Getting your spending under control and in line with your income is an essential element to building a strong financial future. Analyze your spending (including what you put on a credit card) each month to make sure you're not spending more than you're bringing in. Once you've got that under control, consider placing what 'extra' you have every month in savings. You'll never know when you'll need it and its better to take money out of a savings account to pay for unanticipated expenses rather than adding it to a credit card balance.