice can contribute positively to life. This can include prayer, meditation, spending time outside, or engaging in or creating a spiritual practice of your own. Connect with others who share similar beliefs with you as a way to build community and practice together.
If you're not sure how you connect with spirituality, explore different paths, and find one that you connect with well. Check out a church, synagogue, mosque, meditation center, or read spiritually-oriented books. Talk to others who have a spiritual practice and ask them how it contributes to their lives.

Taking Care of Your Physical Health

1.Get good sleep. Sleep can affect your productivity at work, irritability, and mood, and how sharp your mind feels. If you have trouble sleeping, consider sticking to a sleep schedule where you go to bed and wake up at the same time, even on the weekends. Have a bedtime ritual that helps you feel calm and relaxed. This can include minimizing screen time, taking a bath, meditating, or reading. Make your bedroom comfortable and restful, and make sure your mattress and pillows suit your needs.
If you tend to let, your mind run free at night, calm your thoughts. Remind yourself that you can address problems in the morning and allow your account to disengage from worries and stresses. Try jotting down what is bothering you, and then you can rest assured that you won't forget it. Keep a pen and notepad by your bed so that you can do this.

2.Keep your body fit. Exercise and physical activity can help your body feel good and age well. Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your mental health and mood. Motivate yourself by doing classes or activities you find fun or working out with a friend. Do something aerobic such as running, biking, dancing, or walking briskly, depending on your ability level. Include strength training in your routine by lifting weights or doing bodyweight exercises like push-ups and sit-ups.
If you're starting a fitness or exercise program, speak with your physician before beginning to make sure you are healthy enough to participate. Start slowly and work your way toward more intensity.

3. Eat nutritious foods. While lots of convenience foods are at your disposal, make an effort to eat healthy and nourishing meals. For example, make half of your plate fruits and vegetables. Incorporate whole grains into your diets such as brown rice, quinoa, bulgur, and oats. Eat lean proteins such as peas, nuts, eggs, and beans. Replace sugary drinks like sodas with water. If drinking water bores you, add some cucumbers, fruit, or lime juice for a little natural flavor.
If the thought of eating more veggies annoys you, find simple ways to add them to your meals. For example, micro chops vegetables and add them to pasta, enchiladas, or dipping sauce.
If you don't enjoy salads, a daily smoothie can help you consume fruit and can help hide greens. Grab a handful of spinach and mix it with your smoothie. While it will likely change the color, it shouldn't affect the taste. Add a scoop of pea protein for a sustained energy boost!
Make sure to work meal planning and grocery shopping into your schedule every week.

4. Avoid addiction. Addictions such as tobacco, caffeine, overeating, gambling, shopping, excessive social media use, drugs, and alcohol can take a significant toll on your overall health and well-being. If you think you have an addiction, seek treatment. Addiction can cause problems with family and friends, at work, in your body, and your personal life. Even if you're not addicted, drinking too much alcohol can cause physical and emotional problems, especially over time.
If you have an addiction, seek treatment. See a counselor or therapist or enroll in an addiction program.


HOW TO POSITIVELY PROMOTE CULTURAL COMPETENCY IN THE WORKPLACE
With globalization and technology on the rise, the workplace is becoming more diverse and connected than ever. In the U.S., groups once considered "minorities" will combine to comprise more than half of the population by 2050. Technological capabilities are now providing greater ease of working remotely, allowing colleagues to work from all over the world.

The growing number of cultures and perspectives present in the workplace can pose challenges to collaboration and teamwork if not constructively addressed. The more employees who can understand and empathize with one another, the more productive you can be.

First, What Is Cultural Competence?
Cultural competence refers to your organization's collective knowledge and understanding of different cultures and perspectives. It's a measure of your workforce's ability to work with people of different nationalities, ethnicities, languages, and religions.

Cultural competence is inherently difficult to quantify and measure. Ensure you're setting employees up for success by first understanding where they're coming from and then equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate in a global context.

Understanding Cultural Competency
Cultural competence comprises a few different dimensions. Consider the following when assessing and working to improve the state of your workplace:

Sensitivity: This component refers to an individual's ability to understand and appreciate cultural differences—in other words, how "sensitive" a person is to of disagreements.

Awareness: Awareness is linked to one's ability to understand how culture can affect thinking, behavior, and interactions.
Skills: Once an individual can appreciate differences and understand how those cultural variations affect the way we interact with the world. Skills are then reflected in their ability to communicate and interact across cultures effectively.

Saving for retirement
Once you're out of college and working, you should start saving for retirement. It may seem like a long way off, but if you don't start now, you'll never reach the finish line. Hopefully, your employer offers a 401(k). Contribute at least enough to get the full employer match if one is available. You'll eventually want to contribute much more than that. Many retirement contributions are made with pre-tax dollars, which might be beneficial to your overall financial situation as it lowers your taxable income. It's best to invest as much money as possible in the earlier years, taking advantage of the compounding effect of investments. $5 contributed every month, compared to $1 donated every month, doesn't sound like a huge difference. For 40 years, that difference will be tremendous.