<prompt> Human: Hi all:As above, age 41, single parent, no savings. I earn 17.40hr, but no childcare, so I work 30 hours a week sometimes 35 hours a week. Sometimes I can hustle and earn some more on the side, but its not guaranteed. I feel like a loser after reading the other stories here. Should I bother trying to get a grip or just keep on keeping on? Sorry so negative, it just all seem so insurmountable at this point. ETA: WOW thank you everyone for the incredible responses and support. I am truly inspired and motivated by your words! Ive already gone through my budget and found 300 I can cut out, and have some leads on additional income. I think I just needed some encouragement and youve given it in spades. Thank you.2nd Edit: Just checked out compound interest on just saving 5500year - I knew compound interest was a thing but OMG I am so much more encouraged now. This sub rocks. Thanks for your patience and encouragement!Assistant: As others have stated, the fact that youre raising a kid on your own is already really impressive. It also means youre responsible and proactive enough to push it forward and make some better things happen.Compare yourself to me - Im a little younger in my 30s and make a pretty good living, but until recently I was shit with money. I couldnt raise a kid, even with twice the income. You, conversely, make it work. Thats significantly more impressive, and makes you the complete opposite of a loser.Onto practical advice: - A lot of skills can be developed for free. I have no formal education as a Web Developer I was an English major, but I make a good living now in a career I learned from Codecademy free and just building and testing websites which costs very little beyond time and patience. Theres a lot of opportunity out there like that. My brother has no college education at all, but took an apprenticeship in commercial painting, and now supports his wife and five children because he worked his way up to project manager - all he had going for him was his intelligence, his drive and his integrity. If youre raising a kid on 17.40hour, you have these things as well. 41 is still young - you have a lot of time to make amazing things happen for you. - Putting any amount away per paycheck will help you. If you cant do 10, do 5. It sounds like nothing, but it matters. Itll help you psychology and its so much better to have something than nothing. I turned my entire financial situation around simply by putting away 50 a paycheck. If nothing else it taught me an important lesson in what was possible, and just how easy it is to get used to that process. - I see that you have a hefty chunk of student loan debt, and if youre supporting a child on 17.40, you might have a hard time trimming any fat and cutting your costs. You might consider posting a budget to this subreddit - the folks here are pretty good at identifying fatty parts that can be trimmed. - You might also consider posting about your skillset here, or any of the number of subreddits dedicated to helping out with career advancement. If youre reasonably intelligent, I can guarantee you can advance your career with just a little bit of hustle, but itll depend on what your specific skillset is.I hope this rambling makes you feel hopeful, if nothing else. Trust me man, if a moron like me can secure a good life and career for himself, a guy with your integrity sure can.Human: You are very kind. I have been very inspired by the support of the people on this forum today. I have already been through my budget and found 300month to trim with the possibility of a little more. Im going to follow the flowchart as some suggested and save an emergency fund next, then Roth, then pay off that student loan. Meanwhile, I do have a lot of downtime on the job where I can do other little things at the same time and earn maybe 200week more. I think I just needed a boost and someone to tell me Im not a loser. Thanks.  <response>: You are not a loser. Youre trying to better your financial situation. That makes you a winner in my book. Youve already found potentially 300 to trim from your budget - thats awesome! 