conversation: User (kpletchat): "I see a lot of people here comment how month after month, they’re able to max out their 401K employer matching and Roth IRA contributions, all while paying off whatever debt they have, without somehow magically going further into debt. I want to know: How the heck do you manage?\n\nI go most months it seems, barely able to scrape by. I’m eligible for a 401K at my company, and I want to do it because I know it’s free money. I also know that I should be saving, but somehow I always wind up with nothing left by the time my next paycheck comes. I also don’t really like any of the options available in the plan. With my net take home pay of $4K, what can I do differently?\n\n* $350 Savings for travel and any emergencies\n\n* $200 [401K](https://hellomoney.co/portfolio/80dda0-401k)\n\n* $400 Student loan (Total $54K) @ 5.84% - 6.84%\n\n* $100 Car Loan @ 3.47%\n\n* $2K Rent\n\n* $150 Utilities\n\n* $100 Gas\n\n* $60 Internet\n\n* $50 Auto Insurance\n\n* $45 Phone\n\n* $350 Food\n\n* $40 Subscriptions (Kindle, Netflix, Spotify)\n\n* $40 Gym membership\n\n* $100 Entertainment\n\n* **Total: $3,985**"
  Self: "It's already been said, rent is killing you. You're going to be paying that loan until 2037, do you want to do that? We could get it paid off by June 2019 if you do the following:\n\nKeep in mind that this is only TEMPORARY. 3 years vs the next 21.\n\nGet your rent as low as possible. I don't know where you live, but that seems ludicrous. It also sounds like you're a single guy? If you can, just get into the smallest, shittiest place that you can stand for a couple of years. It's temporary. Can you get into an apartment for like $500-800/month? Or share a room? Somewhere? Take on roommates. I would try to get your rent as low as you can. **Savings of $1,200+**\n\nIf you have equity in the car, sell it and buy something used with the leftover cash. **Savings of $100**\n\nI personally canceled all of my subscriptions while trying to get out of debt. There are other means to obtain entertainment, if you know what I mean. **Savings of $40**\n\nKeep the gym. Cut down on entertainment. Find cheaper ways to be entertained. Maybe supplement this with your subscription cost. Let's say cutting entertainment/subscriptions down to a combined $40/month. **Savings of $60**\n\nPhone, if you can go cheaper, do it. I moved my wife to Cricket Wireless for $35/month. You can get even cheaper with Ting if you don't need much. **Savings of $10**\n\nStop the 401K for now **Savings of $200**\n\nThat gives you $1,610/month to throw toward your student loan. According to www.ubury.us, you would have that loan paid off by July 2019.\n\nAnd honestly, you could probably even throw more at it than that. The more you're able to throw at it, the quicker you'll be done with it, and the sooner you can raise your standard of living. You can do less, but then it will take you longer. It's up to you. It's your life, and you have to make the sacrifices or deal with it.\n\nPersonally, I'm sick and tired of owing people money, and I want to be done with my debt ASAP. That's why I'm making drastic changes in my lifestyle so I can live a better life in just a few short years."
  Aanar (Aanar): "&gt; Stop the 401K for now Savings of $200\n\nIt sounds like OP has some kind of match on his 401k, so this is not a good idea.  If anything he should probably be upping his 401k until he hits the point of collecting all the matching."
  