<prompt> Human: I have worked my way through college and luckily do not have any student loan debt looming over my finances, however, I need some real honest advice. I have held a job at a bank for the last 5 years, I am currently a personal banker. I live and work in Asheville, NC, where the average household is earning 40k.. annually. I am on track to gross 38,000 this year but Im living paycheck to paycheck with minimal monthly obligations and its really taking a toll on my life.Here is a brief rundown; after taxes, insurance, and 401k, my check is approximately 860 bi-weekly, well say 1700month. I have a 14000 car with a great APR and payments of 280, insurance is 125, cell phone averages 75, TV and Internet is 60, rent is 690, electric averages 40. Thats 1270, okay were good so far...I spend at least 35 a week on fuel to commute, or 140 monthly, 200 monthly for groceries and a eating out only a few times, and I also have to pay 6 daily for parking 5 days a week, or 120 each month. Thats another 460 every month...A grand total of 1730, with NO DEBT, and am income of 1700. Just typing this has made me extremely anxious, I try to avoid budgeting because this is scary. What would you do if you were in my shoes? Sorry for ending so abruptly, thanks in advance for the support, Ill check in soon. Assistant: Are you withholding too much? Or paid 1099? You should be doing a lot better than 1700 net a month if you are grossing 38k a year.Agree that the car is eating you alive, though i dont normally think as spartan as a lot of pf on cars. Do you have any equity? Do you know someone who can sell you a beater? I know this can be tricky if you are like me, who doesnt know the first thing about repairs. Human: Maybe I am, 6 percent is going to my 401k because my employer matches the same amount. I think I can cut expenses elsewhere before I change my withholdings.  <response>: By withholding, I suspect beanie was thinking W4 tax withholdings. By all means leave the 401k alone, but with your income you should be paying about 4000yr in federal income tax. How much was withheld on your check is it moreless than 400026? 