Step 5: Making Them Believe You're a Functional Adult

Congratulations, you've made it to Step 5 of our 6-Step Guide to Financial Independence from Your Parents!

At this stage, you've likely mastered the art of making a decent cup of coffee and can probably even cook a meal that doesn't involve ramen noodles.

Now, it's time to take the next step: convincing your parents you're a fully functioning adult.

Here's how:

1. Start by creating a "Adult Schedule" for yourself, complete with imaginary meetings, appointments, and deadlines.
2. Use a planner or calendar to make it look like you're busy all the time.
3. When your parents ask to borrow money, respond with a stern, "I'm on a tight budget, sorry."
4. Offer to pay them back "whenever possible."

Next up: Step 6: Paying Rent on Time.