Make the Most of Your Time At Home After College

Are you worried that you may get too comfortable with living at home or may not be able to save enough money to get your own place and end up 30 years old, living in your parents’ basement? Don’t worry. You won’t if you take these steps to insure that you are moving towards your goals:

• Get up at a normal time, and the same time every morning, just as you would if you were going to work. Don't get used to sleeping in; you can sleep in on the weekends.

• Schedule one job search outing each day. It can be an interview, a trip to the library to do research, a trip to Kinkos to copy resumes, anything. It can be a lunch date with an acquaintance that has an interesting job you want to learn more about. Make sure it’s something that gets you out of the house.

• Complete one job search task each day. And it can't be "surfing the Web to research the industry." Yeah, nice try! No, you need to create a product: a cover letter sent in with your resume, a thank you and follow up letter, or a letter or email requesting an informational interview.

• Get some type of work. You may not have looked for a part-time job because you are interviewing for jobs, but you can still do some work. You'll feel better about yourself and you'll have some cash. Here are 10 ways to roundup some extra dough:

1. Sign up with a temporary agency. You can opt to take work that fits around your job search schedule, and temping is a great way to find a permanent job
2. Substitute teach
3. Have your parents get out the word that you are available for babysitting, house-sitting, or yard-work
4. Tutoring independently or through a company. Post fliers in and near local schools and colleges
5. Become a dog walker for pet owners who don’t have time. Post fliers where people typically walk their dogs
6. Waiting tables or bartending. They are classic post-college jobs, but great communication skill builders
7. Working in retail. May not be the most exciting work, but there are always store discounts to look forward to
8. Giving your opinions. Call companies that do market research and offer to participate in a focus group. They pay cash and typically meet in the evening
9. Work the phones. Sign up with a telemarketing company that pays you on commission for what you sell
10. Freelance writing. If writing has been a strong point of yours or you have a particular area of knowledge, let that work for you. Newspapers and other publications are always looking for good content and it pays well too

• Do some kind of exercise each day. You will feel physically and emotionally healthier each day if you take care of your health and stay fit.

• Try to connect with a friend each day, someone from school or someone from home. Don't withdraw just because you are not working or are in a crappy job. Stay connected with the important people in your life.

Also, take note: Moving back home to get your finances on track only works if you're disciplined. If you're saving on rent but you're spending more money on other things like entertainment, new tech toys or a brand-spankin' new SUV, you're not really saving much. In that case, grow up! Moving out could be just the impetus you need to finally take your finances seriously.

Action: Create a plan for how you will spend your time at home and set a move-out date to help you stay focused on your goals.

Up Next: Preparing for the Apartment Hunt

This is an excerpt from Deciding Where to Live After College Guide which is included in our Real World 101 Care Packages. Visit our Care Package page to find out how to get one for yourself or for a lucky college grad!