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

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-michael-chernow-podcast-25201/how-to-take-control-of-your-money-and-reach-financial-freedom-michael-chernow-monday-moments
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-michael-chernow-podcast-25201/how-to-take-control-of-your-money-and-reach-financial-freedom-michael-chernow-monday-moments.md
Podcast: [The Michael Chernow Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-michael-chernow-podcast-25201)
Published: 2026-05-04T09:50:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kreaturesofhabitpodcast/episodes/How-to-Take-Control-of-Your-Money-and-Reach-Financial-Freedom--Michael-Chernow--Monday-Moments-e3ik0l2
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/1f233038/podcast/play/119193698/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-3-28%2F423068979-44100-2-cc494ab67dc9.m4a
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Duration seconds: 605

## Resource

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.

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## Transcript

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