How to Take Control of Your Money and Reach Financial Freedom | Michael Chernow | Monday Moments

How to Take Control of Your Money and Reach Financial Freedom | Michael Chernow | Monday Moments

From Kreatures Of Habit Podcast by Michael Chernow

May 4, 2026 · 10 min

About this episode

Michael Chernow shares practical financial habits for achieving financial freedom.

In this Monday Moments episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow shares the practical financial habits he’s built over the last decade, starting with how he raised his credit score from the low 300s—after unpaid parking tickets and a defaulted Sallie Mae student loan—to 847 (near the 850 max). He explains how using a prepaid credit card and consistently reloading and paying it monthly helped him rebuild credit and gain peace of mind and flexibility for financing. Michael also breaks down his automatic money system: weekly $200 crypto investing, monthly transfers to a high-yield tax savings account to avoid tax-time surprises, and monthly contributions to a portfolio account for his children. He emphasizes automation as the key to saving consistently and avoiding “get rich quick” financial scams.

People in this episode

Host: Michael Chernow

Topics covered

  • financial habits
  • credit score
  • automation
  • investing
  • financial freedom

Keywords

  • credit score
  • financial freedom
  • automation
  • crypto investing
  • high-yield savings

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sallie Mae, Kreatures of Habit Podcast

Places: Monday

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