<prompt> Human: Throwaway here so I can get into specifics. A little background: Im 21, working in Marketing, and have just received a raise from 14 to 19hr. I work about 25-30 a week boss doesnt want me on full-time, but I could probably work up to 35 hours a week, so my yearly salary would probably equate to about 25-30k a year. Additionally, Ive taken a contracted position developing a businessmarketing strategy for another company at 10hr for 10 hours a week. The money doesnt seem like much, especially since Im living in a very expensive beach city in California, but I have had a couple people rightfully tell me that I should be able to live comfortably with my wage as an unmarriedno kids individual with little financial obligations. Is this really possible? It seems like Ive tried everything and have made no progress whatsoever in establishing financial responsibility. I dont pay for my medicalcar insurance or cell phone bill Im still on my parents plans. I dont even have a car, so no gas expenses.I pay 500 very low for my area to my boyfriend to cover my portion of the rent. I have 2 credit cards which are practically maxed out with about 1k owed on both of them. Im following the snowball method of paying them off, so Ive been paying the minimum about 50 so far. I also have about 5k left in college loans and also pay the minimum 85 on those. Ive tried budgeting with Mint and even though I stay in my budget parameters, Im still short on money at the end of the month.Im getting really nervous because Ive been out of university for 2 years now and accomplishing a lot, career-wise, but have ZERO handle on my finances. I am in the process of applying to grad school to get my MBA, and then I will be short even more time to work and will probably have to take out money in loans. How can I live on my minimal ? paycheck and still be able to pay off debts and have money left over for myself and my expenses? Please help!Assistant: Ive tried budgeting with Mint and even though I stay in my budget parameters, Im still short on money at the end of the month.It doesnt make sense to stay you are sticking to your budget and end up short of money. If your budget is greater than the amount you bring home every month, its not a budget at all. Your budgeting parameters should be less than your total income, not more. Anyway, what are those budgeting parameters? And how much do you bring home every month? Money doesnt just disappear, its going somewhere. You need to figure out where.And if you actually are inexplicably budgeting for more than your income, you need to find a way to either a get more income, or b cut down on expenses.Human: I estimated bringing home about 1,500 a month to be on the safe side.And my budget parameters are as follows:100 - credit card debt 85 - student loan500 - rent 150 - going out this includes eating out at restaurants, coffee, parties, etc. 150 - groceries150 - personal spending shopping, beauty, hair, etc.And thats it. Ill sometimes have things that dont fit in the categories, like visiting my parents Amtrak tickets can get kinda expensive or travel expenses when I go somewhere. Ive also gotten hit by overdraft fees and interest payments.  <response>: Eliminate going out cut way back on personal spending.You dont earn enough to afford it. 