??? Fluctuating income

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2003
??? Fluctuating income
Fri, 04-22-2005 - 1:13pm

I need some help coming up with some stratagies to manage a fluctuating income. This is our situation. I work full time and make good money. My DH works in construction and his income is totally sporadic. He make equal dollars to me when he works. However, we cannot predict this and is it very unreliable. We try and keep our base budget to what we can afford on my income. So I can pay our mortgage, car, insurance, utitiles, student loans. This is tight, however, and we have no money for the other stuff, gifts, holidays, vacations, stuff for the kids, or any extras. If we can pay off our CC we would have a little breathing room. However when he is working we have alot of additional expenses. Increased childcare, travel, accomodations, meals. The plan is that we will try and save at least 1/2 of his income, however this often doesn't work, because we end up spending it to catch up bills. I get so frustrated by this.

He is considering a job change, however, struggles with that because if he has a "good year" he will out earnng me and he is hesitant to give this up. He is considering applying to teacher's college, whic hwould give him a steady income and a good schedule. Even if he does do this it won't be for another 2 year until our youngest is in school full time. I need some help to come up with some stratagies that work in the interim. Any body have any experience with this???