<prompt> Human: Alright Reddit, Im tired of always wondering if Am I doing this financial thing right and have decided to ask the internet for their opinion on how Im doing.Im 28. Dodged a huge bullet by not having any college loans thanks to jobs, scholarships, my amazing grandparents and parents.Ive been in my own place for a year now and have been trying my damndest to get my finances straight. Ive been using YNAB for awhile, but beyond looking at pretty graphs, I havent gotten serious about it, which I want to change IMMEDIATELYHeres the breakdown:My biggest expense is the brand new car I decided to buy and pay off on a 5 year loan at 2.75 Ive got 2 years left to pay it off at the current rate.I have a 2nd car that is paid for and is fully insured. It is a Project car. It runs, but is not reliable transportation. Obviously plan on selling this.I have some medical bills totalling about 400. Ive been trying to throw 10-20 at it when I can, which is not every month.No CC debt. All my bills go to a single credit card and is paid off at the end of the month.3k LEFT in savings after I moved out that I REALLY need to start putting money back into. I find myself dipping into it too often to cover the difference due to my overspending.Base Salary is 37k. After withholdings includes insurance and retirement Im only bringing in about 24k, which translates to about 2000 a monthOn that 2000 a month I need to pay:Rent - 750 2br duplex. Ive looked at other apartments, but I love the location, neighborhood and my landlords actually give a shit.Utils - 189 power, phone, internetCar payment heres whats killing me - 374.06month 2.75. With 7900 to go!Car insurance heres whats killing me - 210month bc I have speeding tickets to go with that brand new car. 2 tickets will drop off in September, this should lower my premium. I have multi-line discount with 2 cars and renters insurance.So that should leave me with around 400 left over for groceries, gas commute is only like 6 miles round trip, drs appointments, prescriptions etc.How do I make this work or am I just stretching myself way to thin and need to suck it up and move to a cheaper place.Possibilities: Ive been at my new job a year and am doing great so there MAY be a raise coming my way...but probably not until october. There may also be a christmas bonus.My thoughts:Get a part time job. Ive applied to several retail places.Get a cheaper cell phone bill. Im still on my folks family plan so my part is only like 50month.I am going to sell my project car, but my insurance says that by doing this I will lose my multi-car discount and it will cause my insurance to go UP! The plan was to put the money towards paying off my car off.I could move to a cheaper place. Really only going to be saving maybe 100 a month for less space and a chance of bad landlordsneighbors etc.I could get a roommate. Really like living alone and having space. While my place is a 2br, 2 dudes would be kind of cramped. Plus, none of my friends are looking for a place and I really dont like the idea of living with a strangerI could try for an even CHEAPER groceryfood bill. I know I still eat out way too often. I do not want to eat sandwiches or rice and beans every damn day though. Last month I spend 390!! On groceriesrestaurants and junk food.I need to cut out any recreational libations I may partake in.I have GOT to start budgeting out every penny I have because if I dont, I WILL SPEND IT and then wish I hadnt at the end of the month. Ive gotten rid of amazon prime for that very reason.So Reddit, get brutal. Am I stupid for even trying this?Assistant: You are not stupid for trying anything. Being serious about budgeting is good financial discipline so you dont get stuck in a rat hole and be underwater with your possessions.You mentioned about selling your project car and that your insurance is covering your new car with a 374mo payment. Have you thought about selling that car and driving something oldercheaper? You didnt mention that change in your list of ideas for budgeting.Human: I dont know what the experience would be trying to sell my new car. Its a 13 Mustang V6. Im not kidding myself about what its worth after depreciation, being a v6 etc. Id probably only get 17K for it after my quick research.  <response>: I dont know much about that car, nor do I know about selling cars, but from a financial standpoint, this means youll sell it for 17k and pay off that loan of 8k, leaving you with 9k to purchase a used car with cash. Youll free up cash flow without a car note and your insurance will be cheaper to insure the car. 