I did a few months study of my own family. We have only got 1 kid, part time maid and I did not take into account of my dh expenses including the car.

We need $3000 for survival (including insurance). It is not comfortable at all. It mean cannot eat outside, cannot buy new clothes, no cds, no movies, no new toys, no snack, no junk food.

It also mean we got to eat overleft food, do groceries shopping once every fortnight (plan all your meals), no air-con, no fan if possible.