Sorry {{{{{{{{{{[ww}}}}}}}}}}}}, and welcome to my world. I lost a well-paying job, was unemployed for 10 months, and then took a job paying $11,000 less than the one I lost. So I've been in "dead broke" land for over 2 years now. You're right, it sucks.

My new job will pay me a whopping 18 cents more an hour, so that's no help. At least I'll have some teaching income this semester, but then summer will be here and I'll be back in the same old boat.

I didn't overspend on the holidays either, but my sister and my mom got me $50 in gas cards or I wouldn't have made it home today with my 1/8 of a tank and $3 in my checking account.

I guess you do the best you can with what you have. When I was a starving grad student, I learned all the places here that have free things for residents -- art museum is free on Sat. mornings, zoo is free for county residents on Wednesdays, etc. Investigate some stuff like that to do with the kids. They won't know if you pay for it or not.

Wish I could help more. When I hit the lottery, I'll remember you first.

Candy