Thou shalt not be broke forever. It just may feel that way when you're first starting out on the road to financial independence.

Managing your finances for the first time can be overwhelming--what with the daily expenses, big-ticket costs such as housing and health care, heavy debts and long-term goals, including your ridiculously distant retirement. But the sooner you start making a financial plan for yourself, the brighter your future will be. "Building habits, especially in your 20s, is so important for long-term success," says John Deyeso, a financial planner in New York City, who works with a lot of younger people.

Here are the 10 things you should do in your 20s to take control of your finances:

1. Develop a Marketable Skill

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Before you can start worrying about what to do with your money, you need to earn some.

Think in terms of your career, not just a job. Because let's face it: You're probably not going to love your first job, and it won't be your last job. But you should try to make the best of it. My first job consisted mostly of