So about 3-4 months ago, I posted something on Reddit and someone got back to me stating that I should check this site out and post my particular situation in this forum. Well, I couldn't stop thinking about it and while we're not struggling per se, me and my wife's financial situation is far from stable. We still live month to month.
A little background:
I have an ok paying job - I take home about 2800 a month after medical insurance, 3% to 401k (my company doesn't match), and taxes. I'm on the verge of getting a promotion/raise, although it isn't technically official. This should bump my monthly take home about 300 a month and I expect it to begin the raise in a month or less. I also have occasional bonuses, although most (or all) of it goes to my parents. My wife works at a restaurant and doesn't make too much, but it's very inconsistent so hard to plan with that money. She's from Thailand and sends a lot of it home to help her mom with some construction they're doing on the house. I really pay for everything, and she'll buy groceries or dinner sometimes.
She loves traveling and I love buying stuff, which can conflict sometimes. I am cheap in some regards (only buy used cars, eat pretty cheap at home) but splurge in other ways (compulsive/unnecessary purchases at times). I also go out to eat regularly while at work. While I don't mind taking food in every now and then, I do make bonds with coworkers by going to lunch a couple times a week, and it also feels great to get out of the office. This has been a hard one for me to get out of.
Me and my wife would both love to travel more, but it's always tight when we do take a trip. We also use credit cards although we've been trying hard to get out of that cycle. We don't owe a ton of debt, but we do have a couple thousand on loans plus some car payments. I do own my motorcycle outright which is nice.
I've read through several posts on this site but I can't quite get my mind around the concept portrayed here. I'm not sure if this post has relevant information, or if this is the best way to start, but hopefully it is. I hate living like this, and getting out of the month to month cycle is constantly on my mind. Despite all that, I constantly want things and usually just buy them (although I do try to do it cheaply). I'm knocking on 30 and my savings are laughable. Seriously, it's a bit embarrassing. If I lost my job tomorrow, we'd be screwed. I couldn't even pay rent next month, which probably says a lot.... We'd like to eventually retire in Thailand, but it seems like a dream at this point in my life. While I always think I'd like to get paid more, I still feel like I should be better at working with what I have, and there's always the idea that even if I got paid more, I'd be in the same situation as my habits aren't the best.
Any advice to starting on this road the right way would be GREATLY appreciated.