<prompt> Human: I am freshly 24 and averaging 700 weekly. My monthly expenses are as follows;Rent: 1100Utilities: 300Food: 500 cant cook waste groceriesMisc: 55 toilet paper, etc.Gas: 40Bike payment: 144 6,850 left on principleTheres not much else except I probably drink to much beer and I have a girlfriend no car, min. wage job, no skills of 4years I will most likely marry. I want to have a perfect savings with well placed investments although I dont believe I will ever retire. I really just want to be comfortable. Im exhausted of being frightened by the end of the month. Where should I begin?  <response>: Utilities: 300Is for a whole house? Seems a bit on the high end.Food: 500This is definitely too high, if its for one personcant cook waste groceries Well, for a, its never too late to learn. For b, you already identified the problemGirlfriend is roommate. Shes just... super poor.Is this a rough patch, or typical? If its typical, you need to have a long heart to heart about finances, as well as long term career goals. Money is the 1 killer of relationships. Long term, shes gonna have to contribute something or other.Min wage job is what, like 1,160mo. Where is that money going?Thats honestly where the other money is going. I have a sensitivity to isolation and can spiral into depressive behaviors if Im not out and entertained enough. Its debilitating after more than 2 days. A hefty fun budget is a must for mental health.This is probably the thing you need to work on. This is anywhere on the spectrum from not realistic, justifying over spending to actual health problem. If its the latter, you should considering investing in seeing a health professional, because its not normal to go into a depressive spiral if you cant go out for 2 days. That sounds like youre papering over other problems by going out almost every night.And on a similar note, learning how to go on dates that dont cost so much money will help as well, financially.I need to cut the food: I know. I dont cook because I work close to 10hrs a day and am exhausted the other 7 that Im not getting my social charge.If your girlfriend isnt working, one way couples often help split the work load is the one that works less, does a lot of the household stuff like cooking.The other thing would be to meal prep. There are plenty of cheap things you can prepare ahead of time say, on the weekend, and have it ready to go in the microwave when you get home.Other than that, it really comes down to discipline- we cant make you do it, you gotta want it more than taking the easy road.The rent is TOO DAMN HIGH! Its honestly gonna be a loss to move. Im in a rent to own situation and Ive already got over 36 grand into it. Its like, what a waste when Im already ahead? The house is worth 187,000 which is CHEAP in this location. I get rent compensation when I make repairs I am a carpenter with other skills, like, its my career What if my lady can help with a percentage of her monthly earnings? 600 mo. Is it possible to stay on track?Wed need more details to be sure, but this sounds suscipiously like sunk-cost syndrome. You might be worth.Honestly though, 1100 is definitely doable, especially if you have so contributing 600. Its a matter of getting your other spending under control. So on that front, its gonna come down to what you prioritize more- the house, or eating out etc.Any suggestions for investing?Acorn is fine for playing around, but its not the road to a serious retirement fund. See the sidebar for info on index funds like vanguard. Thats where youre gonna want to be.Okay I have 0 work benefitsYou should start thinking about health insurance, if you dont have it already. Even if you dont care about it that much, working a hard labor job is gonna wear your body down. You can only skimp out by being young for so long. 