The world technically has two monetary systems. A paper-and-coin system and a credit system for use in black-strip cards. I like to think of credits as status, like hey, I have a credit card, my credit is good and I can buy nice things, whereas paper-and-coin money is like meh, I'm cool, I buy and sell things for fast-moving, easy-to-obtain chits. Credits are kind of a bitch to get, so they're still worth quite a lot. Like repairing credit! It's so difficult, but when you finally get it, it's like aaaahhhh, buy a car buy a house buy a boat buy Asphodel. And chits? Well, they're pocket cash.

All you really have to worry about is chits. Gain yourself 2-3 credits, and you don't really have to worry, because credits=housing quality, chits=money.

...is how I saw it.