There are plenty of nights when I can’t fall asleep because too many thoughts are buzzing through my brain. It’s usually the mistakes I make that circle round and round in my head long after they’re over.
But the other day, I gave myself a little break and instead tried to think about some of my successes. And I realized that I have a lot to feel good about. Here are a few examples of financial steps I’ve taken that I’m proud of.
1. Keeping a high credit score
I charge just about every expense I can on a credit card rather than paying in cash. It feels great to earn rewards on my purchases and use those points to fund a vacation or some other fun treat. But I’m always careful in how I use my cards, never charging too much and always paying off the balance when the bill comes due.
There are five factors that go into calculating your credit score. The two biggest ones — payment history and credit utilization — make up 65% of that calculation. Because I always pay my bills on time and don’t use a large portion of my available credit, I’ve built up a solid score.
One of the major benefits of having a high credit score is qualifying for loans at the best rates available. This has led to me getting low mortgage rates and excellent terms on auto loans, saving me thousands of dollars in interest over the years.
As an example, let’s say you buy a house for $350,000 with a 20% down payment of $70,000. If your mortgage rate is 7%, you’ll pay over $390,000 in interest over the 30-year loan. With a 6% rate, you’ll pay a little over $324,000 in interest — a savings of $66,000 over the life of the loan.
2. Building savings so I don’t have to borrow for emergencies
I had a lovely little piggy bank when I was a kid; it was ceramic, and I got to paint it myself. I loved dropping coins and bills in it, knowing the total was growing and growing. I don’t remember what I bought when I finally cracked it open, but thinking about it makes me realize I’ve always been inclined to save.
This has been a huge benefit to me now that I’ve graduated from a piggy bank to a bank account. By transferring money from my checking account to my savings every month, I’ve built up a comfortable safety net that I can rely on if things go awry.
I can dip into this emergency fund whenever surprise expenses come up, whether it’s a furnace repair or a cracked windshield on my car. I know that I won’t have to take out a loan to pay off these expenses or charge them to a credit card that I can’t pay off right away.
If you’re looking to fund your own piggy bank, you’ll benefit from choosing an account with a generous rate. Take a look at the best high-yield savings accounts and open one that works best for you.
3. Never carrying credit card debt
When I got my first credit card in college, I was nervous about using it. As a result, I never carried a balance on my card — and I still haven’t in the years since. While carrying a small balance on a card from month to month doesn’t automatically spell financial ruin, it can be a slippery slope.
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, American credit card debt reached $1.14 trillion in the second quarter of 2024. With the average credit card interest rate in the U.S. currently sitting at 24.72%, that’s a staggering amount of money to owe. By always paying my credit card bill on time and in full, I’m able to keep more money in my pocket, rather than paying interest to a card issuer.
Good financial habits pay off
I certainly don’t have a perfect financial track record, and I’ve made my share of mistakes that have cost me money. But I’m proud that there are some wins in my past as well. If you’re looking to get your finances in shape, know that the work you’re putting in can pay off for years to come, putting future-you in a better position to get some restful sleep.