> I'm already the third person to pull this quote out of your post. I think you need to stop and look at this. You are saying "I am living beyond my means."

I think that's right.

I took a significant pay cut a few years ago in an (unsuccessful) effort to safeguard my team from downsizing. Almost immediately following this change in financial situation my father became extremely ill and was either in hospital or at home requiring extensive care arrangements up until his death ten months ago. For a period of at least 12 months my income was considerably lower than the amount I had committed to family, and I was stupid enough to not ask for support.

I have since relocated my immediate family to a cheaper city and my salary has returned to its past peak but repayments for loans I had irresponsibly taken out during the aforementioned period have put me in a situation where it has taken one year to put aside two months worth of fixed cost expenses in the event I am without employment.