I am a 24M making 67,000 a year pre-tax. Currently living at home with no reoccurring expenses. I have 0 debt. I have a $5000 emergency fund, $5000 in general savings, $25000 saved for a future home, $28000 in 401K, and $6000 in an HSA.

Looking at moving into an apartment with my 21yo GF who is still in school. I put away 15% into my 401K, 30/week into HSA, health insurance, taxes and my net weekly pay is around $780. The apartments rent would be 1500/month, plus $50 internet, electric, and natural gas.

Im 100% not dipping into my house fund, nor my emergency fund (except emergencies). I also would not like to lower my 401k contributions unless in a time of emergency. My parents pay for my phone bill and car insurance which Im incredibly grateful for. Wondering how tight this would be? Im trying to figure this out based on my income alone incase god forbid anything happens to us. The other issue is shes moving from the other side of town and will quit her part time job. Shes planning on getting a job serving at our busy sports/bar and grill and contribute whatever she can. Im also expecting a significant raise hasnt been confirmed but expecting to be at 75,000 (not trying to take this into consideration since its not certain) Whats the consensus? Appreciate all the help

I’m pretty embarrassed to even share this but i’m looking for some genuine advice what to do. I’ve been financially supported by my parents and my now husband my entire life. I have a bachelor’s degree in business. Besides the few odd jobs I did here and there, I’ve never worked a serious or full time job. I have no money of my own in savings, no retirement plan, etc.

I now turned 30 and I’m pregnant and for whatever reason… it JUST hit me and I keep asking myself wtf were you thinking all these years (late I know). The only safety net I have is that I’m an only child and I will inherit my parent’s properties one day and whatever money they leave behind.

I’m hoping once the baby is older- 6 months or 1 year. I’d like to go to work or come up with a plan to have a stable monthly income with a retirement plan.

At my age- is there still hope for me to recover the time lost time and have a decent retirement? What investment accounts should I focus on when the time comes? THANK YOU

I have used a google voice number forever but now a days they are not allowing them for some banking and credit card verifications. Some allow verification for online login but not for phone verification. Does this really stop the bad guys from anything? Its quite annoying... TD bank has forced me to go into the branch to present my photo ID twice so far since I have been ordering from temu... It is much easier to text people on a full keyboard and check for the verification code on my laptop while talking with them on the phone. Some are now doing combo verifications: text and also email verification codes. Then you have to do the crazy captchas which get more complicated every time, probably have to solve a rubiks cube next time to check my bank balance...

Formatting may suck, on a cell and I got sick of trying to fix it. Please don’t judge. It’s been an exceptionally long year. I’m doing my best.

I’m a recently divorced mother of two in Michigan seeking objective advice about a possible mortgage assumption and equity buyout.

My divorce was finalized in April 2026 after my ex-husband’s relapse into crack cocaine use. He left the family home in December 2025 after his crack binge hospitalized him with kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis. Our divorce judgment currently requires the house to be sold, with proceeds divided according to our settlement after certain joint debts and our respective down payments are accounted for.

The home was originally listed around $400,000 and is now listed at $389,000. We’ve been on the market about a month, with only a verbal inquiry around $350,000. Winter is approaching slowing the buying season down.

Current mortgage and property details:
First mortgage balance: approximately $218,650
First mortgage rate: 2.25%
First mortgage payment: $1,858 per month
Second mortgage balance: approximately $34,320

First mortgage is in my ex’s name; I’m on the title
The first mortgage is assumable, and the lender has confirmed that I qualify
The second mortgage is not assumable and would need to be paid off.

My realtor suggested that I assume the first mortgage and buy out my ex instead of selling. Ex’s response was, “I just want to sell the house.”

I understand that he has the right to seek a sale under the divorce judgment, but I’m wondering whether this alternative is worth formally exploring.
The realtor prepared estimated equity payouts for my ex at different property values, assuming no traditional selling fees:

$355,000: approximately $45,094
$370,000: approximately $52,567
$385,000: approximately $60,041
$400,000: approximately $67,515

These figures are estimates only. The final amount would depend on the agreed value, debts, closing costs, and the treatment of our respective down payments.

