<prompt> Human: Im posting this with a throwaway question and would just like some help.Im a 21 yr old finally getting out of the minimum wage jobs - I start a new job Monday thats 12.50hour with available overtime and raises.Could someone, if saved up carefully, live off this? I still live at home - 150 phone bill a month, 520 car insurance every 4 months - and then with saving money and using it on necessary things such as food and clothing, and fun, can one live with this hourly wage without worrying about going broke? I always struggled with my minimum wage jobs - didnt help that I was reckless with my money too but I know better now.Any advice and comments are appreciated. Thanks Edit: am from New Jersey if that helps Edit 2: 40 hour work weeksAssistant: Thats a very expensive phone bill. I have a paid off iPhone 6, and my wife has an iPhone 10 that were making payments in monthly and our combined service is still less than yours.You need to cut costs anywhere you can. Can you shop around for better insurance too? I know 21 is a higher cost age. If you budget and spend wisely then I think you can live off of that but it will be tough. Can you get overtime or a second job? That might be a necessity.Human: Im still paying off my iPhone 10 plus Verizon is pretty expensive regardless but I feel like its the best provider Right now for car insurance im on my dads plan, with is through MetLife and for some reason thats much the liability is, but its only paying 520 three times a year. Ive never looked through owning my own car insurance yet Overtime will be available yes  <response>: The best provider can go out the window when it costs that much. Unless you have dire need for the best cell provider. Even saving 20 a month would be a great improvement. Maybe check out tmobile? I have ATT and hate it and im considering going back to tmobile.If youre serious about moving out start saving seriously now to build a buffer and and start looking at costs. Look at rooms on craigslist with roommates and see how the price fits your income. Find out the cost of utilities splitting internet, water, electricity, gas. Food for one cooking at home and eating out maybe 1-2x a month can probably be done for 200. Consider a lower car insurance option if you can move close to work and drive fewer miles per year. You could potentially move close enough to work to bike or walk and cut out the car cost completely. You need to strip down your lifestyle to fit the budget and then very carefully choose what you want to build back into your costs because you wont have a lot of room in your budget. Cutting a car out or cutting you phone bill down could make room for a small fun budget and some small retirement contributions.You should maybe set up a spreadsheet that lists out all of your current income, your debt, and your recurring expenses on one sheet. Look at your bank statement so you have an accurate picture and you cant lie to yourself about potentially poor spending habits. Doing that will paint a current picture. Then make a second sheet with potential expenses if you move out. The answer will become clear if you do this. And having a personal finance spreadsheet will be extremely valuable for the future. Ive been using mine for 5 years and building up the detail and adding goals and watching which bills I can cut when times are tight. 