Most people do not know where they are financially. A way to figure your net worth is to take a snapshot of your finances. This can happen after an illness, college graduate with student loans and no assets, or other situations. Just note the condition, review ways of solving it and start spending less that you make.
Next year take another financial snapshot and see if progress has been made.
Money talks - but credit has an echo. Bob Thaves Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.