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It's no secret.  Money can be a struggle when you're young with thousands of dollars in student loan debt, and working as the "low man on the totem pole" at your new company for very low pay.

I'm not going to sugar coat it.  For many, money only gets a little easier to handle. It's not their fault either. For whatever reason, money and how to use it responsibly is not something we are all taught. Only those who have mentors with knowledge on the subject or those who research articles like this ever actually understand money in a way that makes it easier to deal with.

Fortunately, that means since you're reading this article, you are on your way to becoming one of those people and are likely to be someone willing to learn what it takes to understand money and how you can make it a stress-free fact of your life.

Here are six simple tips for handling personal finances independently

1. Set a budget

You don't need to track where every penny goes and have your checkbook balanced every night after dinner.

Setting a budget means keeping track of each paycheck and how much of it goes towards your expenses, savings, and then fun things like happy hours, vacations, and shopping.

Your first priority when setting up your budget should be making sure your basic living expenses are covered. this includes things like food, shelter, and utilities.

Most graduates also need to budget for debt payments, most likely in the form of student loans. And some also need to take expenses like transportation and child expenses into consideration. Everyone's situation is different so look at every aspect of your life. Look at how much the expense costs you and prioritize what is most important.

Any remaining money can then be viewed as excess funds to shop, watch movies, go on a date or take a trip.

When first starting out, excess funds might be minimal or nonexistent altogether. But stay disciplined and it will be worth it in the long-run.

If you are lucky enough to make big bucks right out of college, it’s incredibly important to set a budget to avoid lifestyle inflation and debt.

2. Pay yourself first

Start saving money from the very first paycheck, in addition to contributing towards retirement.

Put money in a savings account to build an emergency fund. You should aim to have three to six months of living expenses in savings and easily accessible (i.e. not invested) in case the unexpected happens (such as job loss, medical emergency, car wreck).

Three to six months of living expenses might seem excessive or unreachable, but all you need to start is a small amount. If just $5 from each paycheck goes to the fund, that’s okay. Something is better than nothing if you find yourself out of a job.