<prompt> Human: Hello rPersonalFinance. I am coming to you guys at my wits end, and I need your help. Can you tell me where I can afford to cut cost and rearrange my budget? My SO and I currently live with my parents and we would eventually like to have enough money to move out. We are both in school and employed, and I am expecting a child in August SO has another child by ex and pays monthly child support. So we want to have as much saved up by the time our little one gets here. I am a server, so it is a bit difficult to track my monthly earnings but typically about 1000 a month. He works in a warehouse entry level making about 1270 a month. Both are subject to increase in the following months due to us not being in school, business picking up, and pay raises.Budget Monthly expenses:Car Payments: His 418. Mine 200Rent: 200Child Support: 264I currently am the only one with a phone, so that also needs to change. Cell phone: 45Insurance 2 cars: 220Gas: Mine 130. His he drives a jeep 200Groceries: 200Toiletries: 100As for the rest of the money, I think it is getting spent in very small amounts, picking up a Soda at the gas station, or ordering a 5 dollar pizza after work. That sort of unbudgeted spending we are working on getting under control.OtherHe owes me about 440 dollars for paying his bills while he was out of work, we would like to have that put back into savings by the time the baby gets here.Within the next two months he has 2 appointments for dental work he needs done that is going to cost about 700. Please help me out you guys, he and I can never see eye to eye on the budget and something has to give. It has caused too many arguments and we need a 3rd and 4th opinion. Assistant: Whats with your cars? You cant afford them. What are the numbers as far as getting out of the leasesloans and getting in to some beaters that get you from A to be B that you can actually afford?What are you each in school for? How are you paying for that? What are the career plans?Human: I can afford mine. Its an SUV that gets decent milage and is very dependable. I believe his car is the primary concern. But he doesnt seem to want to budge on it. It is a 2007 Jeep Wrangler and it is his pride and joy. He unfortunately has signed a 6 year lease on the thing and the value has decreased since he bought it.I can have my car payed off within 3 years, I have only 6,500 left on it. It is very sensible.Honestly, seeing as I am due in August, I am going to take time off school and work full time until I can get back in, and in a field I see a future. I had been taking Neuromuscular Therapy. I was halfway done. And it had been a free ride because of my scholarships and grants.He had been taking core classes, and hoping to eventually transfer to a university we are at a community college to get a degree in Chemical Engineering. Not exactly sure what job he would do after words. But as of right now he is probably going to quit too.  <response>: ...it is his pride and joy There are a lot of things in life that people want and like. The difference between a boy and a man is knowing when you can have those things and when you have to tell yourself no. I agree with what has been said. Messing up your personal finances is not worth a higher credit score. Being financially fluent includes not going in to debt except on very few things I would NOT include cars in that. I still think you both need beaters that get you from A to B. Get all your debt knocked out so that the money you work hard for is actually yours. Right now you guys are not working for yourselves, you are working for others. Your money isnt yours, it is the banks. I am very firm on not selling my car. What you have been doing is what has gotten you to the point of I am coming to you guys at my wits end, and I need your help. One of the best things that can happen is to realize that your choices got you here and your choices will be what will either get you out of this situation or keep you in it. Together you guys are making choices that can help or hurt you. If he is going to quit anyways then he needs to really focus on getting his income up. This may mean two or more jobs. He should not have a mentality of being above any job if it puts money into the equation. This may mean delivering pizzas, mowing lawns, whatever it takes to provide. You and are your children are worth it. 