Back to School Money Blues  

Money, the root of all evil and you never seem to have enough. Twice a month I sit down to pay bills and I always end up depressed. I work so hard for my money but there never seems to be very much left over. The price of gas is killing me. My last gas (fuel) bill was more than $300 for one month. Good God!! I don't get it and I don't understand how people that make minimum wage can afford to raise their kids. I make decent pay and I get a little child support monthly but still never really have much room to breathe. Now, it’s back to school and I'm trying to figure out how to rob Peter to pay Paul. Let’s see...what bills can wait?? And what bills can't? I know that this is a dilemma for all people but try doing everything on one income, well, sometimes you have to perform miracles. I do my best not to let it get me down and it is a lot better now that I only have one child to buy for instead of two, but things are so expensive. First there is new shoes, pants, shirts, undies and socks...then add a back-pack, paper, pencils, pens and folders...before you know it, your $400 dollars down. The best thing to do in this situation is look for sales. I'm lucky, my youngest son isn't as picky as my oldest. I can still buy his shoes at Payless and he prefers wearing Dickies to jeans so that saves some. If I hit a sale for buy one, get one half off on shirts...I should be good. I can’t get over how expensive underwear is. I'm going to shop at Wal-Mart for that. I definitely have a plan, and the majority of my bills will be paid but it’s going to be another month before I have breathing room. Its all good though. I have a roof over my head, love in my life, the utilities are paid, and there is food in the fridge. Not to mention, I’ve been much worse off and survived. So all you parents out there going through the Back-to-School Blues, I'm just letting you know, I feel your pain!!