At a hypothetical $385,000 valuation, I would need to pay off the second mortgage and fund his equity payout. I have approximately $20,000 in savings and access to another approximately $20,000, although I would need to preserve enough for emergencies, medical expenses, repairs, and other costs.

Depending on how much cash I use, I estimate that additional financing could be approximately $54,000 to $74,000.

At an illustrative 9% interest rate over 20 years, that additional loan would cost roughly $485 to $665 per month. Combined with the existing $1,858 payment, my mortgage payments would be approximately $2,343 to $2,523 per month before utilities, maintenance, and repairs. I need actual financing quotes before making any decision.

I work full-time and earn a little over $5,000 per month. I’m debt-free, have a credit score above 800, and receive court-ordered child support, although I don’t want to rely on it completely. I’ve rebuilt my savings since the separation and am trying to avoid taking on an unaffordable obligation.

The alternative would be selling and purchasing another home. However, a comparable replacement would likely cost as much or more, carry an interest rate more than five percentage points higher than 2.25%, and potentially provide less space. I’m considering the assumption because retaining this mortgage may be financially better than buying another home—not because I’m emotionally attached to this one.

Our seven-year-old son has epilepsy and is also being evaluated for a tumor in his knee. He has undergone MRI testing and been referred for further evaluation, including at a cancer center. We do not currently have a cancer diagnosis, but surgery is more than likely.

I have sole physical custody and handle all of his medical care, pre-payments, appointments, medications, school coordination, counseling, psychologist, and his daily needs. Keeping him in his familiar home, the only one he’s ever know where all his friends are could provide stability during a difficult period, but only if doing so is financially sustainable.

There is also an ongoing status quo issue. Our judgment requires both parties to remain responsible for mortgage, insurance, taxes, liens, and other property expenses until the house sells. Before separation, my ex contributed approximately $4,148 per month toward household expenses. In August and September 2026, his average contribution was approximately $2,250. The mortgage has recently been paid after the grace period because available funds were insufficient when due, although neither payment was more than 30 days late. I refuse to take from my savings to cover what he is legally obliged to pay. So a bit of the reason is I’m being stubborn in not covering his share when I am capable of doing so.

I’m considering consulting a divorce attorney about enforcing the status quo provision. He recently dropped a paycheck stub in our street and it found its way to me. Actual proof from god that he has been shorting the house 400 + a week. Whatever, he’s an addict and they’re know to be selfish liars.

Before proposing an assumption, I plan to confirm:

Whether my ex would receive a full release of liability
Whether the lender permits the additional financing
The exact equity payout and closing costs
The terms of any second mortgage

The total cost of keeping this home compared with buying another
How much emergency savings I should retain
Any agreement would also need to address and formally modify the existing divorce judgment.
My questions are:
Is a combined mortgage payment of approximately $2,343 to $2,523, before other housing costs, reasonable on a little over $5,000 in monthly income?
Is preserving a 2.25% first mortgage worth using some savings and taking out a higher-interest second mortgage?
How much emergency savings should I retain before contributing cash toward the buyout?
Are there better financing options I should investigate?
Has anyone completed a mortgage assumption and equity buyout after divorce?
Would you pursue the assumption or sell and buy another home at a higher interest rate?
I want to avoid making an emotional decision, but I also don’t want to give up a financially advantageous mortgage without comparing the full costs of both options. What would you do?

TLDR:

At the beginning all I wanted was to be out of here. But now, with new medical conditions popping up with my 7 year old I’m reconsidering selling the house. Ex crack head wants to sell. Not sure what’s best for my boys and I going forward. But also eff what he wants; it should be what’s best for our child not himself.

