<prompt> Human: I am reading this sub like its porn and Im an addict. I desperately need to change my habits and thoughts about money. Up until the last year, I have lived my entire 39 years fairly poor. My adult life has included times of living on welfare and food stamps. I have lived paycheck to paycheck until fairly recently. I was given a huge promotion and raise 45 increase in annual salary last June. I saw the added funds as extra rather than what it should be - savings. We went from barely scraping by to being able to save. Only, Im historically terrible with cash and I spent most of this.I want to change. Im way to old to stay in this pattern and expect things to magically happen for me. Can anyone recommend or share with me how to do this?How did you go from spender to saver? Was there a book or a quote or something inspirational that helped you? Discipline doesnt come easy, but I HAVE TO DO THIS.Thank you!!! I will say that this sub helped me raise my credit score by 25 points recently. Some more details: I have exactly one credit card with zero balance that I was just approved for Terrible credit score of 560 from old debtcollection accounts student loans I am paying off monthlyon time No car loans We rent our house A measly 2000 in the bank Gross income between us is around 95,000 annual Four kids one off to college in a few weeks - not really costing me anything, she has a ton of scholarshipsEDIT 8712 - Just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone for your fantastic advice, stories and recommendations. I am neck deep in Mint.com and getting budgets together. I really, really appreciate this entire sub and all the posts in response to my beg for help!! We can so do this!  <response>: I was a paycheck-to-paycheck guy for a lot of years and while I never got into real bad financial trouble, I had a lot of times when my bank balance was under 10 the day before payday. It wasnt a good feeling.One day I was chatting with a colleague who had actually loaned me some money for lunch a couple of times when I was short, and he recommended a book for me to read - The Wealthy Barber - that turned my attitude around. Three words from the book Pay Yourself First really hit home for me. Instead of spending what I wanted to during the month and then putting whatever was left if anything into savings, I committed to putting 10 of my paycheck into savings right away. After seeing my savings account growing almost painlessly amazingly, much of what I wanted to spend money on I didnt need to spend money on I decided it was time to get more serious. The Wealthy Barber is a good start but its just a start. 