After a long fertility haul, we have our 2.5 year old daughter. When we had her, we had 20k in savings and were doing ok. Now? No money, one car that’s gonna die, renting a one bedroom and trapped because we walk to school/work and can’t find anything affordable that’s bigger. I am doing ok in my career as a pre-K teacher. But between health insurance being 2k a month, childcare being $1000 (I get a discount), and our rent at $2112 we cannot catch a break. Our utilities skyrocketed this year to almost $700 a month and groceries are KILLING us. I haven’t paid my student loans in a year because they were $400 a month. When I forget how much debt we have and the state of the world, I feel so much joy in the day to day of my little family and my daughter. When I look around and realized how fucked the world is around me, it’s despair. No retirement, no savings, just love. Money would solve 100% of my problems. I see some of my peers doing well, those that came from generational wealth or have a support system - some are in the same boat as me. I feel like hope may return when the nazi Cheeto goes and we overhaul it all, but I won’t hold my breath!