As a college student with no job, I can kind of relate, but I don’t have any kids and am not married so my situation is different in a lot of ways. I don’t know what you should do, but I can tell you what I imagine I would do if I were in your situation.
If I were in your position, getting a job would be my first priority so that someone in the family has an income. Cutting down from F/T to P/T at school, like someone else recommended above, would be an acceptable compromise to me. Take a good look at the classes you want to take and find out if you can take enough of them at night so that your days are freed up for work. If that’s not possible maybe you can consolidate them on just a few days so that you are free most of the week. Any job that pays a reasonable wage would be good enough for me in the short term. When you have a job, you can look for a better one. I would probably be looking for F/T work and P/T school, especially if I was starting school for the first time. My goal would be a job that is related to my future career goals so I can also build my resume. If this means taking a pay cut, I would seriously want to weigh the pros and cons of short-term versus long-term returns. Assuming school will help me get where I want to go, dropping out in order to pay the bills would be my last resort. I would hope that my wife would eventually be able to get a job because that would take some of the earning burden off me.
Before I pay my tuition, I would want to sit down and think about what the plan is. What are my short and long term goals? How will I get there? How will going to school help reach these goals? What EXACTLY is it going to cost me? Should I attend P/T or F/T? My school charges by the credit hour up until 12 credits (full time), and any additional credits you take above 12 do not cost extra. Last semester I took 22 just to get better value. You might want to plan to start P/T, but load up in a later semester. I would want to have a financial plan and a time line, and clear goals in mind. I would also want to have a clear budget of income versus expenses so I know that the ends will meet, and hopefully that I am able to save some money. I would strictly stick to the budget. When I am planning, I remind myself to be realistic. Allow yourself small rewards for achieving small goals that feed into your bigger goals. Build some R&R time into your routine so you can stay healthy.
Working while going to school is not easy. It helps to keep your goals clearly in mind, and remind yourself in the tough times that the sacrifices you’re making now will help you achieve your goals. I find it helps to keep organized. Mastering how you learn and good time management are key. Having a strong support system in your family and friends is helpful, too. You need to find a balance between all the competing priorities that works for you or you won’t be able to sustain.
It is important that if you are in school, you do well in your classes. The better you do, the better for you. A high GPA makes a difference in the doors that open for you and the relationships with your professors.
I think you are in for some difficult times, but that you will make it. I met someone that went through a similar situation and is doing well now.