• About
    • Contact
    • Terms of Service
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Write for Us!
  • Advertise

Money Propeller

Propelling you toward your money goals by discussing lifestyle, career and savings.

  • Authors
  • Career
    • Career
    • Education
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Clothing
    • Food
    • Housing
    • Sports
    • Weddings
    • Travel
  • Money
    • Money
    • Investing
    • Saving
    • Stories
  • Observations
  • Link Ups
  • Blogroll

7 Things to Buy When You Graduate University

By Anne 17 Comments

7 Things to Buy When You Graduate University

Ahhh, graduation. The culmination of years of effort and likely your sole target since you were waist high. Now you get to jump feet first into the life of adulthood.

Believe it or not, skate shoes and jeans aren’t appropriate work wear, in most places. Plus, you likely have to get out there and get a job, unless you have managed to secure one already. Here are 7 things you should buy when you graduate university, in no particular order.

7. A Nice Jacket

Jackets are tricky, because they are so expensive. However, you are going to need a nice jacket to wear to interviews, at a minimum. If you work in an office which requires business attire, you are going to need season-appropriate outerwear all year long. You will need a minimum of a lightweight spring and summer jacket, a winter wool jacket or overcoat and a rain jacket. Purchase the one that makes the most sense for the next few months first, and plan to set aside the funds to ensure you aren’t under or overdressed when the weather changes!

6. One Week’s Worth of Office Clothes

As a student, I spent a lot of time in sweatpants. As a young professional, my wonderfully comfortable sweatpant collection does not see terribly much use, relegated to the rare evening or weekend day. Over time, I have built up my office-worthy clothing collection.  I am also lucky enough to work in an environment where jeans are perfectly acceptable.

Start your office-wear collection by aiming for a full week’s worth of office clothes, which are primarily new (or new to you, thrift and consignment shops are a fantastic way to acquire the basics). With a few staples, you should be able to mix and match your student wardrobe in and keep yourself dressed appropriately.  Do not let your desire to have all of the latest and greatest put a drain on your finances.  Save Spend Splurge has tips on creating a wardrobe for new graduates both for men and for women.

If you buy a whole new wardrobe today, you will be tired of it or risk feeling dated after a year. Add to your collection slowly, picking things up on sale and over time. The longer you spend in an office environment, the more you will know if you need warmer summer shirts because the A/C is always cranked, or if the grime of the subway is too gross when it comes to light coloured clothes.

5. Contents/Renter’s Insurance

Going from being a student to being an adult, you need to make sure that you have insurance. Tsk tsk if you weren’t covered by any insurance while you were in school. For some, like me, my contents were covered under my parent’s insurance, but when I was no longer a student and lived on my own, I needed to get my own insurance.

Despite trying to avoid lifestyle inflation, after you graduate and start working, the value of your possessions is likely to increase, as you pick up a few things that you couldn’t afford as a student. Perhaps it will be a new commuter bicycle, some hobby related stuff, a fancy gaming computer, or a new flatscreen TV.  Over time, you will have more and more things which will require insurance. As a renter, you want to make sure you are covered, should anything happen. Get insurance now, and each year when it is up for renewal you can re-evaluate your coverage situation.

4. A Haircut

As you start a new job, venture forth on interviews and leave the awesome cocoon that is university, look polished, professional and give yourself a little boost of self-confidence by getting your hair cut.

3. A Travel Coffee Mug

This is a money saver and a convenience factor. You probably already have a travel coffee mug, but make sure you have one that is in decent shape and perhaps not covered with stickers. If you are the kind of person who needs a healthy dose of caffeine in the morning to be up and at’em, make sure you’ve had that first cup prior to arriving at work. Set your coffee maker to start when you wake up, so you can have some java to go, while keeping your budget in line.

2. Briefcase or Large Handbag

You want something professional, which is easy for you to carry day in and day out. It needs to be big enough to fit your lunch, because you’re going to be brown bagging your lunch each day, of course. Take a look for an affordable briefcase or handbag on Amazon.

