<prompt> Human: I moved to NYC last October from Boston in search of a better job. I was living at home in Boston so I didnt have to pay rent. For about a year out of grad school I was on a regular payment plan for my student loans, paying over 1000 a month. I started spending more money on my lifestyle and gradually moved into an IBR plan.After finding out my girlfriend and I were having a baby, I decided to move to New York to advance my career and get a better paycheck. Of course this involved a huge increase in rent from zero to 1650 a month. My salary changed from 48k to 65k. My girlfriend is at home with our little guy. She covers most of his expenses from her savingsfamily, as well as most of our food expenses. I am covering rent, utilities, as well as my own personal expenses.For her to start earning she needs to finish her PhD, which she can apparently do by May of next year, under the condition we find a way of providing a little more support in the child care department so she can focus on her writing. Her solution is to move back to LA where she can expect more support from her parents, although I would still presumably be paying rent for both of us for another year. Or I would find an apartment for myself while she would stay with her parents. Disadvantage being I would not get to live with my girlfriend and child. I could expect to make about the same or slightly more in LA. I would imagine rent to be slightly less although I would have to get a cheap car and pay for gasinsurance. She is set on moving back to LA after being on the east coast for school. I would like to go as well but Im starting to feel anxious about my financial situation.Moving back to Boston seems the logical solution, but not wonderful for my career or sense of personal progress. I like my family but they can get me down after a while so I have really valued living independently.The details:Income: 3545 take home per monthExpenses: Rent: 1650 Utilities: 125 Phone: 50 Gym: 50 Loans: Student Loan Group 1, under IBR: 33,074 4.125 88,859 6.55 26,882 7.65 Total 295 a month Group 2, regular payment plan: 14,000 5 Total 200 a month Credit Cards: CC 1: 1,578 20.49 APR CC 2: 2,805 19.24 Credit Score is 690 Other: I am 30 and work as an architect Currently making a 4 contribution into a 401k with no match No emergency fund or significant savings I probably spend most of my discretionary income on take out lunches and fancy groceries. GF does most of our shopping but when I go I like to buy nice meats and the occasional cheesenice beer. I also went to a number of my friends weddings this year which ended up costing quite a bit.I was able to maintain this lifestyle as an indebted bachelor, but now with the kid I have to take control.The GF is good at budgeting and saving, whereas I am kind of a mess. I have tried Mint before but stopped, just started a free trial of YNAB. Beyond budgeting I feel I need an attitude adjustment as Ive always been bad with money. How can I come up with a plan to tackle these debts and prepare a decent lifestyle for my family? I would really appreciate any advice or suggestions. Thank you!edit: formatting, some detailsAssistant: I can only offer a small piece of advice: limit or remove your reliance on Seamless or whatever and start making your lunches. Takeout in NYC is a really bad combination of easy and expensive. Go through your statement and calculate how much youve speny on takeoutdelivery for the month of May. Youll probably be as horrified as I was.Human: My solution to this was look for a company that provides lunch or lets you expense it. Depending on your industry it might not be possible, but many do. On average Id spend 10 a day on lunch, so easily a couple hundred a month.Assistant: My company lets us expense our dinners, but then I end up spending less time with my little guy. Free lunch is a benefit I plan on looking for in my next job!  <response>: Expense the dinner and have it for lunch the next day? 