One of the first things you'll need to do after you arrive in the United States is open a bank account. A bank account is a safe place to store your money while allowing you ready access to it. When you start settling down, you will have to pay a lot of large expenses such as tuition, rent, and furniture. A bank account will allow you to pay for those things in a safe and convenient way.

There are a number of investment vehicles that are available for you to use in conjunction with your local bank account.

It is important that you establish good credit as soon as possible, and the easiest way to do that is to get a credit card. Credit cards provide convenience, flexibility, and safety. If you need to make a large purchase, you can use your credit card instead of paying in cash or writing a check. This way you have the flexibility to pay for these purchases over time and you have the safety of not having to walk around with a lot of cash. It is easier for you to track your spending since the credit card company will send you a detailed statement every month.