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How to become Financially Independent
It made me
elated 
"Worked my ass off building a base, then in a fit of frustration, closed off all accounts from outside assistance, to force myself to take the final steps. Things are a bit tighter now, but the freedom is amazing."
How I did it: To begin with, my parents paid for my car payment, car insurance, Toll Tag, minimum credit card payment and then occasional assistance. A total between $600-800 USD a month. I went on a roadtrip with my uncle, a man who I felt was very fiscally successful and responsible and talked to him about what I wanted. We wound up formulating a plan to a)build a career/get a job and b) finish college.
I started by starting a savings account that could have no less than $300.00 in it. Aiming for a pad of $1000 before I started ( i had never saved like that before).
I also resumed a previous habit of paying off CCs every paycheck, then using CCs for my purchases and bills. Because my paycheck was more than I spent, I slowly paid the cards down.
I also started paying to my loan accounts, as if I was the only one paying for it. My parents were still paying towards it, so my money just sat there for a while. I slowly gained confidence to not dip into the savings or the loan accounts. I started removing the "auto drafts" from my credit cards and car insurance to automatically draft from my account, not my parents.
I stopped asking them for money and only asked them for advice.
Eventually I knew that I was able to take care of everything on my own and the only payment I didn't completely take over was my insurance and tolltag. At this point, i got in an argument w/ my parents and told them I didn't need their help.
It was sooner than I hoped, but I had been working towards it for about 15 months or so. I removed their info from my accounts and was completely accountable for all my expenses.
My mom still tried to deposit money for me, even at my refusal, but at this point, it was just more cushion!
Lessons & tips:
The more you dependence you accept, the more you'll be inclined to be dependent. When you force yourself to cut strings, you become creative and learn ways to capitalize on your earnings and opportunities. You think you can't make it on your own, but the truth is YOU CAN. When forced to survive, the survival skills will overcome you and you will find a way to overcome!
-MAKE A PLAN!
-it won't happen over night. don't hate yourself if you overspend or get a bounced check fee. Pick yourself up the next day and work at it.-be responsible!
-it takes discipline
-DONT ASK FOR MONEY
-don't set yourself up for failure. remove opportunities to receive assistance.
-surround yourself by people you look up to!
Resources:
-A 3-year PLAN!
-savings account-steady job
-good roommates that were also responsible(previous ones didn't have jobs!)
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