u/EBGxxst

Hello this year I have become super focused on my finances. I’m 27 and I haven’t really been that serious about money or my life in general for the past seven or so years. So this year, I finally got serious about my saving and my spending.
so far I’ve saved about $10,000 and took 2000 of that to pay off all my credit card debts. Now I have about $8,000 left and it’s just sitting in my local credit union. I know I want to start building an emergency fund/savings towards the house later on, but I also want to add to my retirement as well. I’m currently working as a server in a restaurant which is nice for daily cash, but I’m not paying into any retirements besides my Social Security. I don’t plan on being a server forever and I really want to go back to school eventually I just really haven’t been able to afford it up until now.
So at this point, I don’t know where to go or how to put my money where it gets the best bang for the buck. I really want to save 30k by the end of the year, if that makes any difference either! Please help a girl out!
Right now for high-yield savings accounts, I’m stuck between Ally bank and SoFi, but I don’t ever see any direct deposit checks from my job (server taxes) so I don’t think SoFi would be the best option since I know you need direct deposit to get the best interest rates :)
PS: I have suffered with severe depression and that’s why I’m kind of getting a later start on my life. So please be nice but helpful!