<prompt> Human: First time poster here, and looking for some insight because Im near the end of my rope. This is long, please bear with me.Im a divorced mother of two kids 7 and 10 and my ex husband does not contribute ANY help whatsoever. He was ordered to pay child support as part of the divorce, but has never paid a dime. He owes something around 10,000 and we have a court hearing next month to address his lack of payment. Near the end of our marriage, he started using drugs. Hes currently not working, and living in a halfway house in another state. He is not able or not willing to contribute anything to help physically or financially.Point of the story is, after my marriage ended, I went to school to become a RN. I started working in December 2014. My gross earnings for 2015 were about 46,000 working full time. Prior to this I was making about 15,000 a year as a nurses aide.On my lower income, I qualified for food stamps 400month, subsidized daycare 600month, Medicaid, and qualified for subsidized housing 2bd apartment, my share was 500month including utilities. I also got EITC and child tax credit giving me a tax return of approximately 7000 a year or so.As soon as I started working as a nurse, I didnt qualify for any of this. I take home 1350 every two weeks after taxes, insurance, and retirement. I now pay 750 a month for an apartment in a not great neighborhood with terrible schools. 150.00 for utilities. 80.00 for cell service. 375 for car payment and insurance this is high, I know. 178 student loan payment on standard repayment plan. 300-400 a month for food. 200 for gas, tolls, and maintenance on the car. 200-300 for child care. Plus any activities or sports for the kids. I cant afford cable or internet, and I never go out or buy myself anything.I claim 6 exemptions and this year, Ill break even in taxes. I think I may owe 5.00 or some other small amount. Far cry from a 7500 return I used to get.Im struggling immensely and its very depressing because if Im barely making it now living in a crappy bottom of the barrel apartment with the cheapest possible rent, how could I ever move on to something or someplace better. I work hard, and I love being a nurse, but the shifts are long and I pay a premium for child care because of the long and unconventional hours. I try to save 10 of my after tax income in a savings account, but always end up needing it. I also have no debt other than my car and student loans, and pay my credit cards in full each month.  <response>: From my math, you have roughly 700 dollars a month to play with. That isnt much but its more than nothing. if you save 10, thats 250, which leaves you at 450 a month. You are doing so much better than a lot of people. It may seem that 450 a month is not a lot of wiggle room, but you are doing great!Like people have said, car is expensive and you can probably get your student loan lower if you call the provider. they typically work with people rather than against because they want you to actually repay. If you ever get Child support, that will drastically help. Court mandated child support will be an auto draw on any paychex or unemployment your ex receives. 