Jules Choi

I wouldn't chase fancy percentages. Start with rent 1100, utilities 150, groceries 300, transit 120, fun 75, savings 700, and leave roughly 455 for all the junk that shows up, like internet, phone, renters insurance, and the random Target runs. My first month nuked my budget with deposits and small stuff, so assume utilities swing and that a roommate will forget to pay you back on time. If the buffer keeps getting eaten, drop fun to 50 and push the rest to a true emergency fund until you hit three months.

Do the math once, not every quarter. If the net after tax is at least $250 & you can finish in under an hour & fine, but then consolidate again. Keep one checking, one high-yield savings, and kill anything that adds alerts or apps. Too many openings can trip ChexSystems and slow real needs later. Read the terms, set one reminder, get the bonus, then close and move on.