I always pay my bills on time and actually used to living BELOW my means in order to save any extra money to feel secure.

I am also interested in building up my credit which was affected by my husband' bankrupcy and foreclosure after divorce. I didn't have a credit of my own when I got married, and my husband got a lot of credit card debts. After the divorce I had to let our house foreclose because the payments were too big for me to pay alone, and for a long while, I wasn't getting any child support payments.

Ever since that, whatever bills I got I pay on time. I am used to live on whatever cash is available and plan ahead. I buy everything for cash and do not have any credit card or other debts. I have credit card opened solely for the purpose of fixing my credit, and each month I pay off EVERYTHING I purchase on it. Similarly, I plan to pay off this loan as quickly as possible (a year or under).

I now have a steady monthly income which allows for modest living even when I am not employed.
The reason I have $0 listed for income is because there is no option for my kind of income: I get $2226/mo by check in backed-up child-support payments + I make extra money by being a nanny to neighbourhood kids and taking housecleaning assignments, making $500-800 (which is usually cash, so I can't get proof). Also, if I need more money, I get more hours - which wasn't an option before, with my old employment as a store clerk.

Essential monthly expenses:
Apartment - $ 975
Phone - $35
Utilities - $200
Food - $200
School - $225.

Which leaves about $500 for optional/unexpected expenses or savings, plus whatever else I make as nanny.
It allowed me to make some savings for a rainy day. So, I'm perfectly confident I can pay off the loan without any problems even if I get sick, etc. I mostly need the loan to establislish credit - my goal is to eventually build up my score to the point when I can qualify for mortgage, so we can have a home once again. I know it will take a lot of work, but this is one of my first steps on the way to it!

(When I recently wanted to move closer to my son's school, I got approved for new apartment with no problems)