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By Jerry Mooney

We all know the stereotype right? There's a pretty heavily widespread assumption that everyone in their twenties is inevitably going to spend their time totally broke. It's a sad state of affairs that seems to be even more common now than it used to be. There are more graduates coming out of university than ever, and the job market has never been more competitive, leaving thousands of twenty-somethings unable to make enough money to get by. Inevitably this means that they end up spending what should be their first years of true adulthood running back to their folks for help. This just leaves everyone feeling frustrated, and it can be seriously embarrassing to have to to go to anyone, cap in hand because you're struggling financially. But does it have to be that way? Here are a few things that you can do to avoid being broke in your twenties.

Get paid to take surveys

This is one of those things that a lot of people often assume is some kind of scam and a lot of the time they are right. It's incredibly easy for sites to pretend that you're going to be able to earn money doing something simple like filling out surveys. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't legitimate ones out there. By doing a little bit of research, you can find out which ones are legit according to SurveysSay, and you'll actually be able to earn a pretty reasonable amount simply by filling out surveys online. It's not always the most reliable source of income, but it's certainly a useful thing to have on the side if you're looking to boost your earnings a little bit.

Use gig apps

If you're someone with a skill, then you should always try to market that skill as a way to make a living. The  

problem that a lot of people have is that they simply aren't able to build a reliable client base to start earning. That's where apps like Fiverr come in. Apps like this allow clients to connect with people with specific skills and hire them for pretty low prices, hence the name. Apps like this often have you working for a pretty small amount, so it's not a good idea to stake all of your earnings on them, but they are a great way to get your name out there and expand your client list without forcing you to work for free.

Invest your money

Yep, that's right. You might assume that being a penniless twenty-something means that it's impossible for you to have any money to invest but that is not true. If you take a little time to save some money, you can invest any small amount into pretty much anything. Stocks and bonds might sound incredibly complicated, but they're actually quite a bit simpler than you might expect. You'll find that all it takes it to get started with your first investment and you'll get a taste for it, slowly building up a portfolio and ensuring that you always have a financial cushion to fall back on in hard times.