By Destinee Whittington, Mayor Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program

Saving money is usually not the first thing on a young person’s mind. Many young people enjoy the freedom of having no financial responsibility, so they spend money without thinking twice. As a young person, I’ve been told to save money but no one has ever taught me why it’s important to save. Here’s why saving money as a young adult is important.

Debt can be a heavy weight on your finances. It can hinder your spending in the short term and cause your savings to fall far behind in the long term. Fortunately, by making a few financially savvy decisions, it’s not impossible to pay off debt while contributing regularly to your savings.