[singinjeannie]

[quote=PrincessPerky]
"Mostly because I don't want to admit to myself that it isn't there to be spent. It used to be there. And the rest is because I don't want to admit to my family that it isn't there. I want to be seen as the family that survives on one lousy income though a better income would be nice. Anyway all of my DH's friends ask how on earth he manages on just the one income and before my second kid we did, just barely. but there has been no raises and our family has grown, but I havn't been cutting expensis to make up for it." [quote]

BOY can I relate to this, Perky! I've done the same darned thing and am in a similar situation. I finally did admit to my DH how bad it was, and he was floored. I guess I wanted to say, "Well, DUH -- you make $14,000 less than you did 2.5 years ago and we have 2 more kids -- what did you expect???"

It's so hard to go to a huge reduction in income and I'm still trying to figure it out. All our outgo was based on his previous salary, so there is literally nothing left after the bills are paid. But we just kept spending like there was. "Hey, the check won't bounce. The checking account is attached to the Home Equity Line of Credit..."

We're trying like crazy, but the out-of-the-ordinary bills keep on coming.

Oh - and to those who were following my job search -- I did get the job. Now for a HUGE life change for our family...

-Jean