Like just about everyone else out there, I never have enough money.

Sure I have a job. But I also have student loans and credit card debt. And there's rent, water, the electric bill, cable, Internet, cell phone, car insurance and all the other expenses that come with adulthood.

I find myself in a constant quandary: How do I make the money I have go as far as possible and make sure I'm covered for whatever financial surprises life has in store for me?

I'll admit I would like to have it all -- or at least as much of it as I can get. I want to live in a nice place, drive a nice car, travel the world and get in at least a little shopping.

My life probably won't resemble "MTV Cribs," and I can accept that. I mean, I am a journalist, not an NBA star or award-winning songstress.

Still, I want to live as comfortably as I can. And I'm willing to try a little financial planning to make it happen.

I'm told there are three basic things we should all be doing: making sure we don't spend more than we earn, paying off our debt in a smart way and thinking about what we want in the future.

Too bad it's not as easy as it sounds.

But when it comes to spending less than you earn, there are lots of little things you can do to free up more of your own dollars. Cut back on the $3 lattes. Drop the landline. Clip coupons, and pack a lunch a couple of times a week. Order a $2 pint instead of a $10 martini. Avoid bars and clubs with cover charges.

The bottom line is to figure out what you earn after taxes, and don't spend any more than that.

And as much as you want to keep your monthly bills down, don't just pay the minimum amount due on your credit cards if you can help it. As painful as bigger payments may be now, taking longer to pay off your debts will end up costing you more.

The best way to deal with your debt: Pay off high interest credit cards first, and make payments large enough to bring down your balance, not just cover interest charges.

As if juggling all this isn't enough, my pesky savings account -- which has dropped as low as $2.62 in recent months -- keeps screaming, "Don't forget about me!"

Saving seems like something that can wait until my paycheck gets bigger, but in an industry where layoffs aren't unusual, I just can't do that. Besides, I want to take a trip around the world.

I guess I'm going to have to start somewhere and start now. But that's what financial planning is all about -- figuring out what you want and how to get there.

I'm just glad to have a $2.62 head start on that trip.