There is no time like the present to begin building strong money management habits. Taking control of your finances now will help you create a bright financial future for yourself. Use this checklist as your roadmap toward financial independence.

Learn to budget
A good place to start on your road to financial independence is to learn how to create a budget. Determine what your expenses and income are right now. This will help you understand recurring payments and establish consistent, healthy money habits.

Start saving
Making saving a habit is one of the most important ways to establish financial security and independence. The easiest way to set aside money for your savings goals is to set up direct deposit so that funds from your paycheck are deposited into your account electronically.

Many financial institutions offer sub-saver accounts that can be named based on specific savings goals. Certificates are also a great way to earn more on longer term savings goals, such as for a new car or an apartment.

Open an emergency fund
Unplanned expenses can happen anytime, including parking tickets, car repairs, or a need to travel with friends or family on short notice. An emergency fund will help you to be more prepared to cover these costs without having to use high-interest rate credit cards.

Set up a separate savings account for an emergency and add to it regularly. Remember, these funds should be used only for emergencies, and not for ongoing expenses.

Automate bills and savings
The easiest life hack for achieving financial independence and making life simpler? Take advantage of online bill payment, which allows you to schedule your bill payments to automatically transfer from your financial institution or credit card. You won’t have to worry about missing payments since they will be paid on time for you.