Something else to think about is health insurance, post 26 and no longer on your parent plan. You can get coverage through Equity or SAG once you have enough points to become affiliated with either union. If not you are lucky that in NYS, there are options available through the Obama care exchanges or the Freelancers Union although the Freelancers Union when we looked at it was actually pretty pricey. Of course if a vet, there is the VA, or if/when you become married or a domestic partnership, hopefully your spouse/partner’s plan can cover you,not necessarily an inexpensive option.
All important as younger d had a friend who while in an out of town gig was injured in a head-on car collision by a car the swerved and hit his company vehicle head-on. Several months of in-patient and out-patient care were required and he was lucky that he was able to have health coverage through an Obama ACA exchange and a mom who was a nurse.