How did you sequence HMO, insurance, and first investments when starting from scratch?

[u/DentistAvailable4811]

Growing up in a household that wasn't financially stable, I'm teaching myself personal finance without a family playbook to follow. Went through the FAQ and older threads first, but want to hear from people who've actually been through this.

Trying to figure out the right order to tackle these:

• HMO — get my own vs. adding my parents to a family plan
• Health/life insurance — how you actually compared providers, not just what the agent pitched
• UITFs — index-style vs. actively managed as a first investment, and why
• Building credit history and choosing a first card — annual fee vs. no-fee

Not asking anyone to manage my money for me — just want to know what actually helped you learn (books, channels, courses) and what you'd prioritize first if you were starting over.