[jmjj215]

SinginJeannie,
I've spent the last half hour reading this thread and sympathizing with your situation. My wife and I just had a baby four months ago, we thought we had all of the bills paid then we get the anesthesiologist bill - they just took long sending it. We just forked over almost $200 for prescriptions for some things, our car insurance premium went up by almost $100 each six months. I spent a week interviewing for an internship (I'm in college) so we're out of pay for that week. I work on an hourly basis and try to get at least 25 hours per week. If I work 25 hours per week we can break even each month because I can bring home about $1200. Our rent is $520 so of course alarms are going off in everyone's heads because our rent makes up so much of what I take home. My wife doesn't work because we thought it was important that she be a mom. I know how it feels to have things tight. We had to get an airline ticket for my wife to fly home to Alabama last month - certainly something we weren't anticipating.
A few things we've done to completely avoid debt (including student loans b/c of a scholarship):

We sit down together and "pre-spend" the money we'll use during the month. We do this during the first few days of the month.
We record every single thing we spend.
We each are allowed $5 PER MONTH to spend w/o discussing it w/ the other person. Other than that, every purchase is discussed.
We bought a 98 chevy prizm that gets great gas mileage and is low on repairs. (I don't know if you need that truck).
We've abstained from cell-phones, cable, fancy vacations, full-price movies, eating out...the list goes on.

The important thing is, we know this is going to end. I'll graduate in a year and a half and actually make some money. (Oh, by the way, I'm EXACTLY like your husband when it comes to exercising). Do you guys have a goal of increasing your income? That's the only way my wife and I can make it on such a tight budget w/ such limited income. We know things will get better. Cutting costs is one thing, but increasing your income is the other.

I sympathize with your situation. Budgeting and tracking is key! It really is. Keep on truckin'.