<prompt> Human: I like to think I make a comfortable living 70k in Texas but trying to do things right is leaving me wondering how people at my level and under are ever able to afford buying a house. I put a portion of my paycheck each week into retirement savings 17 and building an emergency fund 75wk but after that and paying bills and my car note my only real debt I dont have much left over for the house down payment fund. Ive been reducing my budget as much as possible without moving or selling my truck, but I look around and see people in the same situation or worse and they some how managed to buy a home. Are they just that much more frugal than me? Not saving for retirement at all? Ive started considering lowering my retirement savings just so I could boost my house fund in a reasonable time frame.One of the guys I graduated with had a wife and 4 kids at 24 and was able to get both a home and a SUV to carry everyone while he made 12hr tops and his wife was a waitress for only a short time before being a full time mom. Even assuming they are drowning in debt, how were they able to secure these loans with little or no down payment? Why do I feel like I wont be able to afford a house for years when others were able to?  <response>: Post a budget, let people look at it, and youll get feedback on how to afford the things that are really important like a house faster. Youve got a good start between retirement and emergency savings, but the numbers youve got there for savings seem like theres a leak or several small ones in your budget. Most of Texas is pretty inexpensive to buyrent in, and you also dont have state income tax, so Id imagine you may be spending a lot on your car or eating out a lot.Everybody else already covered how that other guy is doing it- hes either living way above his means, or he managed to land a big windfall and is blowing it. 