To create a budget, determine your income and recurring expenses like mortgage payments, food, transportation costs and clothing. Then, set spending goals for your major expenses categories. You have to save for more than retirement. See if you can live without that money. You may be surprised.
Excessive debt eats up discretionary money.
After awhile, you're working to pay the interest on your debt. To break this vicious cycle, increase your monthly payments and pay off the credit cards with the highest interest rates first. Cut expenses and take a part-time job to get the money. In the meantime, stop charging. If you can't make any headway with your budgeting or debt reduction efforts, consider contacting a credit counselor.