Lillet-

One thing I would do with the variable money is try to pay at least $300 for my student loan- to get it paid off faster.  I started to pay mine off faster when I got out of my field, it seemed to not be giving the same "return" so I wanted it off the books- maybe I started viewing it as bad debt or something.   

Anyway, I haven't had student loan debt for a while, and although it is low interest I am glad I am done with it, having not worked in that field for 10 years I would have resented paying it so long.  I realize you are still part-time, just my thought.  Being home more, you will be amazed at the money you can save cooking more from scratch.  Also, anything you can do yourself, do it- from renting a carpet cleaner, to washing the car by hand, to mending clothes and wearing them a few more years, your labor can be  utilized to save money.  A dollar saved is worth at least $1.30, because you don't pay taxes!  Also, as you spent more time at home, you'll realize that you can utilize things in your home more efficiently.  From your clothes, to gifts, to your kitchen, once you're home more you'll have clearer vision for saving money every day. 

Good luck! 

Late night leader, I was reading your 1/30 stretching. You are under a tight budget. I hope it all goes well. Thank you for your suggestions. I did notice that when I stayed home this summer, I was able to make the money go a lot farther. My kids were involved in activities and I just stayed in town while they played ball or band or whatever. I can tell you that by the end of July, everyone was sick of sandwiches!  I agree on the student loan thing.  Any extra money I take in, I will put towards that. 

It's so nice to have this forum.  I need support to stay afloat. 

I am going to put my two cents in now.

I would try to do all purchases, like anything you don't have a monthly budget for pay CASH, don't use credit, debit, or checks.I have found that when you pay in cash you have a bigger tendency to watch what you are spending, as when it is gone, it is gone. I have a budget for all our bills, and have worked them out to:: Yearly, Monthly, and Bi-Weekly as DH gets paid every two weeks. It takes about one year for this to all come together, but in a year you really learn where you money is going and where you can alter your budget to pay all the bills as they come due.

I added, divided and multiplied and put into our checking account only our bill money, the bills that I have to send out, electric, gas, phone, etc. I also included our ins. and property taxes, in this budget, to be sure that the money for those bills was there, when we needed it, and we didn't have a big outlay from one paycheck. Example, our car ins. is due every three months, and it about $375.00 so by doing our budget I deposit a certain amount of money, the same amount of money in our checking account every pay. I save 20% of DH's gross, and I allow $200.00 per pay for our groceries, and I have my Daily Savings Plan, for our Christmas gifts, $10.00 per pay for our Birthday fund, and $40.00 per pay for our Horses, this usually pays for all their feed, getting them shod, and their Alfala cubes of 1 ton a year. I always need about $1,100.00 a pay, to pay for all our expenses, savings etc. That way, when he works overtime, it is money in the bank, as we try hard to save most of the excess, to have for our savings account.

One drawback to this is when I tell DH how much we have in our savings account, he almost always "needs" something, so I have taken to not telling him how much we have. Not a lie, just not all the truth. LOL

Good luck on your new life change. Hope it helps you to control the IBS/Fibromyalgia better.