I'm twenty-nine, and regret doing this when I was younger. I spent far more than I earned up until I turned 21 or so, and it took me a few years to pay things

I'm twenty-nine, and regret doing this when I was younger. I spent far more than I earned up until I turned 21 or so, and it took me a few years to pay things off. What are you spending money on? If you're buying experiences and knowledge, through travel, education, and maybe your own startup, then you're doing it (mostly) right. If you drive a Mercedes and have a 60" TV, you're doing it wrong. Even if you're spending wisely, you really want to be stashing money aside in a rainy day fund. Aim for about $10k USD in liquid cash that you can tap at any time. It's enough to cover your car suddenly exploding, or an unexpected medical expense, or even to just support yourself for a year if you have to, as long as you're frugal.