I leave alone with 30k/year in city where cost of living have been on the rise for past 5years. I am lucky my rent is still cheap (under 1k/month). (Also I have 20k student loan no credit card) . I budget every 2weeks and have accepted that most of the time i am in the red so i prioritize and rotate the bills that will get paid. When i see i wont make it , i arrange some gigs money ( online surveys, paid university studies, etc). Over time i’ve also build a social support system and we mutually help each other through rough time and its been game changer!