[seaar2000]

I make $9.00 per hour and have two girls. Yes, you can do it BUT you must be very frugal. Must determine what you get or buy if it's a need or a want. I shop at thrift stores, keep heat low, go grocery shopping at discount grocery stores, when look at grocery ads for meats I compare who has to lowest for that week than buy in bulk, pay myself first I don't care if you only save $5.00 out of each check it's a start, buy only used cars, furniture, and any expensive items. Why buy something brand new when you can get it second hand. Let someone else pay the full price. I get most of my furniture from estates sales. Do things for free with your daughter. Picnics, bike rides, walks, if you have a family that lives far from you vacation there and you won't have to pay for any hotel costs. Of course you would offer to buy some food or make supper for them for staying their free. Use what you have or go without. Let others know that you are looking for a certain item that you may need. Alot of times they have what you need and will give it to you for a lot less than you going out to buy it or they may give it to you free. Go to the library for your reading material. If they don't have what you want they will put it on hold for you. Stay out of malls. I give my girls an allowance of $10 every two weeks. If they want to buy something that I don't think is a necessity they have to save their allowance to get what they want. Also, if what you want is not at least 50 to 75% off don't buy it. Use coupons for what you normally use. See if they have a freecycle in your area. I don't do this but some people grow their own food. Hang dry your clothes. Wear your clothes more than once if they are not dirty. You may want to get a second part time job to help you out at times. Housekeeping, taking care of the neighbors house while they are gone, taking care of elderly patients. I do housekeeping on the side. The nice one thing is that the extra jobs I do take on helps with some of my bills and correlate with the girls being in school so it doesn't affect me being away from them. Where I work I am very luck that I don't have to pay a dime for my medical expenses as long as I use their doctors. I was using one of their doctors anyways. Also, the girls are on my insurance for free. Whatever their dad's insurance doesn't pay mine does. Do you get child support. I hope so. Also, even though the girls dad and I are no longer together he does help the girls if they have extra activities at school he does pay for that. I guess I am lucky that their dad is involved with their life and it does help. Also, cook by scratch. I know I'm kind of rambling but I want to let you know that I have confidence (sp) that you can live off of $10, but you must be very careful how you spend your money. Good luck!