How did Pete manage the family's money during their toughest financial times?

During the family's toughest financial times, Pete spent his nights pouring over the receipts, organizing them into piles of what had been paid and what hadn't. Every week he visited the pharmacist and paid a bit of the family's bill alhough he was never able to pay the bill in full. Overall, he was able to keep atop of the mortgage payment, but not much else.