Q: Take out all credit card statements and identify the credit limits. Add them together to get your total available credit.  Then go through and add up all balances. Divide the balance amount by the available credit. For example, if your credit limit is $15,000 and your total balances are $3,000, then your utilization rate is 20% ($3,000 divided by $15,000 is 0.2). You can’t close a card until you pay off the balance. Accordingly, you should commit to paying off the balance as quickly as possible.  Create a budget if necessary, and stick to it. If you don’t have the money, you can call your card issuer and ask them to freeze the card. This will prevent you from making new charges. In order to protect your credit score, you may need to pay down the balances on your other cards so that your utilization doesn’t rise. To see why, consider the following example:  Amy has three credit cards: A, B, and C. She wants to close A, which has a high interest rate. All three cards have a $2,000 credit limit, giving her $6,000 in available credit. Card A has a $500 balance, and Card B has a $2,000 balance. Currently, her utilization rate is about 42% ($2,500 divided by $6,000). However, if she closes Card A, her available credit will be $4,000 and her total balance will be $2,000. This gives her a utilization rate of 50%. Amy’s credit score will decline as a result. Amy can keep her utilization rate from rising by paying down the $2,000 balance on Card B. Ideally, Amy should pay off all balances before closing any card. If you have a rewards card, you’ll probably lose the rewards when you close the card. Accordingly, you should redeem all of your rewards if possible. Some cards make it difficult to redeem rewards. For example, you might only be able to redeem if you reach a certain threshold. Alternately, some cards allow you to redeem points only once a year. In these situations, you might need to delay closing your account if you want the rewards. Closing one card might hurt your credit score a tiny percentage, but closing all credit cards will hammer your credit score. This is a drastic way to manage your debt load, and you should consider alternatives, such as credit counseling. Find the number on the back of your credit card. When you call, ask the rep to confirm that the balance is zero. Tell the person that you want to close your account and ask that they report the account as “closed at the consumer’s request.”  The representative might ask why you are closing your account. You can tell them your reasons, or just say, “Oh, I don’t need the card.” It’s your right to close an account, so don’t let them dissuade you. Write down the name of who you speak with, including other details (day, time, substance of the conversation, etc.) It’s a good idea to follow up with a letter in case the customer service representative makes a mistake. In your letter, request that the account be closed “at the consumer’s request.” Include your name, account number, and contact information.  Also explicitly ask that they send you a confirmation letter. You’ll want something in writing. Mail the letter certified mail, return receipt requested, and keep a copy of the letter for your records. Wait about a month, and then pull a copy of your free credit report. Check to see the account has been closed and that it states your account was closed at your request.  If the account remains open, call the card issuer again. Send a follow-up letter and include a copy of your original letter. If there isn’t a notation that the account was closed at your request, dispute the error with one of the credit bureaus. You may want to keep your credit score as high as possible because you are applying for a mortgage or a car loan. In this situation, you should wait before closing your account. Get your mortgage first, and then focus on closing credit cards.
A: Calculate your current utilization rate. Pay down your balance in full. Reduce the balances on your other cards. Redeem all rewards. Avoid cancelling all cards. Call to cancel. Send a letter. Confirm the account was cancelled. Postpone closing your card, if necessary.

Q: Instead of grinding through traditional songs, such as "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," that contemporary kids probably don't care about, go for songs the child is familiar with and already loves.  Some songs are great for beginners, but even more complex songs can be broken down into simpler melodies. Ask the child what kind of music they enjoy. Have them list off some of their favorite songs. The more you can include songs the child already enjoys, the easier learning to play will be. Particularly if the child wants to play electric guitar, classic rock songs are both recognizable and will make the child feel like a rock star even though they only know a few notes.  For example, the riff from "Smoke on the Water" is a very simple classic progression that only requires one string. If the child is playing on electric, you can up the distortion so they can really rock with it. Encourage the child to sing along the fret numbers as they play. This will help the child mentally connect the tone with finger placement on the fretboard. While you can spend money on apps or professional teachers, it's not necessary. There are plenty of resources online that you can use to teach kids to play guitar.  For example, you can search YouTube for instructional videos. Make sure you watch the video ahead of time so you know it's kid-friendly and of good quality. There are also websites run by professional teachers who have put brief lessons online for free. For example, Coursera has free beginning guitar courses in conjunction with the Berklee College of Music. These classes may be too complex for younger kids. Justin Guitar is another free website where you can find introductory and beginner videos to help kids learn guitar basics, including simple chords and how to tune their guitars. Once the kids start to play a few riffs, home concerts give them a chance to show off as well as get comfortable playing their instruments in front of a group of people. In warmer months, have concerts in the backyard and invite the neighbors.
A: Skip traditional songs. Use simple riffs from classic rock songs. Search for free videos and resources online. Have home concerts.

Q: This will undoubtedly lead to the question of getting back together, and will sabotage your chance of establishing a platonic friendship. While maintaining a friendship with anyone, ex or not, requires occasional contact via phone or computer, don't start texting or calling your ex on a daily basis. This will inevitably create a false hope of getting back together. If either you or your ex is getting too attached and old feelings start to arise, then don't force the friendship. This is probably a sign that the breakup is too fresh, and that you need to spend more time apart.
A:
Don't have sex with your ex. Don't fall back into old patterns. Know when you back off.