It was looking dire for me aswell, (proper) healthcare is now mandatory, we were going to starve paying it until I got this promotion. I'm just going to sock my money away for awhile live like nothings changed, then get a car, and my first home. It's weird but its amazing how many things you suddenly have to pay for when you move up. I really wish I had a partner to contribute.
I in some small chasm can relate to your situation, I got a small line of credit to boost my score, then winter hit and my earnings dwindled, luckily I nipped it in the bud but that sense of fear was terrible.