1. Health Insurance

No matter where you live, chances are once you finish school, you are on your own when it comes to health insurance. Figure out what you need to do, whether that is paying monthly provincial MSP premiums, like in BC, picking up dental coverage, or drug coverage. If you are on any prescription medications, they may have been partially subsidized by your school, by your school’s medical plan or by your parent’s medical plan. The sooner you get your health insurance situation sorted out, the less likely you are to be fully out of pocket for medication and the sooner you can start taking advantage of your new benefits.

Read the fine print, to make sure you don’t have to pay in for six months prior to claiming, or anything like that, then get a plan.  If you get a job with benefit coverage quickly, you can cancel your insurance, but many places do not have coverage until you are done your first three months, so the sooner you have your own, the better.

There are a lot more expenses that come up in adult life, but tackling this list of things will get you started standing on both feet.  Try to ask for some of them as graduation presents!

Filed Under: Clothing, Education Tagged With: 7 things to buy, graduate, university

About Anne

Anne dreams of financial independence and is working her way towards it, whilst still enjoying life. She has a penchant for gift giving, which got her started with her first blog, Unique Gifter. She also loves money (who doesn't?) and needed an outlet to discuss it. Her likes? Seafood, figure skating, road cycling and skater shoes.

Comments

  1. MakintheBacon says

    August 1, 2014 at 19:15

    I LOVE my Contigo water bottle and travel mug. Lol.

    I remember when I got my first professional office job, my mom took me shopping for office clothes. I only had one suit which I pretty much wore from using constantly for co-op job interviews during school. I think I must have spent $500-$600 on a new office wardrobe. That’s the only time in my life I spent that much money all at once for clothes. Me, not being a shopper, almost had a heart attack.
    MakintheBacon recently posted…Going 50/50 When Buying An Engagement RingMy Profile

    Reply
    • Anne says

      August 2, 2014 at 10:35

      Haha, I bet! I usually only pick up one thing here or there. When I was younger, my Mom would take me out for a mostly-entirely-new wardrobe!

      Reply
  2. Kalen @ MoneyMiniBlog says

    August 1, 2014 at 05:57

    Travel mug, yes! Also, the jacket was a great idea. For men, if you only get one jacket, go for a charcoal color. It matches most everything, even brown/khaki colors. Good stuff here!
    Kalen @ MoneyMiniBlog recently posted…How to Pay Off Your Debt: The Debt Snowball Vs. The Debt AvalancheMy Profile

    Reply
    • Anne says

      August 1, 2014 at 07:08

      That’s a fantastic point – versatility is key, especially for expensive things like jackets!

      Reply
  3. Mel @ brokeGIRLrich says

    July 31, 2014 at 18:08

    I second the coffee mug. And definitely spring for a GOOD one. I’ve wasted so much money on cheap ones that leak or don’t keep the coffee cold or burn your hands. I’m honestly still searching for the perfect mug that can take a licking and still not spill.
    Mel @ brokeGIRLrich recently posted…Accountability: July 2014My Profile

    Reply
  4. Jason @ Phroogal says

    July 29, 2014 at 12:43

    Definitely need a writing pad for interviews. I’ve had many graduates who come in empty handed. It seems ill prepared. It’s an interview/meeting you definitely want to take notes and come prepared with some written questions. But only ask the questions that haven’t been addressed.
    Jason @ Phroogal recently posted…5 Reasons Why You Need Multiple Income StreamsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 29, 2014 at 13:52

      Fascinating… I took that as a given, myself! We have a nice leather one at home, that I think was purchased for interviews right out of university.

