Growing my emergency fund to $9,000 on my own rent
Three months of real apartment costs is my new target. Where I stand at $7,400 and the automatic transfer that…
My credit score is 765: what moved it this year
A lease, a new car policy and steady autopay. The score changes since spring, the dips and why one inquiry bar…
How Dan and I split costs without a joint account
We've been together almost a year and earn different amounts. How we split dinners, trips and groceries withou…
A separate checking account just for rent and bills
One account for fixed bills, one for everything else. How I set up the split before moving and how much buffer…
Getting my credit ready for an apartment application
Landlords check credit, income and history. What my 752 score and my reports looked like before I applied, and…
Moving my checking to a credit union in Skokie
My old checking account started charging $12 a month. Why I switched, what the switch took and the one direct …
Autopay on everything so I never miss a payment again
One late payment in 2023 still sits on my credit report. How I set up autopay for every bill and the calendar …
Why I kept my first credit card open after paying it off
My oldest card has a $1,500 limit and no annual fee. Why closing it would have hurt my score and how I keep it…
My credit score went from 668 to 709 in three months
I paid off one card, set up autopay and didn't open anything new. The month-by-month score changes and which m…
Moving my $1,800 emergency fund to a 3.8% savings account
My savings sat in a big-bank account earning almost nothing. How I picked an online savings account and what i…
Pulling all three credit reports for the first time
A 668 score, one late payment from 2023 and a card balance I'd been ignoring. What I found and what I disputed…