How do people survive?! 😞

I don’t know who else to talk to this about. I just really need advice.

My husband and I moved into our home 4 years ago and we were over the moon. We had moved with the military for over 5 years and finally settled back into our home state, which was always our goal.

However, since then, we have really struggled to keep up with the home and honestly just exist. Our dishwasher broke, our dryer broke, we have hard well water and need a new filter. We hardly ever have hot water because we can’t afford oil. We’re behind 2 mortgage payments and 2 car payments each, on top of several other bills. We’ve cut back on all extras/luxuries possible and we’re just trying to catch up now but this has been our situation for the last few years and we’re living paycheck to paycheck each month with hardly any left even for food.

How do people survive? I have my masters, an Etsy shop, and I sell things online as often as I’m able. My husband and I both work full time and he also just started going back to school.

We feel so stuck and helpless. We have considered moving south where it’s cheaper, but we’re afraid of also struggling there and giving up our “dream home” here just to be in the same situation. We’re worried we’re thinking “the grass is greener” and we may regret our decision.

I’m also pregnant and I know things will only get more stressful and expensive from here. We’re really trying and I don’t know what else we have left to give.

Do we downsize? Has anyone else been in a similar situation? What was the outcome?

Thanks for reading 😞🙏🏻