I teach finance to incarcerated young men (14-24 y/o)...this is excellent advice and some insights I'll add for them. Connection to other's real world is huge. The cash only mantra from Dave Ramsey is elitist IMHO. Working with these young men who, at first, have limited access to building income and robust savings...a + credit score and effective, safe ways to build it are a necessity for survival. Reentry is hard enough.