Right now we're barely staying aloft financially from month to month. I'm maxed out with our disposable income and paying the monthly minimums for our credit cards.

Then I find out that we are likely to go on strike in a couple of months.

How am I going to manage this financially? We have a lot of financial commitments and three children in activities. My daughter is in competitive dance and it's the air she breathes... she Loves it.

In the past I would immediately make plans to get another job for the interim. I have some self-employment opportunities I can use to make money. But my certification has lapsed and I'm a bit out of practice. I'd have to do a lot of smoozing really quickly to get some jobs, probably overnight work.

The problem is I'm really tired. Physically, psychically, mentally. I just don't feel like I have the mental or physical energy to twist myself into a pretzel to do what I need to do to make the self-employment stuff work. At the same time, it would be a logical solution. It would require minimal retraining and it's true that I'm good at it, I'm just too hard on myself, I want to do a good job, give people their money's worth, etc.

As an alternative, I am also considering getting some sort of part time job which is absolutely crazy considering my hectic schedule. Kind of like self-harming to add another job. It would be too much. But it would be financially necessary.

I am somewhat upset with myself. I used to be so strong and energetic. I used to be able to handle this. Last time we went on strike I got a job for the interim to keep food on the table and a roof over my head...but that was 10 yrs ago and I was single and childless. Now I'm married with three small children.

Just needed to get this out there and vent. Anybody else gone through a strike and had some insight to share on how to stay financially afloat?