If the girls come to live with you, the ex will need to pay child support, no?
Also - apply for food stamps if you qualify for them. When the girls are living with you that would be a great help.
You've done a great job rustling up jobs, and I like the idea of a career in data mining. Don't feel bad, journalism unfortunately is dying and we have many in your situation in that field I'm afraid.
Check out the mrmoneymustache website for great ideas about reducing costs and finding extra money, you'd fit right in with your side job prowess.
Unfortunately relationship banking is just another term for trying to sell product to your customers with money. Banking's not a great field right now either. And you're right, most insurance and other sales positions are really about convincing people to buy products that are too expensive or not right for them - anyone can just look up the cheapest decent term insurance online and buy it.
Encourage the girls to find summer jobs to earn their own pocket money - the 17 year old could apply for summer positions, or babysitting, the 13 year old could dog walk or mow lawns or sell crafts or such.
