January 2026
Archive (4)
Credit & Banking
Moving my checking to a credit union in Skokie
January 28, 2026
My old checking account started charging $12 a month. Why I switched, what the switch took and the one direct …
Cheap Fun & Self-Care
How I get through a Chicago January on almost no money
January 19, 2026
Library holds, a free museum day, long baths and one $8 bowl of ramen a week. My cheap winter routine for the …
First Apartment
Starting a move fund for a June lease
January 10, 2026
I want my own place by summer. Why I'm saving $4,500 in five months, what I expect moving out to cost and what…
Budget & Paychecks
My 2025 money year in numbers
January 1, 2026
A credit card gone, $9,980 off my student loans and a $6,000 emergency fund. The full year, including the mont…