Besides cannon fodder, we are also the wallet for banks, business, more banks, and the party beholden to big campaign donors (business) that controls the government--two parties so far.
When you pay yourself/save/spend less than you make, don't put it into a savings account at the bank. I don't think any bank gives more than 2% interest (annual) on savings. How much do they charge for a credit card? 18 to 30% annually. Right now, you need to earn over 8% on your savings to beat inflation, and another 20% to pay the tax man when you do spend it, and earn interest which goes on 1040 as earnings.
You need a credit card, for credit rating. That's one card. Never let the balance exceed more than you can pay off in one month. You need one car with a small loan. You always need to be current with any debt payments. Credit is a racket and why I have paragraph one, above.
You will need to find investing help, and few paid advisors will be worth your time and the money you lose to them, or their schemes. I have never heard good advice from an advisor. I made the best investment choices on my own using common sense from research.
Knowing where to invest can be a game, and one I hate. When I researched I learned of longer term places to park my savings. A few years ago, it was energy. I sailed through some crashes, felt a dip, and still beat the sharks. When my banker buddy moved to Wyoming chasing the big energy hunters, I was moving out of that market. A year later, he found himself in a ghost town. While energy was booming, drugs and medical were climbing. A long climb, so I got nervous and parked elsewhere. Goof balls and adult diapers may still be in stellar fields. Trouble is, too many others were up there also, and it looked like another market adjustment (crash). I didn't and don't have a good reading now. My savings are dwindling due to safety.
But get away from hand to mouth. Make it hand to pocket, or a box in the garden; and, then, to mouth. Today your mattress is safer than most places for saving money.