'Paying yourself first' is a great concept for saving for a goal - every time you receive your income, set aside the amount you want to save and then only spend what is left. If you spend what you want and then try to save what is left you will find that you often won't have enough left to meet your goals.

I also recommend avoiding credit. With the exception of a home mortgage, avoid debt where possible. If you can't afford to fund a purchase now, then you probably can't afford to fund the purchase plus the cost of interest later. I still use a credit card to gain reward points, however I pay it off in full each month.