      Reply
  5. Daisy @ Add Vodka says

    July 28, 2014 at 18:52

    I took a business program so it was crucial for me and my peers to have professional clothing for presentations, of which we were required to do at least one per class per semester. I also lived on my own throughout my entire education so I had most of these things covered anyway!
    Daisy @ Add Vodka recently posted…The Day of the Good Money LuckMy Profile

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 29, 2014 at 07:24

      We just had to wear a nice knit sweater and jeans… The business folks always had fancy clothes at my school, too!

      Reply
  6. Chaz at CLH says

    July 28, 2014 at 15:57

    Good recommendations. Replacing the 99-cent Walgreen’s flip flops with something a bit more adult and sophisticated may not be a bad idea either. At least move on up to the $14.99 ones! A lot of accidental networking can happen when you’re just out for a quick errand.

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 29, 2014 at 07:23

      Ha! That’s a hilarious, but likely true, suggestion!

      Reply
  7. DC @ Young Adult Money says

    July 28, 2014 at 11:29

    Like Stefanie, I think these are good things to start buying prior to graduation. There’s really no reason NOT to get a head start on these things, and I would recommend people start drinking coffee in college because it’s a “better” (as in healthier) source of caffeine than soda and energy drinks.
    DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted…You Won’t Believe What Started as a Side HustleMy Profile

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 28, 2014 at 12:39

      Haha – and I tell people to try to avoid drinking coffee for as long as possible! (and energy drinks, too)
      Anne recently posted…Grocery Prices Across North America + CASH #GiveawayMy Profile

      Reply
  8. Alicia says

    July 28, 2014 at 10:39

    Yeah, this was super intimidating for me when I finally graduated from college. There were so many things to get that seemed just so unnecessary as a student. I tried to pick up as many things as I could in those last few months of school, but it took a while (and I’m still working on the clothes thing), but I’m mostly an actual adult now that takes care of her own responsibilities 🙂
    Alicia recently posted…Tackling Another Closet Purge.My Profile

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 28, 2014 at 12:44

      🙂 Good on you. I also had nearly zero clothes for adult activities. Going to industry luncheons usually involved wearing the only outfit I could possibly put together to wear, when I was in grad school.
      Anne recently posted…Grocery Prices Across North America + CASH #GiveawayMy Profile

      Reply
  9. Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life says

    July 28, 2014 at 07:56

    I think it’s a good idea to get a head start on some of these pre graduation. I know I needed a lot of professional wear for my internships in summers between college.
    Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life recently posted…Couponing Like A New YorkerMy Profile

    Reply
    • Anne says

      July 28, 2014 at 12:45

      Having internships would help a ton for building an appropriate wardrobe and whatnot! I didn’t have any, so basically had to go from zero to hero.
      Anne recently posted…Grocery Prices Across North America + CASH #GiveawayMy Profile

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Follow Us:


Subscribe today and receive our calculator for free!

On Your Mark, Get Set, Blog!

airbnb

advertise here

vayable

Free Money!

Tangerine Refer a Friend Open a new Tangerine Account with $100 using my Orange Key 23676924S1 and we both get a free $25.

Popular Content

The 20/10 Rule that Does Wonders!

Airbnb is an affordable and flexible way to travel

Stock up and save big! Have fun while saving your pennies

Affiliates

Money Propeller is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Money Propeller also participates in other affiliate programs from time to time. That means that if you click through a link and make a decision to purchase, Money Propeller will receive some compensation from the vendor, at no cost to you.

The Bottom

You made it all the way to the bottom! Thanks so much for reading.
Did you know that The Bottom is the name of a town on the island of Saba, in the Caribbean? I went there on a trip once.
The other bottoms I think about are my own bottom, and the bottom of the champagne bottle. Often when I find the bottom of the champagne bottle, my own bottom grows. Funny, that.

Thanks for reading!

- Anne

Disclaimer

The content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice. Should you need such professional advice, consult a licensed financial advisor or tax advisor. This website may be compensated by companies mentioned through advertising, affiliate programs or otherwise. Please click here for disclosure full details.
Copyright Money Propeller All Rights Reserved
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT