Save for a Down Payment on a House

Our current combined monthly income after taxes is approximately $8,500. Our essential monthly expenses are roughly $5,500. This includes rent ($2,000), utilities ($400), groceries ($800), car payments ($700), student loan payments ($750), insurance (car and renters - $200), and other necessities like gas, phone bills, and internet ($650). This leaves us with about $3,000 per month that we're currently not allocating very strategically.

Currently, our total savings amount is approximately $15,000. Our target down payment amount is a bit fluid, as we're still researching specific areas and house prices. However, based on initial research, we're aiming for a minimum of $50,000, ideally closer to $75,000 to have more options and potentially a lower monthly mortgage payment. This is for a 3-5 year timeframe.

My debt obligations include: a student loan with a remaining balance of $25,000 and a monthly payment of $300, and a car loan with $12,000 remaining and a monthly payment of $400. My partner has a student loan with $35,000 remaining and a monthly payment of $450, and no other significant debts. We have a couple of credit cards, but we always pay them off in full each month, so there's no outstanding balance or interest.

Yes, we've tried a few things. We've used budgeting apps like Mint in the past, which helped us see where our money was going, but we found it hard to stick to long-term. We've also tried the 'envelope system' for some categories, but it felt a bit cumbersome. We're open to new methods, though, especially ones that feel more sustainable.

My credit score is in the 700-749 range, and my partner's is in the 750-799 range. We're both generally good with credit, but haven't focused on optimizing for a mortgage specifically.