As long as you got a boss, you’re not economically independent. As long as you got a mortgage, you are not economically independent. As long as you desire to buy a house, buy a car, or buy x, y, z … you will never become economically independent.
If you’re indefinitely on welfare, a universal basic income, on unemployment etc … you’ll always be economically dependent.
For me, I prize my own economic independence above all. And the easiest way to do it … opt for this Stoic-Spartan-Ascetic lifestyle. I prefer a life of poverty and extreme freedom than a life of uber-extravagance and wealth and economic dependence.