Personal Finance 102: Credit, Debt and Setbacks

Build "My debt-free plan and safety file": one folder, paper or on your phone, that pulls this course's Moves together. It holds every debt and the payoff method you chose, your checked and frozen credit reports, your insurance checklist and the people to call when something goes wrong. Check it against this list:

• I've pulled all three credit reports, read every line and disputed any errors.
• I've chosen my credit path, building without paying interest or living without a score, and every bill is on autopay.
• Every debt except the house is listed with its balance, rate and minimum. I've picked the snowball or the avalanche and made my first extra payment.
• My credit is frozen at all three bureaus, and my bank alerts are on.
• My insurance checklist shows my health coverage and its key dates, my auto liability limits, whether I'm covered driving for work, and my disability and term life if anyone depends on me.
• My setback contacts are in my phone: the hardship number for each bill, legal aid, a nonprofit credit counselor, VITA, 211 and 988.

Each winter, before the season starts, pull your reports again, update the debt list and check your insurance.