Did you ever notice how the same thing happens with subscriptions, little charges you never see until you add them up? Round ups are like the good version of that, they hide the savings from you on purpose.

Going behind on payments is a big deal, not just a rough patch. Cosigning would've put that mess on your credit too, so good call holding your ground.

Austin having more tech workers per capita doesn't mean it's a bigger tech hub, San Jose's just a smaller city.