Hello mates, so i just moved to usa, soon enough i will be able to get my Social Security number and start building credit, i have no idea how this works, i want to learn so i don’t make same mistakes as people and i saw there’s kids at age 18 having great scores credit. What’s the first steps / which bank should i open my first bank with and please if you have any good podcasts or free e-books or books pdf about making money, learning about it let me know. Thanks

Whether you’re stuck living paycheck to paycheck or avoiding the numbers altogether, the hardest part is often just knowing what to do first. I’ve been there too. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re treading water. But I also know it’s possible to turn things around. My wife and I paid off $43k in debt in 13 months and went on to build a $1M net worth, and it all started with the right plan. Here are the first five steps I recommend to anyone starting their financial journey: 1. Be Honest About Where You Are The hardest conversations are often with ourselves. The truth? It’s not outside factors holding you back, it’s personal. But that’s also the good news: because it’s personal, you’re in control. 2. Assess the Challenges Write down what feels painful about your finances, whether it’s endless debt, living paycheck to paycheck, or something else. Then, rank those challenges from most to least painful. By starting with the biggest one, you can focus on what matters most. 3. Set One Financial Goal Focus on solving just one challenge to avoid overwhelm. Use the SMART framework to make your goal clear: Specific: Who, what, when, why, and how? Measurable: Use numbers (like $ or time). Achievable: Is it realistic? Relevant: Does it align with your bigger goals? Time-bound: Set a deadline. For example: "In 6 months, I’ll pay off $1,500 in credit card debt. To do this, I’ll allocate $250/month by cutting unnecessary spending and being more intentional with my money." 4. Align Spending with Your Goal Your goal becomes your North Star. Anything that helps achieve this goal, do more of. Anything that hurts achieving this goal, do less of. Start with a 3-month look back to see where your money has been going. This quick snapshot often reveals spending habits that don’t align with your priorities. The best part? Once you know where your money is going, you can take control and realign it with your goal. 5. Celebrate Small Wins Every dollar saved or debt paid off is progress. Celebrate those wins, because momentum matters.