Graduates, It’s Time to Plan: First Steps to Financial Independence

Graduation season is here! Cue the caps flying, proud family cheers, and that sudden realization that you now have to actually manage your money. Whether you’re heading to college, launching a career, or taking a gap year to "find yourself," financial independence starts now. And trust me, it’s better to have a plan than to just hope for the best (which, in financial terms, usually means being very familiar with your bank account balance: $4.37).