Can someone with an insight on budgeting help us sort out this mess! Military family with not enough income..?

My husband and I are struggling to make the ends meet here. We have two children. We have too much debt and not enough money coming in. I can't work because my check would go straight to day care. I will lay it out if someone can give us some tips on making this work...Thank you so so much!!

Total Pay: $1710

Bills:

Phone/internet: $85
TV:$65
Car:$310
Insurance:$135
Credit Cards: $225 (Totaling around $6000 in all...making only minimum payments)
Personal Loan: $95 (Balance @ $700)
Groceries: $400 (That is for one month @ 100 week)
Household: $75 (One month diapers,wipes,toiletries,etc)
Gas: $75 (That is minimal at only one tank of gas all month)

Total Bills: $1465.00
Total Pay: $1710.00
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Total left: $245.00 monthly
This is not much money considering our debt, but is better than none. This leaves no room for saving, let alone emergencies with 2 kids/entertainment. This is also split x 2 weeks(pay period). Just about $50 week left. Is there a way out??

We could eliminate of course our Satellite, but what other entertainment could we have? That is just about all we have here at home. The credit card debt we aquired has been from having our new baby (4 cards maxed out), we had no other options. The other two cards were from us PCS ing and we had to buy our first washer and dryer and a new baby bed. The personal loan was just recent and that is our only cushion right now. We put it away and that is only $400! Our tax relief check was used to catch up from where we were so behind on bills. With a little left for the kids. Wow, what a big mess this is. : (

Hmm, get a 2nd job. Why did you buy a car w/a $310 payment if you only make 20k a year? $75 dollar tank of gas? Again, you have spent money you do not have buying a vehicle you saw in a rap video. $6000 in credit card debt... good thinking! You are the EXACT reason the gov't had to change bankruptcy laws, you people have no clue how to be responsible with money and do without; even if it means the world won't see you in a SUV with the rap blasting. The funny thing is you have NO housing cost!!! How is it possible to get free room and still be broke? Amazing.

Do you have any friends or relatives who could help watch the kids or could you work a different shift than your husband (or is he stationed somewhere else?) so he can watch them when you're at work? Honestly, it looks like working may be your only solution (you could always quit your job when your credit card debt and personal loan is paid off) Since you are a military family, there might be some programs through whatever branch of military your husband is in for daycare while you work. Also, if you husband is stationed overseas, you may be able to work out a lower payment plan with credit card and utilitiy companies as they usually have special programs for people in the military. Otherwise, you have to dump the T.V. Try taking to kids to the park, library, and talk to local agencies about entertainment for kids.

Amy,

I'm on a really tight budget too (single mom). I'm trying to make ends meet though! Part of my answer has been doing a little flexible work online to earn a little extra money.

I'm trying to keep a list of opportunities that I've found to work at home (when the little girl is asleep) here:

http://thenewstayathomemom.com/work-at-h...

Also, we have a family budgeting tool where you can input your income and expenses. Then you can save it and tweak it from week to week to help keep you on track.

We even send out weekly reminders on how much you have budgeted in several categories, along with coupons and other money saving tips.

Check it out, it's completely free!

http://thenewstayathomemom.com/master-th...


Shauna
http://thenewstayathomemom.com

I've been researching budget information for my blog www.budgetblogger.com. I saw a program that you might want to consider. There are credit unions in some states that offer free financial counseling and debt consolidation loans that are funded by grants. They take payday loans, title loans, etc. and consolidate them into longer repayment terms and require the borrower to complete a financial counseling class. I don't remember the exact words I used for the search, but just typing in payday loans gave me lots of information on free credit counseling. I was looking for information on payday loans and cash advances after looking at the site www.autocashusa.com. to see what type of loan programs they had to help with some unexpected car repair bills. Hope this helps. I'll try to find the exact website and post it on my blog.