if the situation is that dire, is Joe looking at a second job, too?

No. Which was my call. He offered.

And I'm not looking at this being a long term thing. Maybe just a few months to get us back on track. So that I can spend $1 on a candy bar if I want it and not feel guilty about it.

I do get it. There's no feeling so soul-sucking as trying to claw your way out of a financial hole. If a few months of struggle will do it, then it's not an unreasonable idea. Just make sure to pay close attention (and make sure Joe does) to how it's affecting you on a day-to-day level so that you can make the "not worth it" call if you need to.

The thing is, if you actually do work yourself into a health breakdown, you come back slowly. I attribute last year's pneumonia to accumulated stress; it took well over a year before I could return to a normal load, and even now I tire very easily.

Saying "if only I could sleep only 5 hours a night I could pay off our debts" is EXACTLY like saying "if only I could grow another arm, I'd be more productive." You can't sleep only 5 hours a night, even for a few months. The body WILL take revenge.

Some people naturally need < 8 hours sleep, lucky sods. The rest of us don't have a choice in the matter.

What are the possibilities of either of you getting a higher-paid job?

I'm one of the lucky sods who can get by indefinitely on 6 hours/night and am chipper and well-rested on 6 1/2-7. I still wouldn't try that schedule. I may need less sleep than average, but I still need mental downtime--time curled up with a book or surfing the net or making Lego towers with Annabel or whatever. When I don't get enough, I snap in a hurry. Ask Dylan.

Thanks for the calm~ma, I know longer need it so I'm sending it to Aimee.

What are the possibilities of either of you getting a higher-paid job?

Joe just went into this job and he really likes it and the benefits are going to be great and he's doing wonderfully. Highest bonus in his department the first quarter he was there and he has already job coached.

I've been holding out looking for something new until the end of theyear - that's when positions are reevaluated and bonus/raises (if any) are given out.

if you go with a second job - 1) use that money to pay the debt off. 2) figure out exactly how long it will take.3) be sure to caculate the extra commute cost, baby care and extra going out for food costs.

I am giving my self till the end of october to decide on giving up netflxs. we haven't used it much since we moved - over a year ago. But we have been talking about spending more time together without other people and without spending money - like - a date, but cheap.

I would miss BSG , cartoon network, and the food channel if we gave up cable. But it is on my list as first to go if need be. I have friends that don't have cable - but they watch lots of DVD's . they buy some they borrow others from friends and libraries, and they netflix. for what I spend on cable I could have a netflix account and buy 3 movies a month.

Thanks Askye.

And thanks everyone - you are all so aupportive and wonderful to listen to my constant bitching.