Comments on: 10 Pieces of Advice College Graduates Are Unaware Of

By: Elijah Williams

Elijah Williams — Sun, 31 May 2015 15:37:00 +0000

Thanks for replying Andrew.

By: TheBeanCountercom

TheBeanCountercom — Sun, 31 May 2015 14:28:00 +0000

It is certainly easier if you are working in private than public accounting as the hours are less intense. However, I wouldn’t let that stop you.

I think the biggest thing is to start small, don’t have crazy expectations. You are just trying to learn/get your feet wet. The money doesn’t really matter at this point.

You can start small with a weekend catering business, anything online with a website, lawn business, car-washing business, leaf blowing, errand running, dog walking, babysitting, bookkeeping/tax, I mean get creative! The biggest thing that holds people back is the thousands of excuses you can make – time, small amount of customers/market, what friends/family think, you are likely to fail. They key is to ignore all that noise and just do it!

By: Elijah Williams

Elijah Williams — Sat, 30 May 2015 13:51:00 +0000

Andrew,

I have a question in regards to having a side business, or what I like to call a “side hustle”. How were you able to work at a Big 4 firm with a side business? Do the hours allow this?

I was thinking maybe after my public accounting career I could work a corporate job while fulfilling my entrepreneurial side goals. Also, would you recommend doing tax preparation or some type of accounting focused side business?

By: TheBeanCountercom

TheBeanCountercom — Fri, 29 May 2015 20:53:00 +0000

I’ll look into that! Appreciate you sharing and for now you can use the page URL. That will usually show up great in a group!

Appreciate the comment and would love to hear about your entrepreneurial activities as a CPA/professor. Email me anytime: andrew@thebeancounter.com

By: TheBeanCountercom

TheBeanCountercom — Fri, 29 May 2015 20:53:00 +0000

Nice! Glad to hear it applies to other ages!

By: TheBeanCountercom

TheBeanCountercom — Fri, 29 May 2015 20:51:00 +0000

Thanks Leonard, appreciate the comment!

By: Leonard Schwinder

Leonard Schwinder — Fri, 29 May 2015 16:17:00 +0000

Great list, Andrew! keep ’em rockin’!

By: TruthIsRelative

TruthIsRelative — Fri, 29 May 2015 16:17:00 +0000

As a college professor, CPA and entrepreneur, any list that I can agree with 7+ out of 10 is a winner. Yours is closer to 10! One caveat, although the most common answer in my class, even financial accounting, is “It Depends”, so some of the answers are subject to individual circumstances (though never lease a car has a 99% approval rating in my book). Also wish you would include a LinkedIn button in addition to Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for easy addition of your posts to our group at Marian University Accounting Student Exchange which ALL my accounting and business students join as part of our curriculum/syllabus.

By: TruthIsRelative

TruthIsRelative — Fri, 29 May 2015 16:11:00 +0000

Great list…even for the not so new grad!

By: TheBeanCountercom

TheBeanCountercom — Fri, 29 May 2015 13:27:00 +0000

Thanks for the comment, I appreciate the criticism.

“Nearly 7 in 10 graduating seniors in 2013 – 69 percent – left school with an average of $28,400 in student loan debt”

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/13/average-student-loan-debt-hits-30-000

You are correct, not “everyone” has student loans. But those numbers are from 2013 and most people did. It’s only gotten worse from there.

Living with parents does help you save some short term cash, but I believe it’s more important to stand on your own two feet and learning to save/earn as an independent adult. Experience the economic circumstance you have and bettering them.

And leasing…. you are right. If you want a new car every few years and don’t mind wasting money paying 15%+ interest, go for it.