<prompt> Human: Throwaway because this friends use reddit and this is humiliating to discuss. 36 YO male, single. Job in tech, roughly 4 years at current position. Salary is between 105k and 110k per year fluctuation comes from bonuses. No mortgage, no student loans. Roughly 40k in stock all from work bonuses, 12ish vested. Now for the bad stuff: Only started contributing to 401k with this job, so retirement is close to non-existant, but i am maxing out my company matching. Savings: non existant. Have four CC at around 90 utilization, right around 40k in debt some are on 0 interest, others are not. One car, used, roughly 12k left to pay. Bills are regular utilities, internet, some TV services, cellphone, car loan, insurance, and CC. Job security is solid at least it seems that way; anything can happen at any time, of course. I have never learned how to save, and never learned budget as Ive always earned right around or above what my peers were earning, so spending what those around me spent was always doable without living paycheck to paycheck. Last long term relationship crumbled because of finances; She was very thrifty, I am obviously not. Never felt comofortable getting past dating since then, primarily due to the fact that the type of women I date always seem to be very nice, very responsible women who value fiscal responsibility and I really cannot let myself get back into a relationship until I fix this. I recently started saving what does that even mean!? but have no clue how to get rid of my debt and save and build a five year plan. While I feel young, Im very aware that Im not. By any stretch. And Im starting to panic. I recently met someone that I care about, but I can already feel myself getting into the same mode of getting distant as we get closer and conversations about finances feel inevitable. Not asking for relationship advice, but: How do I undo everything I did or rather, didnt do in the past 10 years? My credit has zero negative anything on it; I always pay towards my credit cards, usually multiple times a month, but at the very minimum I pay the min. due. Regardless, my credit is pretty rough due to the 90 util. Ive looked at the sub for advice, but most of it is geared towards people like me but in their 20s, or people my age who have nowhere near the amount of wreckage to deal with that I have. I read the 35-45 section in the side bar and almost barfed. It feels like I may never realistically get to a point where any of that is achievable. Im writing in the hopes of finding some sort of strategy. Things like packing lunch and getting rid of TV is a great start, but isnt realistically going to be enough to fix anything. Save aggressively is also good, but without a tangible strategy I always feel pretty lost doing this Ive tried, many many times. Anyway, thats my story. This is probably the first time Ive gotten any of these thoughts down on paper or even said them to anyone, so even if this post gets removed or buried, I think just writing it is a good start. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  <response>: 1. Dont spend anymore more money on credit cards. 2. Pay at least 1,500 per month in cc bills.3. Continue to save that 1,500 after your cc bills are cleared up4. Track your monthly net worth the 1st of each month and compare to the last month. All assets by account, then all debts owed. Subtract the two numbers for your net worth. You want the net worth to increase. This is much easier than tracking every little thing and helps keep you accountable 