Johan

Hello there, I hail from Canada but for the most part our Credit score system mimics yours down in the states. I currently run a credit score of 824 (excellent). As mentioned, you want to get a credit card of some kind, ideally one that costs no money (yearly fee). This card will be how you will make your everyday purchases. The key is that you must try to never go above 30% of your credit limit of that card (so if the limit was 1000 you will never go above 300 bucks). This is called credit utilization ratio. As mentioned find a source that will give you free credit score numbers--different companies will vary a little but they overall are pretty similar--check you full report annually to find any inconsistencies or errors. As you use this card the company will often ask to raise your limit or they may have an option to raise the limit of the website where you check your balance. I would take it everytime they ask. The more available credit you have the easier your score will raise. You may ask for a limit raise but DO NOT ask more than once every 6 months--this can effect your score negatively. Personally I have never been rejected and have not noted a ding on my score when it was requested. DO NOT REQUEST within 6 months of owning the card With your card I would suggest paying it off every 2 weeks or when you get close to that 30% limit. If you do this consistently your score will slowly raise, likely a few points per month. As your score raises I would do some research on available cards that have some perks. I suggest money back cards only. I detest travel cards and the such as they tend to make people spend money--it justifies spending which the animal part of our brains really does not need more of. Once you find a few cards that you can potentially apply for do a little research and see if people with similar scores get accepted. Once you confirm this you may apply--it can also be worth giving the company a call and see if they would accept you. NOTE: you will notice a small hit to your score once you apply. This will typically recover in 2 months or so in my experience. Once you get a cash back card you will not utilize this for everything. Keep your other card just for credit history. If the old card has a cost I would still keep it until you have a better foundation of cards. Now you have your first card and a money back card...you will keep these for 6 months and you can now try again to get another card. The ideal is if you can get another cash back card that has better money return or perhaps a different profile (eg Mastercard vs Visa vs American express). Again this will give a slight ding in your credit but this is okay. Now the goal is to continue this process until you have all the best cash back cards for different things. For example I have a card for gas and groceries, a card for restaurants, a card for entertainment etc. I personally really use 3-4 cards with 2 main ones that get used for about 85% of everything. The key here is that my overall credit limit is about 150k through all my cards. This means that even if I spent 5 or 6 thousand dollars (or bought car insurance for 900 bucks), I would get the cash back and would not even get close to the 30% utilization. I always pay my cards in full every 2 weeks with my pay checks--an extra safety measure but I like the habit of going over my spending anyways. This whole process may take several years to do and will require a certain household income for the best cards. If you do work on this though and be very thrifty, you will have a beautiful credit score when you are ready to buy a house. I do not ever suggest buying a car on any kind of credit and only ever buy used. If you want a car, put 50 bucks away for it per pay check and invest that cash until you have enough to by the car. You will actually realize the value of the money and the waste of the car. Most people in todays western world are poor because of car spending and poor money management--NOT INCOME. Learn to be extremely efficient with your money and you will be wealthy. Wealth is build with a saving mindset--poverty is done with the spending mindset. I used to be the later and I can attest to it for sure (started with 90k in debt and am now at about 150k in assets over about 6 or 7 years). I live frugally but I honestly don't really miss the luxuries of my past. In fact I am much happier because I no longer have stress over money and enjoy the game of efficiency :). All the best with your money journey.

My advice is learn to enjoy living at home and keep on saving and paying off your debt. Once fully debt fee I would consider it. See this as a tough level in the game of life but once you get through it you will be doing way better.

In all honesty I would try your best to use a bicycle. You save a ton of money and will gain the fitness benefit. If you can get into a cycling mindset and build your personal toughness, you will be a badass that can get around quite quick once your fitness is up. Every dollar you save will really add up while you finish your schooling

I personally don't smoke but as a physio often work with people that are trying to quit. From what I understand is that the machine will be rechargeable but will be garbage if the battery dies. In terms of money saving I have heard people find it cheaper but also really struggle with the switch and being honest, most just go back to smoking pretty quickly.

Really tough question to answer because there is so many ways to love or hate your job. I love playing video games but I don't want to play them 8 hours a day. I wouldnt like them with someone watching how I play etc. What I think you need to do to help you figure things out is breakdown want you would like with your career. Some examples: Do I want to work for high pay--i really just like making big money Do I enjoy working with people? Do I want a job that helps people in some way (eg health care) Do I want to work with a team or work alone? What kind of hours do I like? Am i willing to do a night shift? work over 40 hours a week? Work two jobs? What are these dead end jobs I have worked? Are they dead ends because I close the doors or just dont give a poop about them? I believe loving your job ultimately comes down to being grateful and mindset. I have seen bus drivers that love and hate their work. I have seen the same with Doctors, lawyers...you name it really. I work as a physiotherapist and I do love my job for the most part. Just like you love your kids, sometimes you want to strangle someone or just quit. If you think your going to be in cloud 9 all day, everyday at work, well give me whatever drugs your having because that is just not realistic.