Become Financially Independent

I’m getting closer… I applied for and got a job in the english department here on campus! It’s so satisfying to see the bimonthly paychecks!! I’m still on my family’s insurance, and they still pay my phone bill, but that’s it.

I would say I’m emotionally independent. I’ve only been moved out of home for a year, but I think I’ve been comfortable on my own longer than that; I traveled solo a LOT from age 16-18. But I’d like to be financially independent. I’m partway there. I’m mostly paying for school myself through money I’ve made and loans. My parents do help with about one fourth of the total costs though. And they pay my phone bill. I would also like to get a car and job. I’m currently just being academic, which I think is most important right now. But I think I should get an on campus job or something within a few semesters. I’d like to know that if for some strange reason I was suddenly cut off from parents, that I would be ok on my own. Also, my boyfriend and I want to get married within a couple years. But I refuse to get married until I can hold my own firs. It just doesn’t sound practical to move my dependency from my parents to future spouse. I don’t want to always have to rely on others.