Does anyone in LA actually save money AND build credit?

I moved here not too long ago and honestly, I don’t know how people do it. Rent eats up half my paycheck, gas prices feel like robbery, and even a casual dinner out adds up way too fast. I’ve been trying to save where I can - meal prepping, saying no to Ubers, cutting back on going out; but it still feels like the city just drains you.

The other thing on my mind is credit. I know I need to build it if I ever want to rent somewhere decent or even think about buying someday. But I’ve avoided credit cards because I don’t trust myself not to overspend. I heard there are debit cards that report to credit bureaus, which sounds like a safer middle ground, but I have no idea if those actually work or if it’s just hype.

So I’m curious, how are you all balancing saving money in LA while also building credit? Or is everyone else just hanging on by a thread like me?