I think I know a thing or two about making ends meet. My husband and I have been making ends meet for quite some time now. You see, I live in an area where it is not so much the education that gets you somewhere; it's who you are and who you know. Needless to say; my husband and I are not on the VIP list.

We are both university educated but my husband's job barely pays 30,000 a year; not much in my area. Myself, I can't find a full time job outside of the mall. Not for the lack of trying; I send out resumes every week. I have read just about every job hunting site; met with a professional career counselor and I have nothing to show for it. The counselor was thoroughly impressed with my work history, my marks and my attitude but I still did not get the job.

I'd go back to the mall but retail jobs suck the life out of me. The inconsistent hours and the huge expectations for minimal pay; it's just not worth it. The managers barely appreciate their employees and most of the customers are abusive. I was criticized on a performance appraisal once because I did not come into work when called at the last minute because I was breastfeeding my baby (who wasn't even a year old I might add). That's when it occurred to me that this may not be a good career choice for a family oriented person. I still stuck it out for several years afterward though.

My family has hit financial lows that would scare most people; I've even had a nervous break down. We work endlessly and still we have little to show for it. I don't covet people who have monstrous houses; two cars and a swimming pool in the back yard. I'm happy with my modest house, our crappy little car and my apple tree in the back yard. I would just be happy to maintain and improve what I have and be able to do some fun stuff with my kids.

I continue to job hunt and upgrade my education and my husband continues to put in his days and grabs extra jobs when they come around. We try to do everything ourselves when it comes to home improvement projects and we live modestly and hope for the best.

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