For May graduates, making your monthly student loan payments may seem daunting. You're just starting out in the "real world" and you're probably facing numerous monthly payments  already, like rent, utilities, etc. Luckily, most student loans come with a nifty grace period—time after you graduate (generally six months) when you don't have to make payments.

However, your grace period is a great time to practice making those payments. That way you're working your student loan payment into your monthly routine. Rachel mentioned a while back that she made this recommendation to her brother.

Instead of letting your monthly payments catch you off guard when your grace period ends, start making payments right away—not to your lender, but to yourself. Then once your payments come due in November (or whenever your grace period ends), you'll be used to making them.

The best part about this practice? You'll have some savings built up. And if there's anything I've learned here in the "real world," it's that an emergency savings  is a must-have!