Become Financially Independent

Been out of university for eight months now, and I have landed enough freelance work in those months to move to a large city, live fairly comfortably, and turn down absolutely every kindhearted offer of monetary help the parents put out there. I think they’re finally catching on that, yes, I do run my own life now, and I’m willing to accept the financial burden that comes with that.

Keep the minimum necessary for fuel & groceries in my checking account, rest in savings, and a few months ago I opened a Roth IRA with monthly deposits. It’s not a lot, but hey, that’s a start. At 21, I could certainly be doing worse.

The only steps I have left towards complete financial independence are taking over my car & car insurance payments, getting on my own healthcare plan, and paying off student loans. The day after graduation I gave my mother back my part of child support she’s been receiving from my dad, and asked her not to give it to me monthly as she had been doing during college.

That felt really wonderful.

Been researching investing methods & whatnot thanks to the book that I finally read (and read again, and again, and again…). Goal for the end of the summer is to have started investing seriously for the future. I’m also saving to move to New York in a high-yield online savings account.

I bought a book on finances and read about half of it before it ended up under my bed. I consider this progress.

Also started an independent savings account that I won’t allow myself to pull anything out of and have been following a budget using Mint online, so I know how much I can save to put away for after graduation. Also, this helps a lot with knowing how much I can spend on groceries, and when I need to tell friends that I just can’t eat out this week. Switched onto my own cell phone plan a few months ago to pay for out of my work-study job at university.

Next, I think I’m going to find that book and finish reading it. Go team.