[gemy]

I want to say don't panic. You two can do this! A new car is Not a bad idea, what are you paying on maintenance for your old clunker? And that clunker can break down at any time. You would want a good gas mileage car, etc. Get an extended warranty if not too costly.

Also another idea, once your hubby settles in have you two consider ride/share? Maybe other folks are travelling from your area to where hubby works, and they can take turns driving each other. This wouldleave the car at home a few times a wk for you and the baby.

Shift work - night work is an option. And yes if you get this - it will be exhausting as likely you will be up in the early am with baby..... But you won't need babysitting etc. Another idea is jobshare with another woman in your boat. You look after her kids when she is working, and she looks after yours, when you are working. Of course that means a part time job for both of you, but no babysitting costs!

How about a home based business? Any good at grooming the toy breeds? Ears nails etc? That can be quite lucrative and with small breeds a small capital investment (which you probably have already made with your crew).

Dog walking? Dog training? Doggy sitting day care?

But I have to say thinking about supporting a family at $45K a year just can't be done where I live. I'm envious with that income you two can do it.

Budgetting on a penny can be done. Do you make menu plans for the week and only shop to those plans? I saved the down payment on my first house by doing this. And saved that in two years too.
Do you have a programmable thermostat for the house? ONce I put one of those into our house we saved about $40 per month on our heating bills. Temp went automatically down at night, went up for waking hours, down for the hours we were out of the house, and up again when we got home.

One of the things about saving on gas costs for your car is to make sure the tires are balanced, and properly inflated, that can make a huge difference in resistance to the road and resultant cost savings. Also a well tuned car. frequent oil changes etc.

And yes I was a professional accountant at one time. I'm here if you need in setting up a family budget.