Financial Planner.... anyone?

Can someone get me a financial planner?  

After essential bills, food costs (going out to eat and just grocery shopping), daycare costs, gas and every once in a while buying something the family wants, our bank account is drained dry.  Oh yeah, and did I mention neither Tim nor I have our job benefits (sick days/PTO) yet either because we haven’t been on the job long enough.  Zoey just got over about a 2 week sickness and I think in total we spent at least $150 at the pharmacy, because in a household, not just one person can be sick.  I am currently buying two sets of diapers – one for daycare (where she spends 3 days a week) and one box for at home.  I try to save on groceries as much as possible, but couponing just has NOT been my strong suit.  I can't help but always find the coupons where you have to buy like 8 things before you get fifty cents, or I forget the important ones at home!  I tend to go without so our bank account will be fluffier, but for some reason, money just keeps oozing out.  

With gas prices going down, our gas bill is about $80 a week now (for two cars) which isn’t terrible when compared to closer to $100 a week a month ago.  We have cut back on some of our luxuries, like cable.  We haven’t had cable in 3 months, mainly because TWC is lame, but we have relied more on streaming and the internet – which we can ALWAYS afford.  We are conscious of how much we use our power (or at least I am) and make sure to turn off lights, shut the door when the heat/ac is on, and try and consolidate dish washing and clothes washing.  We have seen a smaller electric bill which is nice.  We have made a financial worksheet that breaks down our bills and we can see how much we are spending – but it only shows our bills not our random purchases (like buying 4 episodes of Season 7 of SOA because we don’t have cable or buying $20 worth of Burger King because we were too lazy to cook something).  We have tried cutting back on going out to eat and focusing on spending a little more money on groceries so we won't be tempted to eat out - but sometimes that just does not work.

Yet somehow, even with our cut backs, we aren't winning.  Honestly, I think we have a problem a lot of people do – especially poor people.  It’s called “when you got money, spend money.”  That is what we do, and I say we because WE have a JOINT bank account and I can’t make Tim take all of the heat.  He is a very compulsive buyer but I don’t put my foot down enough.  Unfortunately, he has no bank account threshold – what do I mean by that, you ask.  Well, to me, I don’t want my bank account to get down below a certain number, even after all of the bills are paid, because you never know what might happen.  However, Tim does not have a threshold.  He thinks as long as there is SOME money in the bank, there is some to spend.  Granted, I am not saying he is irresponsible with money, but I do think he could be more responsible – but hell, couldn't we all.  

We keep making these plans on how to be more fiscally responsible and conservative, but something keeps coming up.  We have family pictures next week – we have to buy a new outfit; hunting season is coming up – Tim needs a scope, a magazine, and camo; Christmas is coming up – we have toys we need to buy and cookies to bake.  It’s almost like you can’t win for losing.  Please tell me my family is not alone in this struggle.  I wouldn’t say we make a ton of money, but with both of us being full time employees, working outside of the home, and Tim having a second income on top of his one, I can’t help but wonder if we will ever have some financial relief?!