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Money habits to make now

Retire couple laughing

Get into these good habits before you turn 18 

Getting paid for the first time is exciting, but what you do with it matters more than you think. The good news? Building solid money habits now, before adulthood fully kicks in, is way easier than you think.  

Here's your no-fuss guide on how to build smart money habits while you’re young.  

Budget: know where your money goes 

You don't need a massive spreadsheet or fancy degree, just split your pay into three buckets: spend, save, future. Even putting 10% of your pay into savings adds up fast.   
Number 1

Super: keep your account active

Got a job? Nice work. Make sure your super’s going somewhere that will grow it. Here's how to take your super to a new job without losing track of it. 
Number 2

Savings: pay yourself first 

A lot of people set up an auto transfer to savings on payday, before you touch anything else. Even $20 a week is $1,040 a year. Future you will be stoked. 
Number 3

Avoid debt traps: buy now, pay forever? 

Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) schemes like AfterPay are handy in theory, however, can spiral out of hand quickly if you’re not careful. If you can't buy it with money you have now, ask if it’s worth it. It’ll save serious stress later. 
Number 4

Stay learning: the more you know the easier it is 

Financial literacy is key. Our Learn Hub has simple guides on super, investing, and financial basics to help keep your finger on the pulse. No jargon, no complications, just the good stuff. 
Number 5

Tax stuff: get your TFN sorted 

For all jobs, you'll need a Tax File Number (TFN) so you can get paid your salary and super. You can apply through the ATO; it's free and only takes a few minutes.  
Number 6

Do yourself a favour for your future

Super isn't just something your parents or grandparents deal with. It’s your money, growing for you right now. It’s actually likely to be one of your biggest financial assets in your life. Generally, if you're under 18 and working more than 30 hours a week, your employer is legally required to pay you super.

That money gets invested and compounds over decades. The earlier it starts, the bigger it gets. It’s not magic, it's just maths.

Check out  how super works  on our Learn Hub, then explore your Future Saver account options.

Ready to take your super seriously?

You’ve got decades of earning ahead of you. Our Lifecycle approach is designed to grow your super as much as possible when you’re young, then tailor your investment mix as you get older.

General advice only. Consider if this is right for you having regard to your objectives, financial situation, or needs, which have not been accounted for in this information, and read the PDS and TMD at aware.com.au/pds before acting.