I just got a car

Got a CAR!!! it's a ford escort!!! and well it's stick is there any way to remember when to shift and remember to put the clutch in too? help 101!!!

You shift when you increase or decrease speed and you clutch when you shift.

Why would you get a standard if you don't know how to drive stick?

Have someone drive you to a wide open lot and practice, practice - you'll get it down...be Safe out there, Congrats !!

you need to have someone show you in a wie open space where no other traffic is...oh and just a tip from my learning experiance, avoid any up hill areas until you master the stick shift ..I learned in the snow on an icy road uphill...not recomended. someday you will understand exactly what I mean good luck, drive careful and have fun being liberated!! Whoo hoo!!!

It's just practise. You listen to the engine. If it sounds like it is struggling and lugging, your in too high of a gear, change down. If it is going vroooOOOMMM then change up.

I would try something like 1st gear 0-20kmph, 2nd 20 to 35kmph, 3rd 30kmph to 50kmph, 4th up to 70 and 5th for 70+.
Give that a go, and adjust as needed.

Yeah, get some practice in an empty parking lot where you can give shifting your full attention instead of having to worry about running into things.

As far as exact shift points go, cars are different. If you have a tachometer that can help you but you will have to learn to shift by instinct. In general you shift at fairly low revs when you are driving moderately and you shift later when you need to accelerate quickly (when merging onto an expressway or passing another car for example). You should not shift so early that the engine lugs in the next gear though.