<prompt> Human: I have been in the restaurant industry for my entire adult like and have always only saved enough to survive. What do my brethren do that I dont that keeps them more than afloat?  <response>: I did restaurants for 10 years. Owners are not going to pay you more, they have no incentive because they can replace you easily. The only way to make actual money in your average restaurant is to own, or sometimes manage. Yes sometimes fine dining servers or bartenders at iconic locations can make a high income, but they are the exception, not the norm. But let me answer your actual question as best I canWith fluctuating income you have to set up a line item budget. Food, rent, utilities, transportation, and clothing are top tier expenses and are paid first out of your tips. Let the credit cards get behind before you skip food. Once you have your budget set up, try to hit these steps. Save 3-6 months of expenses in an emergency fund. Any time money is spent from the emergency fund, build it back to full before starting the next steps. Pay off all debts and stay out of debt. Save for a downpayment and buy a house. Invest roughly 15 of your income into a low cost index fund every month. It is a very slow process but it will help you retire with some dignity. 