I really appreciate all posts on this thread. Some cost-cutting tips:
1. Cut the juice. It’s an occasional treat. Milk or water, only.
2. Breakfast for supper (pancakes, scrambled eggs, etc.) once a week. Less leftovers, less angst, less expensive.
3. Bread instead of breakfast cereal.
4. Drop in only (e.g. Chuppah/Simchas Chosson v’Kallah) for most social obligations. No present required, can switch off with spouse to cut babysitting expenses.
5. Pay the kids to help with chores and cut down on the cleaning help. You gain multiple times: they have their own money to spend on extras you’d rather not, you save the difference from the cleaning help, you raise children who appreciate the work it takes to maintain a home and hopefully they grow up more ready for marriage.