Have you ever used Teachers Pay Teachers? I sell some resources on there and make a few hundred easy dollars every month. Feel free to send me a pm and I'll tell you more if you're interested.
I would suggest you both start looking at new jobs, maybe even outside of where you live. You are doing an amazing job frankly but you have an income problem, not a budget problem. Good luck!
"you have an income problem, not a budget problem"
I disagree, $3600/mo takehome for the family is pretty much median, and her mortgage is in line with her income. If you were living in LA or something I'd say you have an income problem.
A few comments to PurpleMinion: -I missed what the credit card is paying for. Do you have a plan to pay that off before the 0% is up? -On the medical front, when I lived in an area where my mortgage was $900/mo, my doctor's visits were $60. This was for the regular primary care physician. Can you check on your health insurance website and see if there is a less expensive doctor in your area who gets good ratings? Ignore this if you have special health conditions that require more care. I was surprised when I had an HSA that one doctor might charge $150 for a visit + $600 for tests, another in the same town would be $75 + $250. I had Aetna, I assume the big players have similar tools online. Also maximize using your HSA dollars so everything comes out pre-tax. This is different from your FSA, you can add money up to the max on your HSA during the year and it rolls over if you don't spend it. -Groceries, personal care, and entertainment looks high all together ($500+$150+$200). If a lot of your entertainment is eating out, consider cheaper alternatives. One thing we like to do is use refrigerated dough and leftover tidbits from the fridge to make pizza the end of the week. Almost as easy as going out and it's yummy and $6 for two meals.
"you have an income problem, not a budget problem"
I disagree, $3600/mo takehome for the family is pretty much median, and her mortgage is in line with her income. If you were living in LA or something I'd say you have an income problem.
A few comments to PurpleMinion: -I missed what the credit card is paying for. Do you have a plan to pay that off before the 0% is up? -On the medical front, when I lived in an area where my mortgage was $900/mo, my doctor's visits were $60. This was for the regular primary care physician. Can you check on your health insurance website and see if there is a less expensive doctor in your area who gets good ratings? Ignore this if you have special health conditions that require more care. I was surprised when I had an HSA that one doctor might charge $150 for a visit + $600 for tests, another in the same town would be $75 + $250. I had Aetna, I assume the big players have similar tools online. Also maximize using your HSA dollars so everything comes out pre-tax. This is different from your FSA, you can add money up to the max on your HSA during the year and it rolls over if you don't spend it. -Groceries, personal care, and entertainment looks high all together ($500+$150+$200). If a lot of your entertainment is eating out, consider cheaper alternatives. One thing we like to do is use refrigerated dough and leftover tidbits from the fridge to make pizza the end of the week. Almost as easy as going out and it's yummy and $6 for two meals.
They are saving 5% for retirement. It sounds like they are behind and should probably be saving 20% to catch up. She makes 1400 a month during the school year, not all year as you posted so I don't think that's average, and she needs to find a full time job. Her dh doesn't make enough to have her work pt.