It took me a few years and a lot of tough lessons, but at 33 I have become a fairly efficient money manager. Planning for the future and striving for financial independence is such an important part of being an adult, and while there are all kinds of ways to do that, they don’t all have to be difficult! So how do I work towards financial independence every day?
My first method is to find ways to save when shopping for essentials. For example, a surprisingly large amount of most people’s monthly budget is spent on fairly inexpensive consumable items such as personal care products and cleaning supplies. I quickly learned when tracking my purchases that by paying attention to the results I got with different products, I could whittle down the amount I spent. Often, that cheap $1 bottle of floor cleaner works just as well as a pricier brand name. And when that isn’t the case, buying a more expensive product actually lasts longer and saves me money over time!
While you may not be a stand-up comedian, you could be a winner in the Capital One Stand Up Stand Off contest on Facebook! All you have to do is go to the Facebook page at 
