<prompt> Human: Ok so a little background: I stayed with my parents while I was in school to save money my part-time job hours were cut, the whole town lost about 6 or more businesses in 1 year its been a hard recovery. I ran out of financial assistance for school in my last two terms and took a loan to cover the rest loan for 16.5k ended up at 20k after interest and 6 month payment delay in contract, my SO has a smaller loan about 10k or less now; between the two of us our loans total about 400 a month mine about 230 and his 140. This is our main debt right now, I paid my car off while going to school and own it outright, so its just this and average expenses insurance, grocery, gas,etc that we pay for. I also give my parents 400 a month to help out we buy our groceries and all its more for power and water and stuff.So here are where the problems begin...After my part-time jobs hours were cut to 0-5 hours a week if I was lucky, I graduated and attempted to get a better job. My degree is in social science and my career goal was to work in a museum. A local county position opened up and I gladly applied and got hired. They made me the curator didnt ask and was under qualified but I only work 40 hours a month seasonal 712 months which is really bad but still infinitely better than the previous job hours. I have asked to make the position more permanent as have the committee members for the museum but its local government so if the money for the job isnt laying right there it doesnt exist and this is just an extra help job. Now I dont want to leave this job for a few reasons.1. Its my career path, I have my foot in the door, most people at my level do unpaid internships for years so I should be happy that I am getting paid period.2. I applied for literally thousands of jobs and this was the only one to ever call me back and give me an interview. The job market here is still crappy in recovery mode from losing old businesses and creating new ones years later. I feel like there must be over 1000 people applying for every job because many people in this town are in the same boat or worse off.3. If I got ANOTHER job, I would be gone nearly every day current job weekends only and I did work multiple jobs while going to school and know it is sooo soul crushing and tiring,really not looking forward to going back but will, and do apply for part time jobs.My SO has a great job in this city, typically county and factory work here are best payingbenefits and all that. He was a seasonal worker for a while the job market here realllyy sucks working and being laid off, then he managed to get a job at a paper product factory, so no more seasons which is great. The problem with finances isnt him its me, I feel that if I contributed as much as he we wouldnt be struggling so much. But anyway, there is another issue...pets.He had a dog German shepherd when we met, I had a cat. We are big animal lovers and In the course of our relationship we found a little dog and a kitten and my families cat has adopted it as a child so now I cant separate those two so now I have 2 dogs and 3 cats and renting is a problem. We could much easier afford an apartment or renting a house over buying but no one will take our pets. So we decided we will just buy so we dont have to part with them or wait for them to die. Now even though the job market here is terrible, buying a house is cheap 3bd-2bth for 140k, nice houses too. I have found some mortgage estimates put monthly payment for that around 600-700. This coupled with the utilities and general expenses is doable for us tight but doable.So reddit, what did you do to change your finances? How did you save more? Shouldcan I refinance my loanget cheaper payments based on income? Are there grants for people like me usda, fha, etc? Should I really buy a house its a big purchase?Bottom line, I dont want to, and am nearing cant, live at home anymore. I need to start my life. I know it wont happen today but please help me get this ball rolling, thank you.TL;DR: Living at home, wantneed to move out, am in debt with little income and 5 pets so renting is hard. May have to buy a house, must organize financeslearn tips to save more. Help.Edit: FormattingAssistant: Can you answer these questions first? what is your actual income right now? what is your SOs income? 30k in loans which cost 400mo, right? 400mo rent lets face it other misc expenses amount? what is your credit like and same with your SO? house budget for 150k 0 in savings? monthly payment of 600-700 is misleading. Its likely to be less than that as far as mortgage but more overall due to insurance and taxesWhats your actual budget before anyone can help you?Shooting from the hip while knowing almost nothing about your finances - I dont think you can afford to do anything but: stabilize your financial situation as far as getting a full time job that hopefully pays well pay offdown your debt once thats done, start saving for a down paymentHuman: Ill do my best to answer.My income plus SO average 2700 a monthYes the loan amounts correct so -400 a month-400 rent is also correctMisc expenses are foodclothinggasetc so it depends but probably 300-500 a monthMy credit is phenomenal, no bad marks and paid credit cards and loans, he had defaulted about 3 years ago but recovered very quickly but his score needs to be checkedI am budgeting for that range but would prefer it to be lowerAt the moment we have 600 on savings AC in car just broke so it took it down a bitThe payment was just an estimate given, including taxes and insurances, but again im not counting on it being that it was just a number I was toldWe are not spending on any extras and paying rent while living at home zaps 400 from my savings each month. I am going to go to a temp agency as I have been applying for jobs and not heard a single word for more than 6 months.  <response>: At 2700month income, 600 in savings you cant afford 140K house. Renting will even be a stretch. Based on the information youve given it doesnt sound like you know what your spending. Why dont you have more in savings? 