Tag: debt-repayment

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.)