 TITLE: Celebrities, Recent Graduates Weigh in on Personal Finances CONTENT: Most College Grads Feel Optimistic About Their Finances\n-------------------------------------------------------\nDespite the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis, recent college graduates are optimistic about their future and finances. When asked how they feel about their future generally, 74% of survey respondents said they felt optimistic and hopeful. When asked specifically about their finances, a smaller yet still significant portion of respondents—64%—reported feeling equally positive.\nIn our current economic climate, sentiments like these are promising. Digging deeper with this group of consumers, it was clear that most felt positive about the future, although money was still a concern. More than half of respondents—51%—said that having enough money to support their lifestyle impacted how they thought about their future.\nWhen asked what \"firsts\" (first experiences) they are looking forward to most post-college, 43% reported being most excited about getting an \"adult\" job. Another 40% of those asked said they looked forward to \"feeling independent.\"\nMany respondents seemed to have aspirations of putting their finances first as they embarked on their careers. Nearly half—44%—said they would use their paycheck from their first job for saving. Another 35% said they planned to use their earnings for investing—a sign that these recent grads have financial security in mind. END