Simple budget for a tight month - any advice?

We are a household of 18 and the budget no longer works. I have been trying to stay organised about it. The rent is fixed and the car payment is high. What helped you?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

Check for energy assistance programmes. I got a credit that covered two bills.