Also, in less drastic measures have/can you set up a pre-tax childcare spending account through your or Joe's employer?

My company set this up while I was on maternity leave an no one contacted me about it. I would have done in a heartbeat if I had known.

Trifecta:

And what is driving me even MORE INSANE...THE STUPID BANK STILL HAS THE $3840.00 in our account. I have it in the savings so we don't touch it, but gosh, it's tempting. What are the chances of it being a real check and we get to keep it?

oh, man, that is tough. But you know as soon as you use it it's going to be yanked away. It's like the bank is taunting you on purpose, trying to lull you into doing something....

Aimee, I tried working a second job several years ago. I worked from 9-5 in a flower shop and 6-12 at a liquor store, five days a week. I could only take it for about 4 months and then I was too exhausted to do anything else. And that was without a kid.

I know the debt sucks and drives you nuts, but I'm worried about your health. When include commute time, eating, showering and playtime with Em, you're talking serious lack of sleep.

Plei, package came--thanks! You rock. Also, what kind of fabric softener do you use? I love the smell.

Exactly. And, it would pay off ALL the bills were behind on, zero out or credit cards (we only owe $600 on the 2 we have) and pay off mostly everyone we know.

Edit: Heh. I meant "owe", but eff it. I could pay off all you guys, too!

Speaking of cutting out subscriptions, I just dropped Netflix. One money-drain gone! Not like I have time for movies anyway.

I've tried to do the 8-5, and then 4-6 hours of a second job on top of it.

It was hard, even as a childless person with no real responsibilities beyond making the rent. And at one point I managed to work myself into a 2-week long bronchitis-turning-into-pneumonia state. Which I worked through, until I couldn't walk out of the trailer. (Yes, I was living in a mobile home like Jaye's, only considerably less stylish.)

I get the idea of fiscal need. Really, I do. I did the above for about five years, on and off. And it literally became hazardous to my health. So I would be really hesitant to recommend this to others.

Suddenly this explains a LOT.

It really does.

I'm sitting here *laughing*, because it DOES make so. much. sense. now!

Hey, can you resend me your address? I've got some stuff here that needs to go to you.

Yes'm. Give me a minute. Gmail addy?

Aims --

First, DON'T TOUCH THAT MONEY! It may take them a month, possibly up to two to get around to taking care of that. Banks suck, and are slow.

And yeah, I hate counseling anyone to give up cable. I hate not having cable any more. But S and I just use the house antenna. It sucks, but we don't have to pay for cable. and how much are you paying?? I was checking around, thinking about possibly getting cable, and it was minimum $60 a month for crap basic that didn't get any of the channels I wanted.

Also, if it helps with the encouragement, S and I still have high-speed internet, and we're completely poor all the time, so you may not have to give that up.

Gas for two cars eats up insane amounts of money these days, but there's really no way for you two to cut back on that, I think.

Aims, I wish I could help at all.

Exactly.

As in, you're intending this to be a short-term thing?