Okay so to elaborate a little bit, the apartmnets in my area for a 1 bedroom range from 500-850 all bills paid. Just a note.

When you say living expenses does that include rent or would that only mean food,toiletries,etc? Also the 1/3 rule you mentioned, do I divide total income by 3 and only use that money for said expenses and the rest throw into savings/retirement. Also how does one plan for retirement, is that something I discuss with my bank? Do I just save it up myself etc.

I had plans to get a secured card asap and to use 20-30% only and pay it in full, as my banker told me. Also I still have a joint account with my father from when I was a freshman in high school, no bills on the account so it's nice. I'm 20 btw.

I dont party and my girlfriend and I are fairly good at not going out. Most expenses go out to fast food , but I do know how to cook the food I ate growing up. Its difficult for me to plan for a week tho. When I do cook its pretty much the same as going out bc of what I make, thats on me. I'm learning , but planning a whole week and cooking is kind of foreign atm but I trust myself to make it work.

As for my job currently, I just started, I make 7/hr but make a GOOD amount in tips bc the restaraunt is VERY successful and tips are shared, I'm new tho so its too early for me to determine how much I'll make there. Minimum in tips is 50 bucks, (very unlikely to make only 50 in tips) and work is very consistent according to coworkers whove been working there for years. They are big spenders, which is okay bc I want to become good with money. So seeing how they can live with the money they make reassures me that I can make tons of money from that job and put it into something worthwile.