I don’t know how families make it these days. Exactly what yearly salary does it take to live comfortably for a family of 4? To afford a reasonable house, afford a reasonable vehicle or 2, eat relatively healthy, be reasonably insured, and enjoy a reasonable amount of daily life?

I find myself chasing the elusive dollar. As soon as I get some, it’s gone. I work harder for more. As soon as I get it, gone again. I feel guilty because I’m a working parent. Albeit part time. Then I feel guilty that I don’t work enough. Albeit part time.

I have worked fulltime and our financial picture didn’t significantly change. We ate out more because I was too tired from working. We were all bloated from too much fast food, and depressed from being on task 24/7 with no down time and gained 15 pounds.  I’ve not worked at all and our financial picture didn’t significantly change either. We didn’t eat out as much. We were all depressed that we couldn’t eat bad food, had too much time on our hands and we ate too much homemade food out of boredom. The weight stayed on.

What is the goal? Is the goal to be home and broke but together? Or is the goal to chase the dollar and be too exhausted to enjoy it? How do we “In the Middle” make it?