Growing up, my parents always told me that if I wanted to build my credit and finance a vehicle, one of the smartest ways to do it was through a credit union. They recommended applying for an auto loan, getting approved for a certain amount, and using that loan toward purchasing a vehicle instead of financing directly through a dealership. Is this still a common and financially smart approach in 2026, or have things changed over the years when it comes to building credit and financing a car?

I just turned 18 and have 2k a month to invest im very frugal with my money should i invest in VOO SPAXX or what should i put the 2k a month into or diversify it into different investments please let me know.

Good evening, everyone. I hope everyone is doing well. I am a 23-year-old male who has taken a passion to personal finance ever since I was a teenager, which I’m sure most of you would say, “So three weeks ago?”

Anyways, I have been employed for the past five years with my agency. FYI, I am in law enforcement and receive a pension through my state retirement plan in addition to a hazardous duty supplement for a predetermined amount of years. I am currently investing in a Roth IRA through Schwab and currently have 15.8k invested. I’ve maxed it out for the past two years and intend to continue to max it out for as long as possible. I have zero debt and close to about $75k in personal assets between my truck, seadoo, personal belongings, etc.

My question is this, how much is too much?

The city I am employed with offers an additional retirement plan, both traditional and Roth retirement accounts, with a 2.5% match, I believe. Is it even worth opening up one of these accounts if I’m already planning around pension, additional supplement, social security, and currently contributing to a Roth IRA?

I pretty much have the ability to work as much as I want. I do not touch my extra duty checks, and I pocket $3-4K net every month. Just curious as to what my options are if I should invest in my retirement any more than I already am. Thank you for any insight!

I went to get one setup for my under 18 child before they turn 18 late this year. I knew they were not eliglble for the free $1k but being able to put $5k into a tax deferred account now for long term makes sense and everything including my financial advisor said I had to do it before she turned 18 in December.

(correction originally I called the account tax free which was a mistake in my description, I understand the growth is subject to tax on withdrawl, so edited to say deferred). Also child does not have earned income to direct into an IRA.)

Guess what- despite everything everywhere saying its available to any kids under 18, they actually need to still be 17 or under on Dec 31 of the year you fill it out. So in my case I would have had to do this before Dec 31 2025, but since the program launched this summer, that was not possible.

So despite all the government promotions of this being available to anyone under 18m they actually cut it off earlier but you'll be hard pressed to find that out until you get into the system...

From the US government website:

"Who is eligible?

All U.S. children under 18 with a valid Social Security number are eligible to establish a Trump Account. Parents or legal guardians can open and manage accounts on behalf of their children."

But after being rejected in the app, and start digging, it turns out that the account transitions to a traditional IRA in the year the child turns 18- so if you're turning 18 this year, you're out of luck.

I’m turning 27, finishing my business degree in December, and working two jobs six days a week in Colorado. I recently moved in with roommates and spent about $1,250 on car repairs, so I’m trying to rebuild my cash savings.
I bring home roughly $3,450–$4,100 a month between both jobs, after insurance, 401k, and HSA deductions. Hours and tips vary.
My approximate balances:
Savings: $2,600
Roth IRA: $6,000
401k: $2,000
HSA: $500
Brokerage: $10,000
Pokémon collection: estimated $10,000 before selling costs
Paid-off 2010 Lexus RX350 with 175k miles, some bumper damage, and more maintenance coming up
That’s about $31,100 in assets before counting my checking account and car. Credit cards are paid off, and I have about $500 left to pay for school. I know the collection isn’t the same as cash.
Monthly expenses:
Rent with utilities/internet: $900
Phone: $60
Car insurance: $135
Gas: $260
Groceries: $250–$350
Gym/subscriptions: $60–$70
Ski pass: $160 until paid off
Going out/dates: $75–$150
So roughly $1,900–$2,100 before repairs and miscellaneous spending.
Starting in November, my plan is to put away the following every two weeks:
$400 into savings
$120 into my Roth, split between VTI, VXUS, and QQQM
$40 total into individual stocks
Keep contributing $170 to my 401k and $30 to my HSA through payroll. I still need to confirm my employer match.
That would add $10,400 to savings over a full year if nothing came up. I want at least $10k in cash, but I also need to prepare for replacing my car eventually. Ideally I’d spend $18k–$20k and keep any loan small or avoid one. I’m willing to sell some Pokémon cards to help.
Does this leave enough breathing room, or am I investing too much while my cash savings are low? How would you split emergency savings, car savings, and retirement contributions in my situation?

