Why early in your adult life? People should begin saving as children.

My parents were sensible. I got my first bank account at the age of five, I think. They paid me some small amount of pocket money (two dollars a week?), and encouraged me to save it up to buy things I wanted, and to worship the magic of compound interest (it helps that interest rates were actually decent in those days). I enjoyed watching the amount in my bank account go up much more than I enjoyed actually buying things with it, so I got into good saving habits.

I can't fathom the idea of an adult (or at least, an adult with a job) not having a mere two grand in their savings account, and certainly not of having negative net wealth (ie credit card debt).

Parents! Teach your children about money early!