<prompt> Human: So, Im 21. I just received a promotion which will move me from hourly wage 22,00 year to about 34,000 year. I have probably 200 in credit card debt and as of right now about 700 to my name. This promotion could not have come at a better time! Since I did not go to college I dont have any loans taken out, so that puts me in a pretty good place. I want to know what I should do. Of course, I would love to have a cushion, but there are so many places I could put my money I want to make sure I start my financial portfolio correctly. Any suggestions are welcome. I considered getting a financial advisor, but I trust Reddit! Thanks in advance for all of your help.  <response>: The first thing you need is a working budget. You should know exactly what you have coming in vs. what you have going out. That will tell you how much money you can allocate to savingsinvestments. It is smart to have a cushion and you will want to set this up first, thats going to be at least 3-6 months living expenses in case you lose your job and need to find a new one or have some other major emergency. 