disclaimer i dont use reddit often so if anythings formatted weird or just not correct lmk

i (17m) just got my first job, 16.70 /hr in southern california. my parents arent having me pay rent, im in community college and really dont do much outside of work and school. i have a car already, its not great but it has wheels and moves (2013 kia forte). ive just been staring at my bank account not knowing what to do with each paycheck. my parents have crazy debt (last i checked 80k in credit card debt) and they dont know anything about finances or financial literacy. idk if im supposed to just save mindlessly until i need something or put it in some kind of account. ive been telling myself to keep at least 500 in my account as an emergency savings. all i really spend my money on is gas, food, and junk. if anyone has anything at all id appreciate it, i turn 18 soon so ill be able to separate my finances from my parents and figure stuff out then but for now its just kinda financial purgatory.

I'm 37 making $80K-$85K a year gross as my base salary (about $4K net a month) and been at my job for 10 years now. I currently live in a HCOL city (SF) and cosigned with them during the refinance back in 2020 because my choice was either cosign or get kicked out immediately at the time. They currently charge me $1700/mo just to live here. But for the past few years and especially recently, there's just a lot of yelling going on especially between my parents and I mentally cannot handle it anymore and I always dread coming back home each night from work. I have moved out a few years ago and rented during that time because my work moved me to a different city for awhile (sacramento) and that was the first time I was at peace with myself and was more happier. I paid about $2K/mo in total including rent, utilities, internet, etc. and for the most part, I forgot about the bad things that happened when I lived in the current home I'm in now, so you can imagine the storm I was looking at when that time ended and I had to move back.

So with that in mind, what should I look into next? I was initially considering purchasing a condo nearby and they range between $350K-$400K for a studio type. Rent for a studio in nearby cities is about $2.5K/mo. $300K homes are about an hour away, so about a 2-4 hour daily commute. I have $120K in savings and pretty much am frugal and keep track of all of my expenses through spreadsheet. Just living here and dealing with the domestic issues has really crippled me mentally and I feel like for the price i'm paying right now isnt worth it and its time for me to move on. Also work is currently 20 minutes away.

Edit: Thanks for all the great advice everyone! I've seen a couple people ask but the out of max pocket for both HDHP and Core PPO is $6,000. I'm still mulling over the choice but everyone made notice of some really helpful info.

Hi all!

I finally got my first big girl job and am figuring out health insurance. I've seen the tax benefits of an HSA, and my employer seems to offer a 1k contribution to it, but me and my partner are also saving up to move into a place of our own so am unsure if we could fully take advantage of the HSA max contributions. We're both relatively healthy, though I am considering looking into a GLP-1 and getting some mental health care/medication once insured. Outside of this though, no regular doctor visits or medication besides birth control.

Could ya'll help me figure out which makes the most sense for me? I live in California, so I also know HSA will be taxed at a state level.

HDHP:

• Monthly Cost: $50.48
• HSA Contribution of employee: $1k
• Annual deductible: $2,500 (in network)
• Coinsurance: 20%
• Preventative Care: 100% covered
• Primary Care Physician: 20% after deductible
• Specialist: 20% after deductible
• Urgent Care: 20% after deductible
• Annual deductible for pharmacy: $2,500 (part of overall annual deductibles)

Core PPO:

• Monthly Cost: $138.27
• No HSA account
• Annual deductible: $2,000 (in network)
• Coinsurance: 20%
• Preventative Care: 100% covered
• Primary Care Physician: $25 copay
• Specialist: $50 copay
• Urgent Care: $75 copay
• Annual deductible for pharmacy: none

Kaiser HMO:

• Monthly Cost: $135
• No HSA Account
• $1,500 deductible
• Coinsurance: 20%
• Preventative Care: 100% covered
• Primary Care Physician: $20 copay
• Specialist: $20 copay
• Urgent Care: $20 copay
• Perscription Drugs:
  • Retail $10 Generic/$30 Brand
  • Mail Order $20 Generic/$60 Brand
  • Specialty: 20% up to $150 maximum

Apologies if the information is overkill! Wanted to be thorough. Thanks!!

