Singletary

the Rideshare Guy blog. Get help from the right people: Issa again humbles herself and gets financial advice from her friend Kelli (Natasha Rothwell), who is an accountant.

On Kelli’s computer screen, we see Issa’s credit score. It’s 425.

Issa: “My credit score can’t be that bad.”

Kelli: “Bad would be a step up. The basic credit tiers are excellent, good, poor, bad — this is Issa. It’s all the way at the bottom.”

Kelli tells Issa that there is no way to get around the credit issue and qualify for an apartment unless she puts down three or four months’ rent “if she’s been saving,” or get a co-signer for the lease.

“Not me,” Kelli quickly says before Issa can even ask. Here again, good advice. Never co-sign for anybody!

Issa claims she’s doing everything she can to improve her financial situation, singing, “I’ve been savin’. I’ve been savin’.” Really, though? Let’s go to her bank statement.

“Oh, girl,” Kelli says disapprovingly.

Issa has most definitely not been saving enough. And she’s still eating out a lot.

“Lids?” Kelli asked, referring to a specialty headwear store.

“I like my caps fitted,” Issa says. Interesting, since we rarely see the character in any hats.

“Look, long term, I can set you up with a credit counselor here and I can help you plan out a budget,” Kelli says. “But right now, you don’t have enough money to move out on your own.”

Live your financial truth: Issa finally gets it. Save or live on some dude’s sofa indefinitely.

I loved the scene of Issa having lunch with her coworkers at a health food restaurant. As her colleagues begin to eat their ordered meals, she pulls out a paper bag with a homemade sandwich and two granola bars. No one says anything about it.

The writers are right on the money: Don’t be delusional about your finances when your credit is jacked up. Be open to a brutally honest reality check. Spending on nonessentials is not saving.

It’s OK to be insecure about your finances, but you have to make sure you Readers can write to Michelle Singletary c/o The Washington Post, 1301 K St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20071. Her email address is michelle. singletary@washpost. com. Follow her on Twitter (@SingletaryM) or Facebook (www.facebook. com/MichelleSingletary). Comments and questions are welcome, but due to the volume of mail, personal responses may not be possible. Please also note comments or questions may be used in a future column, with the writer’s name, unless a specific request to do otherwise is indicated.