I intend to live forever - so far, so good

[ClingingToHope]

Mishka -- I did the math. Over the course of 10 years she's asking for another $28,000. I am already essentially broke. I do not make enough to meet my living expenses now because of the debt she left me with.

I've been lucky to find part-time jobs -- I have three -- that fit into my schedule. But I'm tapped. I have no more time to give.

Mishka, eventually she'll get out from under the house and, considering how much more she gets every two weeks, she'll be able to rent a very nice house.

I am barely getting by now and if I agree to the higher amount I am not sure how I'll get by. I have the girls 40 percent of the time. What message does it send to them when one parent lives on breadcrumbs and the other goes shopping every week for new clothes?

She made the original proposal basically as a trade off so that I wouldn't go for joint physical custody. If she goes back on the proposal I don't see why I shouldn't go for joint physical custody. I have the more flexible job and if we were doing joint physical custody I wouldn't have to have four jobs.

What is my ultimate goal? My goal is to be able to live a decent life where I can put money towards the girls college and be able to go on vacation with them. Is that too much to ask?