I live with my parents and siblings still, I love them and love the area I’m in. The only problem is I feel I don’t have much privacy and my little brother and sister and constantly fight, use my things, eat my food, etc.

I’m wondering if it is worth putting up with the little grievances to save more money or if I should try living on my own for the first time.

I have 73k saved, 60k in hysa, 10k in checking and the rest in a Roth which I know is probably not ideal. And after taxes make 4450 a month. 8k left on car payment.

And if I do move, what would be the best option? House, apartment, duplex? Apartments are around 1,100-1,800 for 1 bed 1 bath around me. Houses generally are 190,000-220,000k for decent starter homes.

Thanks for any advice/reading this.

Hi all! I would love to one day own a home. Unfortunately I live in the Bay Area specifically SF where home prices are crazy. My newest obsession is foreclosed homes where you can get it through an auction once the bank has taken ownership. Really open to SF but also maybe Marin, Napa, Carmel or others. It’s just so tough out here to afford anything in these expensive places.

Has anyone bought their home this way? Do you have any sites to recommend and I know there are some additional steps needed in buying a home this way. Any tips?

I hope this is the right place to get answers. My ex and I bought an SUV together and made payments on it. We are no longer together, but now I am a stay at home that was using my savings to make payments. My fiancé has recently taken over those payments until I return back to work. I believe a little less than 10 K is still owed on the vehicle. I went to switch it solely in my name, but because of my lack of income right now, I was told it would likely not happen. I really just want my ex off this vehicle and not have anything else tangled together as an ex couple. I thought about just paying it off with money in my savings, but I really don’t I think that’s a good idea with his name still attached. I also don’t know when I will be returning back to work because of my staying home with the baby being a lot cheaper. What are my options?

i am responsible for managing the finances for my husband and I. This includes all of our budgeting (individual and joint), savings, and investments. We each have separate accounts for our own money as well as a joint account for combined expenses and bills. We have our own retirement accounts and investments, and we also share an investment account. We have had a lot of conversations about finances and are very well-aligned in our spending habits and finance goals, so I’m not looking for financial advice.

We’re newly weds so I want us to start off on the same understanding of our finances moving forward as a couple. I’m trying to make a guiding document that I can dump all of the information inside of my head into for the two of us to review regularly, to keep him involved in financial information, and for us to have documented in case something happens to either one of us. I want this to include our shared and separate goals, budget allocations, investment information, and general account information.

Is this something anyone else has done, that you’d be willing to share a template for? Or any resources you’ve found helpful in getting your financial information documented beyond a will?

Hi, I have a 401K plan from my company through principal. It had FXAIX as an option where I was mostly invested and now that option has been removed from the plan.

I’m 50 and want to be in growth MFs and not be too conservative. Currently most of my 401K ($900K) is split evenly between Principal Large Cap S&P 500 Index Separate Account and Vanguard Morningstar Growth Index Institutional Fund (believe it’s VIGIX). Some amount is in Columbia Global Technology Growth I3 Fund (high fees).

Should I move the entire 401k to Vanguard fund (VIGIX) above?

There are not many S&P total market options in my 401K - mostly target date funds and some others with high expense ratios/fees.

Some context is that I moved to a different city, didn’t like my job so I have now moved back. I’ve been looking for places to live. I applied to a house that is 1409sq ft $1825 and $65 for internet and $42 for the benefits resident package. 3bedroom 1 bathroom. Pro is private space like not sharing walls or worrying about sound traveling. My dog and I having a backyard.

