<prompt> Human: I am looking for some advise on how I should move forward with saving and general personal finances.To give a bit of basic information. I currently make 69k a year. I have little over 7k in my savings account. I max out my 401k. I have started a ROTH IRA but I have not been putting money in it. I only have 100 I just through some money into when I opened it. The only debt I have is 17k on my truck. I pay 456 a month for that. I am saving 725 a month I am paying 940 a month for rent.My questions are: Do I work towards building up an emergency fund or look at saving more for a down payment on a condohouse? Do I cut my saving down from 725 to 500 and put an extra 225 a month towards paying down my truck? And the last one and hardest to answer... Is buying really better then renting? To buy something in my area its going to cost me 1100 a month with HOA fees and taxes. I have been able to save good amount of money each month for awhile now and It worries me to cut it down when I have to start paying more for a place. Currently I live 5 minutes from work and if I buy I a place I would have to be 20 minutes away to where I work. It costs so much to buy where I currently live. So I would have to pay a lot more in gas. More monthly costs... Or am I just being paranoid because am going to be spending more money?I am sure you guys will tear this apart but I am just seeking some advise.Assistant: It sounds like you dont mind where you live currently. I recommend you keep doing what youre doing, paying down your vehicle and contributing to savings for future down payment. Maybe plan on buying when your truck is paid in full? Human: Yeah I really dont mind were I live too much. I just was always told to buy buy buy. Renting is a waste So that is one of the reasons I was looking to purchase a place.  <response>: A very common misconception that a lot of people on here come about posting based on what their peers and family tell them. You NEED a place to live, and renting offers that to you with more flexibility than buying. If youre not pretty damned sure that you will live in a place for more than 5 years, then it doesnt usually make sense to buy. 