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01
The buffer account
Why your checking account needs 1–2 months of expenses before anything else — and how to calculate your exact number.
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02
High-yield savings setup
How HYSAs work, which account types beat inflation, and how to pick one without getting tricked by teaser rates.
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03
Emergency fund math
The 3–6 month rule explained with numbers — what counts, what doesn't, and how to build it systematically.
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04
CD ladder strategy
When locking in rates makes sense, how to stagger maturities, and why most people skip this step unnecessarily.
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05
Roth IRA order of operations
Exactly when to open one, contribution limits, income phase-outs, and how it fits into the broader system.
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06
The full system flowchart
A single visual that shows where each dollar goes — in order — so there's no guessing about what to do next.
This guide is for the person who has finally dealt with high-interest debt (or is close) and doesn't know what to do next. Most content on this topic is either too vague ("build an emergency fund!") or buried in a course you have to pay for.
This is the clear, ordered version. Free.