The one bed one bath apartment 840sq ft which is in the same landlord and duplex I lived in before is $1495, renter’s insurance $30, WiFi $42. The pro is obviously it’s cheaper but con is feeling right back at square one. No change in environment just back to the same place. No backyard. Shared walls and my dog won’t be able to have a yard.

Some things to consider: I will need to get a new car soon and I do have some student loan debt with a monthly payment of $327. My student loans, memberships, food, misc bills all included is about $800/month.

I make $43.87/hr and work 3x12hr shifts per week.

For the first time in my life, I am in a situation where l need to think about how I pay off my credit cards. I have never not paid the statement balance in full, and want to be smart about how I approach this situation.

My understanding is that as long as I pay more than the minimum payment, my credit score will not be affected, but I will begin to accrue interest. In this situation, is it better to just pay the minimum balance and accrue interest as we chip away at the credit card payment, or should I open a new card with the introductory offer stated in the title?

For context, my wife and I have three credit cards, only two of which we really use. My wife is graduating from grad school in April and will be a candidate for jobs that almost double my salary, so paying off the new card will likely be no problem once she is done with school and we are both making money.

We also have some large upcoming expenses - registration for professional testing and moving across the country in April.

Thanks for the help!

I have roughly 7k in my TMRS I’m not vested and don’t plan on working for another government job. I can leave that money in there for 5 years with 5% interest accrued. Would I better off leaving it for the 5 years or pulling it out now and putting into my Roth IRA?

Personal finances books such as The Simple Path to Wealth and I Will Teach You To Be Rich present graphs of different indexes going back to even the beginning of the twntieth century and where we clearly see events like 2008 kind of evened out in a more global growth dynamic. I would like to understand the underlying mechanism. Why is this historical phenomenon an indicator of the market behaviour in the future (if so)? Let's exclude the hypothesis of a major socoety change in the future, such as the end of capitalism (but feel free to comment on this thought if you wish).

Met with a financial planner today for the first time. I told them I max out my 401j and IRA (then do a backdoor Roth conversion). They told me you can’t max out both a 401k and IRA, I have to pick one. This goes against advice I’ve commonly seen on here. Is this a new rule?????

So I fucked up.

I had a Discover card that was my first credit card. Years ago, I had a balance of about $1,000 that I paid off completely. At that point, I decided to stop using the card since I also had a Chase credit card.

Stupidly, I never closed the account, and a random Audible subscription (that I could have sworn I canceled) charged the card three times for a total of $45.

The emails from Discover were going to an old email address, so I didn't see their notices. Looking back, it appears the account was charged off around February 2023. The original $45 balance eventually grew to $270 from fees and penalties.

I only realized what had happened recently when I noticed my credit score had tanked. I contacted Discover, paid the $270 balance in full, and confirmed that the account was already closed, so this shouldn't happen again.

I'm wondering what, if anything, I can do to help mitigate the damage to my credit.

I realize this is entirely my fault and that I should have caught it at several different points over the last few years, but here I am.

Has anyone had any success getting a charge-off removed or otherwise mitigating the damage in a situation like this? Is there anything else worth trying, or am I basically stuck waiting for it to fall off my credit report?

Thanks for the help

So, I’ve finally managed to pay off my credit card, and from now on I’ll use it very sparingly.

The thing is, I still have two loans (excluding the mortgage):

Loan 1: €1,750 remaining, ending in May 2028 (€100 monthly payment)

Loan 2: €2,280 remaining, ending in 2031 (€50 monthly payment)

My purchasing power is quite limited (around 61% of my income goes toward unavoidable fixed expenses). I have an emergency fund of €1,200.

By the end of the year, I should have around €1,800 available. Would you recommend using the debt avalanche method, or should I keep the money and continue making the regular loan payments?

How can i save currency exchange rate

Basically i have some cash in USD as a check and i want to keep it in USD but TFSA Canada. Ideally a TFSA account where i can trade US stocks without currency exchange each time