<prompt> Human: Ive lived in the same midwest region for the last six years of my life, and it seems Ive never been able to get ahead, and Im just treading water. Im willing and fully accept my personal responsibility in this. I moved back to this area to take an unpaid internship on a political campaign, after managing a coffee shop in a major city for 8.00 an hour. Since then, Ive waited tables in fine dining for three years, managed two political campaigns and worked for a lobbying organization, and now have used that to get into journalism. And I like my job well enough, I suppose, but its for a podunk small town newspaper where I have no growth potential and I make 13.00 an hour. I drive 13 miles each way every day to work in an 30 year old car that gets maybe 15 mpg, as that was all I could afford. Im in my mid 30s, and I hate winter, and would like to begin planning a better life, as I build my skill set, debate grad school and keep up to date on my SQLHTMLCSS and Adobe and graphics design. Hopefully to move to a larger area and have some more stability and better weather, parks, hiking, etc. Sorry if that intro is rambling, I just thought some context would be helpful. So currently my take home pay is 750 every two weeks. Thats after my matched 3 401k contribution, health care which comes to 66.65 every two weeks and taxes. After almost 8 months at my job, I have about 420 vested in my index fund 401k at work.My bills are 300 a month for rent, 100 for bills and dog food. 50 for gym and 50 for phone. about 200300 for food, Ive been meal prepping as much as I can, and while previously admittedly have been bad about going out to eat, havent gone out to eat in nearly a month, and will not be going out. So my bills are about a combined 800 a month out of my 1500 take home pay, leaving me at best 700 for saving, car repairs, gas, and emergencies or as it is currently, trying to get new glasses for the first time in almost six years. I get paid this Friday, the 19th, and then Ill have three more paychecks by the 1st of December. I also sold my beloved motorcycle in part to help cover cost of car repairs to get to work, and I sold it back to my best friends dad, an older boomer who originally owned the bike, and gave me a good deal on it. He will be giving me another 750 for it shortly. Theoretically after November and December rent, that will give me about something around 2200 left that Id like to save to potentially having actual savings and use towards relocation expenses as well. I am also trying to get my credit back in order, I was offered a credit card with 49 down, but I put 150 down so I could get at least 250 in credit available. I dont plan to use it at all, except to maybe pay my phone bill and then autopay it every month. I just wanted to work towards getting my score back up.How can I best live as frugally as possible within these parameters and continue to save to hopefully find warmer residence? How do I get out of the midwest on a journalists salary? Winter is coming.  <response>: id say you best bet is working to develop skills that net you a better paying job. with those skills, the avenues for different locations opens up. theres always ways to live more frugally but youre better served here by increasing income. 