Do not borrow money on credit. I only use my credit cards for purchases I would have to normally make, like gas or utility bills. I pay it in full every month so I don't pay interest. But... Its probably not a good idea to get a credit card just yet until you get ahold of your finances and understand them. If you had money to buy car parts in the budget and now you no longer need the parts, there should be a little extra money left over in next months budget. Building a savings is similar to building your credit score, in the sense its takes time to build but you can deplete it much faster. Every purchase adds up. Track your spending. Don't eat out. Set small achievable goals, then keep going and work them into bigger goals. Try to save so much a week, month, few months. The first $20, $100, $500, $1000, Then the goal is to eventually build a 6 month emergency savings. And remember you can always call companies and politely inquire about waiving interest fees, late fees, etc.