So I approached this by actually looking at my checkbook for the past quarter and coming up with a budget on a spreadsheet. It's not quite as bad as I thought.
There's still a gap, but if Laura were to find work in the 20K per year range, we'd be able to beat it quite handily. Additionally, we have 3 of the kids now doing their after school jobs, and I have started them on paying their own phone bills.
Looking at competitive Saturn Ions on craigslist, we could
probably get $3500 for mine right now, but that would leave us with
$3700 yet to pay off. It still may not be worth it, and I might regain
the abilty to drive in a couple of months or Kate may need the car when
Kim retrieves her chevy.
Also, I expect that for as long as we get the long term disability, we'll be able to put some money away/into investment real estate. There is about $400/month for consumer debt that if we got paid off, would make things much easier. The best strategy of course is pay minimums on everything, except of the one debt that is at the highest interest rate, and then nail that one first. I haven't yet sorted them that way, but I will soon. That top debt might just be the Ion for all I know.
It's still going to be touch and go, as we have not yet nailed down what health insurance is going to cost.
Also, I have reached out to Shirley at PSS in Massachusetts about the $800 / month gig. She will have to talk it over with Jeff, but I expect it will work out.
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