<prompt> Human: I think I did it. No car payments, no credit card balance, hospital bills paid, student loans paid, no mortgage. I make about 50Kyear and rent a 450mo apartment Its a cheap area of USA. I pay a fair amount into retirement every month, and not sure due to health issues that Ill ever see that money anyway, so I think Im doing ok with that. Last couple months Ive just been putting extra money into a couple savings accounts. I have about 6K for emergency so far. SO everything seems to be pretty hunky-dory but I dont feel safe. I feel like something is going to trick me and Ill end up back in debt. I dont trust buying a house because Ive seen a few friends end up in a bad situation after 2008. I feel like Im stuck in the poor college student mentality and cant get out of it. Im still wary of buying anything thats over 100. Im assuming that continuing to put extra money in savings isnt a bad thing for now, but what should I shoot for next? Just fishing for ideas, thanks.Assistant: You might look into CD Ladders. Not for savvy investment purposes, but to get used to locking up different amounts of money for finite periods of time. Example: 6000 total; put 3000 grand in a three year CD, put 2000 in a one year CD, and maybe 1000 in a two year CD. You will find that you have money available at different intervals, and you can plan accordingly. Of course, always have that emergency fund for when the transmission blows, or you need stitches and have a high medical co-pay.That might get you past the deer in the headlights position.Human: Thanks, that sounds like a good way to get my feet wet and not just hide my money in a savings account that gives me 0.01 every now and then for interest. I like the idea of spreading it so they mature at different times too.  <response>: And they make CDs with shorter terms, too. 6 months, for instance.Another thing to try ... Donate a little bit to charity. 5month to your local food bank would help and feels very tangible to me or drop off a bag of useful items, like canned beef stew and other easy to heat and eat meals. Sometimes nothing helps you realize you have enough as well as giving a little bit away. 