waiting for things to get better

Do you ever feel like things just keep going downhill and you wonder how or when they will start looking up? Well that's the boat I'm in. I'm a happily married mommy of a now one year old. I have been staying home with her for the past year. Our money situation was fine and allowed this with no real problems. We decided to buy our first house in April as we were just renting a duplex before and felt like our money was just being thrown away. Well shortly thereafter my husbands company sold to another company and they made some changes resulting in production slowing down...a lot. This has meant significantly smaller paychecks, like $600-800 less a month, on top of the already $600 taken out for child support for his son with his ex girlfriend. Well if that seems like a lot of money to be out a month you're right! As of this month our savings will be gone and some bills will go unpaid. I am going back to work but can't start until October 20th. Until then I'm filling in at my new job when they can use me to bring in a little extra money. I just feel so depressed because of this. I know lots of people right now are hurting financially because of the economy but I feel so alone and ashamed, like its my fault I stayed home with our daughter instead of going back to work. My husband is so supportive though and tells me he wouldn't have had it any other way. It has just been like the last 3 months that it has gotten this bad. I just hope that when I can finally start full time at my job things will get better.

Anyways, that's my post. No real point I guess other than to vent my frustrations.

I'm sorry to hear that things are getting a bit tough. I just found out my husband's company isn't bonusing this year so instead of the $3300 we usually get in mid-October, this year it's a big goose egg ZERO. We don't rely on it day to day but we have some debt we're trying to pay off and that would have taken a sizeable chunk of it away.   It'd be nice if money just grew on trees.

I know how you feel. My SO is supposed to be getting a job on our oil riggs but everything is going so slow right now. He's currently working at home depot so it's hard to save money, which is the reason we moved back in with my parents. I feel so bad for not working to help him save more money, but I can't get a job anywhere. The only experience I have is in the medical field which I'm not allowed to do since I'm pregnant. Now that I'm almost 6 months no one wants to hire me. Bleh, I just hope everything works out or we're going to be in trouble.

Anyways, don't feel bad for staying home. You can't predict the future. I really hope everything starts getting better for you guys, money problems are so stressful. :[

Don't feel bad or guilty at all. It's just the way the world is right now and you've done nothing wrong. You gave your daughter the best thing for her 1st year of life- taking care of you herself! (I'm not saying anything bad for those that go back to work! They just say it's best to stay home with your child the 1st year if you can) So don't feel guilty for staying at home.
I got laid off last december and didn't work while pregnant, and am now a sahm with my 2 month old. Money is starting to get really tight now and I will have to get a part time night job to make things work, because day care will cost to much for us. I get upset a lot about it too but its just the way it has to be right now. I know it seems hard now, but things will get better eventually. Just try to focus on all the love you have with your husband and daughter and not worry about the rest.

Thanks for the replies and kind thoughts. I know things could be a lot worse and I do have lots to be thankful for- my husband and daughter are the best things to ever happen to me. I figure that getting my job back can only benefit us. We just need to get through the next month or 2. Good luck to you other Momma's in similar situations and I hope things start to look up for you, too.