Illustration by Andy Marlette

The caps have flown.

The tassels have faded from windshield rays.

The degree is under glass on your parents’ office wall.

The four years (OK, maybe five) of cramming and procrastinating and Ramen-noodle eating are over.

You are a college graduate.

But if you don’t feel quite like an adult yet, you’re not alone. Twenty-somethings just like you are facing the post-grad blues. At least 30 percent of them are either living at home or will likely return in the next few years, thanks to student loan payments, credit card bills and entry-level paychecks.

Visa USA has dubbed this age group the “Plastic Generation” or “Gen P,” based on its incessant dependence on credit and debit cards. Plastic payments — including online spending — now account for 50.4 percent of the spending among consumers in their mid-20s, with cash and checks making up 41.1 percent of their spending, Visa reports.

While in college, students become accustomed to swiping away dad’s credit card limit or extra student loan and scholarship money.

The problem occurs when dreams of post-grad fortunes don’t materialize right away.

The average college student is now more than $20,000 in debt at graduation. The average salary for a newly minted graduate, meanwhile, is $30,000.

University of West Florida graduate Becky Anderson, 25, knows that realization all too well. She calls the years right after graduation the “quarter-life crisis.”

“You think that piece of paper’s going to open so many doors for you,” she said. “It does, but you also have to work just as hard — harder, actually — than you ever did in school. You have to learn to take care of yourself.”

Anderson is working to pay off some $15,000 in student-loan debt. What’s hardest to swallow, she said, is that none of that money went to tuition. Her Bright Future Scholarship took care of that. She used the student loans to help pay for a car, rent and “God only knows what else,” she said. “Shoes, maybe?”

Unable to find a job in her field locally, Anderson now interns and works two other part-time positions as a waitress and babysitter.

“It’s humbling,” she said. “But you’d be amazed at how many of my friends are in the same boat.”

As they brave the winds of financial uncertainty, it would seem like an inopportune time for Anderson and her friends to start chipping away at their debt. But financial advisors say otherwise.

Liz Pulliam Weston, MSN’s money honey, provides these explanations for why twenty-somethings are in the best debt-reducing years of their lives:
-You’re used to living on the cheap. If you can refrain from upgrading your lifestyle, even for a few years, you can make a big dent in your debt and put your finances well ahead of those of your peers.
-You’re flexible. You’re probably willing to do stuff — like have a roommate or take the bus — that would make you crazy when you’re older.
-You don’t have a mortgage to pay. Your income will rise in the future, but so will your expenses — and many of those expenses will be pretty hefty, like your mortgage, braces for the kids or payments on the minivan.
-You'll get used to living within your means. Sound boring? It’s the key to a successful financial life, but many people never learn it. They live paycheck to paycheck their entire lives and never get ahead.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING DEBT, FROM YOUNGMONEY.COM.

1. WRITE IT DOWN. Get a financial record started. Any size notebook will do. Set up the book so that you have a space to write down what you spend and when you spent it. Have another section to keep track of your required expenses for each month (i.e., gas, food). Write down the exact income you expect to have per month whether it be from your parents, financial aid or job. This will enable you to become a better consumer as well as keep track of your funds.

2. CHECK YOUR OPTIONS. Speak with your parents and bank representatives about the different products they offer college students and recent grads. Credit cards are convenient but they can also work against you. Try to use cash when making purchases and save credit cards for emergencies. Track all of your transactions in your financial book.

Warning: Transactions are not usually posted on the weekends, so ATMs can give a false account balance. Sometimes your check/debit cards will work even if the funds aren't available. However, banks often charge a big fee for overdrawn accounts.

3. SAVE THE SLIPS. Keep track of all your receipts — yes, even the ones at the gas station. Place them right into your financial record book. If you are ever charged incorrectly, you'll have proof of what you actually spent.

4. DON'T OVERSPEND. Only buy what you absolutely need. You can always go back to the store and buy more. You never know when a parking ticket or other surprise expense will come up. Start a savings account. Daily necessities tend to eat away at your wallet, so watch what you spend.

5. KEEP IT CLEAN. Organize your license, cash, coins, Blockbuster card and other items in your wallet or purse. An organized wallet makes it easier to keep track of your expenses. Hold on to coupons and discount cards. They'll come in handy when your budget gets tight.

6. PAY UP. Pay your bills in full as they come in. Don't let your credit card balance get out of hand. The interest rates will kick in eventually, and you will owe more than you can afford. Paying the full balance each time will force you to stay on top of your expenses.

DEBT-FREE READING

Check out these books for more, all available at Amazon.com:
- “The Debt-Free Graduate: How to Survive College Without Going Broke,’’ by Murray Baker.
- “Please Send Money: A Financial Survival Guide for Young Adults on Their Own,’’ by Dara Duguay.
- “Money Basics for Young Adults,’’ by Don Chambers.
- “Generation Debt,’’ by Anya Kamenetz.