<prompt> Human: Let me start by saying that a lot of the posts on this subreddit are from people with far superior money management to my own. I grew up in a family with really bad money management skills and so Ive struggled my whole life with it. I currently earn 85,000 per year, which after taxes, health insurance, etc., and 10 being pulled immediately into my retirement account, comes to 1900 every two weeks. My fixed costs per month are: 210 rent 200 therapy 80 phone 70 car insurance 20-40 gas 300 eating out 150 groceries 30 entertainment Netflix, Hulu, etc 20-40 pet supplies I currently have 21,000 in student loan debt that ranges from 3.5 - 6.8 I know, I know, a 2,000 car loan, and credit card debt that I try to pay off monthly but is often in the 1000-2000 range. I dont make big, extravagant purchases nearly ever, but I buy lunch at work most days and dont try to minimize costs from that standpoint nearly enough. My boyfriend and I have recently decided to get engaged, and are currently embroiled in the financial calculus of what ring, what stone, what colorcutquality, and how to avoid throwing thousands of dollars away on a piece of jewelry while still being happy wearing it forever. Currently I feel like Im barely keeping afloat - Im not paying anything towards my student loans right now, since they are on hold while I finish my second degree, and even so I dont find myself with excess money. My income has increased dramatically in the past year - 12 months ago I was making 55,000 - and yet it doesnt feel like Im any more capable of saving. Ive been considering investing in the stock market, since the 7 rate of return could really help me out. On the other hand, it feels like I can barely cover my expenses as it is - and you can see how low they are above. My boyfriend is also a relatively high earner, at 77,000, and we have a modest little home but he still insists on keeping two roommates all the time. I hate having roommates, but he travels a lot for his very expensive hobby and insists its the only way we can maintain the lifestyle we have. Im a bit at a loss, looking at these huge expenses coming down the line, while being pretty awful at managing money and somehow unable to see the benefit of a 30,000 raise in less than a year. Broadly, when my paycheck arrives, heres what generally happens: 200 to the checking account associated with my credit card, to immediately put to the CC 800 to a high-yield ally savings account 900 to my debit account, from which I pay my bills The high-yield ally savings account inevitably winds up pointed towards my credit card, as is any money left over in the debit account after bills are paid. What am I doing wrong? I should be sailing through!  <response>: Let me start by saying that a lot of the posts on this subreddit are from people with far superior money management to my own. I grew up in a family with really bad money management skills and so Ive struggled my whole life with it.Money management isnt a difficult skill. Its mostly just discipline and self control. Youre old enough to where the my family never taught me excuse doesnt fly.Youre taking home roughly 4k a month. 1100 is going towards expenses. That means youre burning through nearly 3k per month. Your number 1 step is to sit down and figure out where your money is actually going. 