Whether you’re earning big bucks or barely making ends meet, it’s important that you play your financial cards right. After all, you never know when you’re going to need to access your contingency fund or how long your good fortune is going to last. No contingency fund? All the more reason to read on! Luckily, managing your finances is simpler than you think. Click through the gallery for seven tips to help you meet your financial goals.

(1. Photo of wallet by StockMonkeys.com via Flickr Creative Commons 2. Background image by M4D GROUP via Flickr Creative Commons ; image edited by Mike Dee)