Personal Finance Tips

5 pieces of financial advice every first-generation American needs

Yanely Espinal

30.08.24

Read time 2 minutes

For many of us who are first-generation Americans, financial literacy isn’t something we learn from our parents - and we’re definitely not taught about money in school! You’re often left to figure it out on your own, and that’s a daunting task when you’re also responsible for helping your family manage their finances.

With so much advice online, it’s hard to know where to begin. That's why I’ve narrowed it down to the five pieces of financial advice you need to know.

1. Budget your own way

Not having a budget is a recipe for overspending. Without a system to track what’s coming in versus what’s going, you’re likely going to spend more than you have. Loans, credit cards, and buy now, pay later services make it easy to overspend without realizing it. This can trap you in a cycle of debt.

The good news is you can choose any budgeting method that works best for you. Most people think a budget has to be a spreadsheet, but that’s not the only way. You can choose between cash stuffing (a trendy way of saving and spending money using cash instead of debit and credit cards), tracking with an app, a daily allowance budget, or even the anti-budget. The key is to find a method that fits your style and stick with it!

2. Cut costs for international payments

If your family is anything like mine, you regularly send money to another country. This can come with high fees and hidden costs, most notably with exchange rate markup. That’s why it’s so important to use a service with transparent fees and the mid-market exchange rate to help you save money in the long run when sending funds abroad.

By using Wise, you can send money internationally in a fast, convenient and affordable way, with complete transparency on the fees you'll pay upfront. No more sneaky, hidden exchange rate markups!(*) The Wise Account enables you to hold 40+ currencies, and send money to over 160 countries across these currencies. It’s free to set up your account, and the Wise app is very easy to use.

3. Build your credit score early

Your credit score is your financial reputation, and it impacts everything from getting a loan to renting an apartment to getting a mortgage, so it’s crucial to take control of your score early. Your parents may or may not have established a strong credit history, but you have a responsibility to build and maintain your own.

You can start by opening a credit card and using it responsibly - that means paying off your balance in full, every month. Carrying a balance does not help your score, and it adds interest fees to your next statement bill, so you should avoid it. Making late payments or missing payments can seriously hurt your credit score. Setting up auto-pay is a smart way to avoid any slip-ups.

4. Focus on accumulating assets

Building wealth is about creating a legacy that will support many future generations. Instead of just thinking about what you can give your kids today, think about what you can build for their future by investing money in brokerage accounts, 529 college savings plans, custodial Roth IRA accounts and more.

There are also other quick and easy ways to maximize your savings and still easily manage your money. Eligible customers can opt-in to receive annual percentage yield (APY)* on your USD balance with Wise’s interest feature.**

As first-generation Americans, it’s natural to want to give our kids everything we didn’t have. But we need to remind ourselves that accumulating assets will benefit not just our children, but our grandchildren and great-grandchildren, too.

5. Educate yourself and your family

Make time to educate yourself on the financial basics. You can listen to financial podcasts, read books, and follow financial creators on social media.

Once you have the confidence in your own knowledge, you will naturally want to share it with your family and community. Financial literacy is a tool that can lift not just you, but your entire family into a more secure future.

*Feature not available to residents of New York or Alaska at this time. Please see eligibility criteria.
**4.85% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on USD balances is current as of January 1, 2024 and is subject to change certain limitations apply see Program Agreement for details.

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.