Gigi I havent read most of the replys so just butting in my 2 cents, you have firstly nothing to feel guilty about. When me and my ex seperated I had no choice to but rent privately as the office of housing wouldnt move me despite my ex smashing windows daily. I paid 230 a week rent as well as kept up with my bills, fed me and my daughter she was still in nappies then too as well as study costs and travel (i didnt have a car at the time as my ex smashed it when i was leaving him) and we still had a little play money at the end.

Dont get me wrong its not easy but strict budgeting, paying bills fortnightly instead of when they arrive, ebay for kids clothing or even op shops some of them have really good clothes for very little here we have one who does $12 a bag and you stuff as much as you can into a bag and get a whole lot of clothes for $12 and quite often some still have the tags on!

It is do able and I dont regret doing it this way at all, good luck