<prompt> Human: This post is a wake up call for me. I have been financially irresponsible for far too long. Five years ago, I started with 40k in student loan, and a 65k job. I put a goal of paying off the loan in 5 years due to the high interest rate of 15 student loan is from India, which I could not refinance in the US due to lack of a co-signer and no credit history. I am on track to pay off the remaining 13k with my tax refund next month. This would have been a perfect ending, but I also have a 4k cc debt AND a 7k credit line debt, both at 13.5. The credit line was racked up to 8500 in 2016 due to a dental procedure for which I did not have an emergency fund. Next time I will create an emergency fund and maybe go for medical tourism instead taking a loan and pay such astronomical fees. The credit card bill was pilled up in early 2016 because of travel for a friends wedding and a trip back home to India for a family emergency. Due to my existing liability of the student loan, I was unable to pay down the cc and the credit line bill sufficiently over the past year. With an avalanche method of paying off the student loan next month, I still need some guidance to pay off the remaining 11k debt and also build up an emergency fund. Im 33 yo and 5 years into my job, and have a decent 401k but have zero dollars saved up. My rent is size able too at 2200 on a take home pay of 5300 pm, but Im not into staying with roommates. I realize that my habit of going out regularly is deeply impacting my wallet and lack of savings. I live in New York, where going out is synonymous with living. But I still need a solid plan to pay off my debt this year and start saving, to eventually buy an apartment in another 5-10 years?!34 Americans with Zero savings is the study I quoted in the title. EDIT Thanks everyone for your feedback. Agreed I need a budget and need to change my attitude on going out for food and drinks. Heres my shot at making and sticking to a budget. Annual salary is 115k with 15k bonusMonthly salary: 9580Fed tax 27 : 2560NY State tax 9 : 824401k 7: 666Insurance 4: 340Take home 54: 5188Now expenses as of take homeRent 42: 2200Payoff 11k Debt with 13.5 interest, monthly payment over 12 months 19: 1000Electric, cable, subway, phone 8: 400Food 8: 400Gym 2: 120Entertainment 8: 400Savings 13: 660Entertainment includes restaurants, bars, concerts, shows, clothing, etc. Its in my hands to determine how much I allocate to each. Things I should not do:Take cabsGo out more than once a weekShop unnecessarilyThings I should do:Cook.Run workout. Limit going out to barsrestaurants. Update deductions to reduce taxes  <response>: You are going to have to address your standard of living and understand why you are spending out of control. Until you figure that out, we cant help you. 