re: It costs a lot of money to live

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All depends on available openings and personal connections within your bank though, doesn't it?

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my sister is on her third branch. if you get out there and produce results, you'll get promoted. turnover I'd say is above average in te banking industry.

Looks like you are doing well. You've got a nice roof over your head and you can pay the bills.

You are just getting started and you have a family. I think you see to be doing great so far. You'll work your way up the ladder and put away more money in the future.

I'd prioritize the credit card debt to be honest. If you can knock it down to zero with savings and pay it down to zero every month, then do it.

FWIW, I know many people including myself that earn a great living but still struggle to meet their savings targets.

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I did not make jack (by my standards and probably others) until i was 34. Yes, I got by but was nowhere near where i wanted to be. part of that was getting the experience, education, and working my way up the ladder. takes time.

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That's actually not very surprising. Once you build up a good resume, that does a lot for your employability. But it takes time to do that.

I always had trouble even landing an interview in my 20s, but on my last job hunt the dam broke and I scored three interviews and had a choice between two job offers.

I've been fortunate that the Army paid for college and immediately upon graduation I had a job. I was even part of their premier savings plan where you deploy 3 times in a row and never have a chance to spend your money so by 30 you're rich.

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Quit referring to yourself in 3rd person and maybe you wouldn't have a wife who cheated on you multiple times.

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Actually, her cheating was the best thing to ever happen to me. Now I'm married to a much younger, prettier, richer, smarter girl.
And the reason Zach speaks in 3rd person is in honor of my favorite baseball player.

Hope you have a 6 figure income with those expenses

I'm not saying this is the answer to all of your problems. However, in adhering closely to these principles, I am doing dramatically better than I ever have.

Ramsay's Seven Baby Steps

His "free cars" video will challenge you to approach car financing differently, as well.

Drive Free, Retire Rich

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between my wife, our 3 kids, and myself we have about $3900 a month in expenses and that not including food and gas.

yeah we both make around $24/hr but you got to factor in 401K, doctor bills, insurance, and taxes out of those checks.

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Brad, my household is in roughly the same situation, except I make all the income. You do NOT have an income problem - you have a spending problem. First thing you need to do is make a budget.

EVERYTHING can be budgeted - emergency fund, cable, water, electricity, whatever. What I did was make a spreadsheet with everything that comes out on a monthly basis - I bolded those that we could do something about and we started to attack that.

Another thing is the stupid Wal-Mart (or however you buy groceries, household cleaners, soap, etc.) expense - set a reasonable limit and stick to it - we do that by taking cash out every paycheck and Garrison Commander has to input every item in a calculator, while in the store, as to not go over budget.

Another area that is overlooked is cable and phones - cut those to the bone. You can nudge your electricity, water, gasoline, etc. expenses, but cannot, really influence the market prices on those. However, there are things you can control - spending at Wal-Mart, spending on hobbies, new car rotation ALL can be directly influenced by household habits.

I'm not saying Ramsay is always right - but the basics of emergency fund, eliminate debt, and plan ahead for expenses by setting aside money for them can go a long way towards restoring financial stability.

Good luck...

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Youtube is blocked at work, can you give me the premise behind it?

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Basic stats are average US car is financed and drags a $425 note behind it. You get new car fever every time you pay off the car, so you're constantly paying $425 a month, forever, and what do you have to show for it? A car that is 0 to 5 years old, and worth less than $25k

The response - pay yourself the $425 a month (and Ramsay says put in mutual funds, but wherever you feel comfortable), forever instead of taking the first loan. You gradually increase the quality of car until you're buying new cars, cash, and you're replacing the money (with your $425 per month) faster than you draw it out, so, eventually, it rolls into investment income that pays for your cars and can pay for your retirement, if you start young enough and stick with it.