Keep your head up duck. Last year I got laid off a week after finding out my wife was pregnant. Not fun in this slower economy. But I took the first job I found to make sure I could cover cost of living. since then I've been blessed with a very handsome son. And a new job I love. Had to make some sacrifices in the in between time. But that's life. You have the right attitude with saying you will clean if need be. Take care of your family first.
As far as the pick up, washer fluid sounds like a good possibility, transmission is red, power steering red, engine brown to black, coolant would be the other possibility. Was the fluid oily feeling at all?