<prompt> Human: My wife, 33, has disabling chronic muscle joint pain, migraines, fatigue, and depression this one probably mostly due to the first three, and a diagnosis for fibromyalgia. Im 34 and the sole income source. My wife hasnt worked at all except for 2 years right after college before her condition started to deteriorate. Last year she volunteered at the local library for a few months just for her to have something to do. But even volunteering 1 or 2 days a week was more than she could handle.Weve always avoided talking about social security disability, because the unspoken idea was always that shes going to get better and be able to contribute to society. Unfortunately now thats gone on for 10 years, and her health just seems to be getting worse every week.I recently looked into the requirements for SSDI for the first time, but based on my limited understanding it seems like she doesnt even qualify due to a lack of work history. Can that be right? Shes too disabled for disability? Is there some other program that she would qualify for?She would much rather be contributing to society, but were struggling financially. I actually have a decent paying job making about 70kyear, but thats after 10 years of being a dirt-poor grad student and post-doc. Im also not certain that my contract will be renewed, so I could potentially be unemployed in the next year. We have no major debts, but no real savings either 6,000 in a savings account. Id love to own a home someday, but saving enough for a down payment on a single income seems like an impossibly steep climb.Basically, are there any disability programs that my wife might qualify for? Or loopholes for SSDI that Im not aware of?Edit: Thanks all for your comments and suggestions. It seems likely that shes ineligible for both SSI and SSDI. For SSDI it depends on when she became disabled as far as required work credits, so its complicated. Well plan on going through the paperwork anyway. Best bet seems to be to find a way to stay afloat on our current income, and Ive gotten a lot of good suggestions for that.Assistant: Im sure lots of people will give you advice on how to get disability for your wife, and it does sound like she needs it.I have another take for you: Im 34 and the sole income source. I actually have a decent paying job making about 70kyearWhere do you live? In the vast majority of the country, thats a good income. Unless you live in a high COL area like NYC or SF, you should be able to cut back your spending and save up an emergency fund that youll need especially if youre worried you may not have a job next year.Can you list out your monthly expenses and debts, with any interest rates and minimum payments if necessary? rpersonalfinance is pretty good at showing where you can cut back.Human: We live in Philadelphia, so not nearly as expensive as NYC or SF, but still not cheap. Honestly we dont have a budget and Ive been kind of nihilistic about the future. I tried to put together a basic list though.Monthly income after tax, less health insurance and 5 retirement contribution: 3,829Monthly expenses: Rent: 1575 1 BR, about 300 sq feet Groceries: 524 Monthly transfer to savings: 250 Dining out: 160 Parking: 150 Cell phones: 139 Car insurance: 124 Average utilities: 100 Internet: 78 Gas: 100 Discretionaryentertainment: 300Theres a bit left over in the budget above. Sometimes that money is real, but more often that tends to disappear into random expenses or discretionary spending.We could probably find a cheaper apartment, but we live downtown and I can walk to work. Thats about my only exercise so I would be reluctant to give that up and move further out from the city and commute in.On the positive side, we have no debt. Both our parents were fortunate enough to be able to pay for undergrad education, and I got myself through grad school without loans. The car is a hand-me-down, so no monthly payments. We manage to just barely pay off the credit card in full each month.Thanks for any input.Edit: This is just a rough estimate. Im realizing there are a lot of expenses not included in the above medical co-pays, etc but they tend to be highly variable from month to month.Assistant: Rent: 1575 1 BR, about 300 sq feetThree hundred square feet? Is this a typo? Its not 600 or 1300 or 3000 square feet? You live in a space similar to this in Philadelphia for 1575 per month?I live in Philadelphia and you can absolutely do better than that.Edit: unowhereians advice is solid; you should do all of those things, but in addition, leave your Center City apartment, trade it in for a 1BR thats a SEPTA subway ride away, and even with the added cost of a monthly SEPTA pass, youre saving yourself 400-600 per month while also gaining some square footage. Human: Yup, tiny apartment. Maybe 350 sq feet. We have a 60-lb dog also. You wouldnt think its a factor, but finding a place that allows large dogs and isnt completely run down is tough mold allergies are a major issue for my wife. And it would have to be near a dog park and close enough to public transportation for my commute. I definitely agree we could find a cheaper apartment, but you might be surprised that its tough to meet all of those criteria. We will start looking into it seriously though.  <response>: Youre right, the dog does limit your apartment search, but it also eats into what little space you do have.Cutting down on spending e.g., switching from a 100 major-carrier phone plan to a rnocontract plan may be less of a long-term headache, but moving will save you a bunch, and not just on rent. Groceries i.e., not shopping in the most expensive markets in the city and parking 150month vs. 35YEAR for a street parking permit go hand-in-hand with a new place thats not downtown.Another thing that may help motivate you -- once youre on your feet, youve saved an e-fund, and secured long-term income, a 30-year, 150K mortgage will run you 750-900month depending on tax and insurance. 150K can get you a 3 bd2 ba in many parts of the city. Assuming you move, and put everything youre saving about 800 difference vs. your current budget if you take all the steps listed above you can have enough for a 20 down payment within 3 years. Its steep, but definitely not impossible.Good luck. 