One thing on credit cards that I hope is not too off topic. Be sure that any old credit card accounts that you may have had in the past, including retail store accounts (e.g. Pennys, Sears, Home Depot etc.) are actually CLOSED. Simply not using the account and cutting up the card is not sufficient; you must contact them by phone or snail mail to close the account. Here is the problem(s) if you don't.

1. The credit line that you have with, say, Pennys, eats into the overall amount of credit you have when another lender looks at your credit report. Enough of these old open but unused accounts and you have no credit but don't owe anybody anything.

2. It an identity theft vulnerability. You forgot about the account. Someone gets your account # and starts using it. You suddenly find that you owe $$$ on an account you thought was closed.

I recommend 2 credit cards. One primary daily EDC and use. A second for back-up if the primary one is lost/stolen/compromised. Do not keep them in the same place.

And always pay the bill off when it comes in.