What is the first step toward determining how much you can save?

A. put 15% of your income into savings
B. stop all spending for one month
C. track your expenses for a set period of time
D. use your debit card for all purchases

C. Track your expenses for a set period of time. This will help you understand where your money is going and identify areas where you can cut back on spending and save more. Once you have a clear idea of your expenses, you can create a budget and determine how much you can realistically save each month.