Tag: debt-repayment

I just won $600 in a work raffle, which is amazing because my cheese budget usually wins instead. I've got a $450 credit card balance at 18% APR and a small emergency fund that's stuck at $500. My monthly cash flow is tight for the next two months due to car insurance. I also need new work shoes soon. Would it be smarter to wipe the card now or pad the emergency fund so I don't end up swiping again? I'm aiming for a simple plan that future me can stick to even on sleepy Mondays.

I'm a freelance graphic designer with income that swings between 2k and 5k a month. I've got about 8k in credit card debt at 24% APR and a tiny $1k emergency fund. I can reliably cover minimums, but big swings stress me out and I'm worried one car repair could nuke my cash. I'm aiming to keep my system simple—two checking accounts and one savings—so I don't overcomplicate things. Given the volatility, how would you split surplus cash between aggressive debt payoff and growing the emergency fund? Specific percentages or rules of thumb that adapt to variable months would be super helpful. (Context: I'm hoping for practical tips or "this worked for me" style answers.)