Student loans, first paychecks and small wins, from just north of Chicago
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What my share of my parents' car insurance pays for
Insurance & Adulting

What my share of my parents' car insurance pays for

June 14, 2025

I send my dad $95 a month for my 2012 Corolla. I finally read the declarations page to see what that money act…

A $38 birthday picnic for Priya at Gillson Park
Cheap Fun & Self-Care

A $38 birthday picnic for Priya at Gillson Park

June 5, 2025

Sandwiches from Trader Joe's, a borrowed blanket and a sunset over Lake Michigan. A birthday that felt special…

Paying my parents $300 a month: what it covers
Budget & Paychecks

Paying my parents $300 a month: what it covers

May 27, 2025

My parents didn't ask for rent. I insisted. What the $300 covers, what it doesn't and how we settled on the nu…

The Rogers Park apartment I left, and what it really cost
First Apartment

The Rogers Park apartment I left, and what it really cost

May 18, 2025

My $925 share of a two-bedroom near the lake, plus everything nobody puts in the listing. The real monthly tot…

Paid off: the $2,350 credit card from my Rogers Park year
Paying Off Debt

Paid off: the $2,350 credit card from my Rogers Park year

May 9, 2025

Takeout, a couch and a few too many rideshares, at 27.24% interest. How I cleared the balance in three months …

Am I really covered on my dad's health plan until 26?
Insurance & Adulting

Am I really covered on my dad's health plan until 26?

April 30, 2025

I turn 26 in November and had never read a word of the plan I'm on. What the rule actually says and when my co…

Moving my $1,800 emergency fund to a 3.8% savings account
Credit & Banking

Moving my $1,800 emergency fund to a 3.8% savings account

April 21, 2025

My savings sat in a big-bank account earning almost nothing. How I picked an online savings account and what i…

Ten free things to do on the North Shore in spring
Cheap Fun & Self-Care

Ten free things to do on the North Shore in spring

April 11, 2025

Lakefront walks, the Green Bay Trail, library passes and a park I'd ignored for years. My free list for April …

All six of my student loans in one spreadsheet
Paying Off Debt

All six of my student loans in one spreadsheet

April 2, 2025

$24,600 spread across six federal loans at rates from 2.75% to 5.05%. How I listed them and what the interest …