The current economic landscape is tough, especially if you’re a single mom just trying to make ends meet for your family.

Alisa is raising two boys by herself in New York. She's been getting by, but when she took a huge pay cut – 40% of her salary – as a registered nurse, things got worse in a hurry. Now it’s all about picking priorities, as she tells her sons that many of their old pastimes and hobbies have to be scaled back. No more vacations. No more movies. No more eating out. They have to stay focused on what matters: education. In addition to financing her sons’ tuitions, Alisa is paying for herself to go back to school as well. She’s been thinking about reaching into her retirement savings to help get a handle on the bills, but so far she’s been able to resist the temptation. If she wants to continue, she’s going to need a plan. Here’s what Carmen mapped out.

-Alisa’s housing costs are quite manageable, especially for New York. But she’s hemorrhaging money in transportation costs. Carmen suggested she ditch the car and hop on the bus or subway to get to and from work (for creative ways to commute for free, check out contributor Marc Hedlund's post on casual carpooling here).

-If Alisa really wants to continue her education unhindered, she’s going to need help with the tab. Nancy Webber of the New York State Nurses Association told Alisa about various scholarships and loan forgivingness programs offered through the state. Carmen also recommended Alisa log on to FinAid.org, the best place to find student loan information on the web.

Whether it’s a grant, a scholarship or a public loan, once Alisa gets some of the weight of those education expenses off her shoulder’s, managing the family’s money is going to become a whole lot easier.