Hang in there. You need to get a job. Your boys need to see you working. They need to know you have a life of your own. You are lucky that you don't have to pay rent and other household bills. I know you're tired. Some of this is depression - you need to get out of the house and work!

     I am a single women in my 40's and have three children. I am fully responsible for two of them with the exception of a $150 child support check per month. I am teacher and I love my job, although it is very demanding and takes a lot of time away from duties as a parent.  My three children and I rent a home in Florida. My oldest children's father is not constructively involved with our children. As already stated, he pays $150 per month for child support. He is drunk most of the time therefore the children trying to have the relationship with him that they long for is almost impossible. He is self employed, but on paper works for his father so that I cannot get more child support and/or other's cannot collect on leans against him. My teenagers, the oldest children, are at that age where they require more financial support from me. My daughter, who is 16 and the oldest, is on the dance team at her high school which requires me to pay for shoes, uniforms, and part of camp fees. She is a very responsible and good girl who is in her last year of high school. It is very difficult for me to refuse her of things she needs to have a moderately happy and memorable time in high school. She just had her senior pictures taken and will be going to the prom in a few weeks with a nice guy that she has been "seeing" for a few months. She gets her braces off (I am paying for both of my oldest children's braces) the day before Homecoming and is very ecstatic about this! My son, 16 years old, is on his high school golf team, which requires me to supply him with balls, clubs, and appropriate clothing required for the courses he plays on with his team. He finds school very challenging, but works very hard to meet my expectations of a C average or above in all classes. Both of my older children are now driving. Gas alone is quite an expense. They do work, but not many hours during the school year because I believe their "job" is to make good grades in school and work to improve in their extracurricular school activities. I have the two oldest in braces, which insurance does not pay for! My youngest, nine years old, has a different father than the two oldest. His dad is somewhat involved and does pay me $800 per month in child support. Hayden is a very smart and physically active child. He is currently playing city league football. He is growing like a weed, so I'll be  spending quite a bit on clothes and shoes for him in the fall when the weather gets cooler. The bottom line is that I just can't seem to get ahead. I'm in debt about $10,000. I do have a new 2005 Nissan Altima, but I need a dependable car to get me to work and Hayden to all of his after school activities. I waitressed at a local restaurant on the beach this summer to try and get ahead. I am still working one day per week for some extra cash. I coach cross country running at the middle school where I teach, and I recently agreed to coach tennis in the spring. I have medical bills, car payments, rent, cable, etc. and every month I spend more than I make. I do not splurge and have been quite frugal with any spending beyond our needs. I'm looking to just get out of debt and get back on my feet. I'm a nervous wreck every month hoping we'll make ends meet. I am a Christian, and I do believe and know that I have not been a good steward of my money. I pray to God for Him to help me with this and I know that He will is His way. I have given up on drinking alcohol. I think at times I used it to help me forget about how much pressure I was under. Not that I would drink alone and get drunk at the house in front of my kids - no, no, no. It was not like that. A lot of my friends drink and like to go hang out at some local bars and we'd go to have fun and talk. But, I realize this just wasn't what I needed and now I'm trying to stay focused and stay in the "real" world. I'm asking for help. Someone who can afford to help me - who is willing to give what they can to help me help me and my children. The money  would only go to bills and food! 

I am 42, runner, three children, teacher, and grew up in Washington State. I love the outdoors and spending quality time with my children.