<prompt> Human: Long story short... worked the job of my dreams for 10 years. this happened: Bought a house in SoCal for 220,000 in 2000 Did not save a dimeNow Im 38, take home after everything is 4500 a month. In 4 years I have saved 40K with employee contributions.Here is the kicker. I live pay check to pay check. Bummed. Here are the basic stats per month: Mortgage with insurance 1500 Phones 179 Fios 120 Gardner 80 Gym fees 110 Gas petrol 320 Utilities 350 Food 600 Give to church 500Any help will be so thankful.Pointless PancreasUpdate 1: My apologies for not being clear. Im working at my writing and the feedback assist me tremendously. Now to answer a couple of questions. My main questionrequest is identifying the spending and developing a plan of attack on saving. Maybe a spreadsheet or mint? Yes Im married with a two year old. I have included diapers, wipes, and even ancillary items razors, cup of coffee, etc. in the monthly food total. Im in graduate studies and items like the gardner is a toss up. It seems worth it to spend 18.50 a week on a job that would take me at lead two hours per week to do. Those hours I use studying or playing with my little one. I have diabetes. I run 3-5 times a week I have trails near my house and the gym cost is actually Krav Maga. I have been doing that 3x a week and my diabetes has noticeably been better. I look at it like damage control. I also am about to cut the cord on my cable. All the above to say let me have it. By that I mean I would rather have individuals tell me how it is than fall into the typical trap of shirking responsibilities and not being open to receive correction.  <response>: Step 1 Cut the Tithing. 500 on a 4500 monthly income is ridiculous. I would suggest dropping it to 50.Step 2 Drop unnecessary expenses, 2 phones on Virgin Mobile are 90 a month for 1200 minutes plus. Drop cable and get internet for 50 a month. Do your own gardening. Right off the bat, thats almost 800 a month extra cash for savings.There is zero reason for you to have to live pay check to paycheck, you just choose too. 