There are so many things to say on this subject, with many different perspectives, it's hard to respond. I needed some time to this about it more. I think the reason you're likely to get a variety of different responses is because the original post is so vague. "Creative life" can mean so many different things to so many different people that it's impossible to actually help unless you're more specific. So the best I can do is answer your questions based on my limited (or maybe not so limited) experiences.
"how do all the various creative types here on ehmac balance this out, this whole needing to create and needing to eat and shelter oneself?"
This question leads to a long story; One I don't really have time to type out in detail. So here's the cliffs notes:
I've always been creative. Went to an arts high school. Studied visual arts and music. But I was also highly technical. The big IT boom hit Ottawa, so after high school I studied Comp Tech. About 12 years back, I was working in IT (as a PKI analyst). Made very good money, but I hated the fact that I had zero creative outlet. Work was so draining I had no energy to do creative stuff after hours, even though I wanted to. The life was being sucked out of me. So I quit, went back to school and got my BFA from OCAD. I started my own creative company, doing video production, animation, illustration, etc. I made just enough to survive (say, around $30000) but I was extremely happy. Unfortunately, I grew tired of working 16 hour days for one month, then not working for 3 months. So I found a "half-way" job... one that lets me get paid great money, and be creative (albeit in a limited way). More on that in response to your next question.
"Does having a job that somewhat resembles your creative endeavour help or hurt you creatively?"
Tricky question... I guess it neither hurts nor helps me, in the sense that if I didn't have my current creative job, I would be no more or less creative (however, if I have a crappy job, it would hurt me creatively). Taking the "half-way job" (I'm an Interaction Designer at a very successful software company) allows me to be as creative as I want in what I propose to them.... even though 90% of my ideas get shot down, ignored or overruled. I don't care... It's not about getting my way (hey, it's their loss if they don't listen to me), it's about getting paid to be creative on a daily basis. What this does is keep my mind refreshed, creative, and energized. My job is not sucking the life out of me like before. So now when I get home and want to be creative, I can. And since I still have my creative company, I can still take on video and animation contracts, but the best part is because it's not about the money, I get to pick and choose which contracts I will accept. It is extremely fulfilling (and, oddly enough, very lucrative).
"What about the issue of simply having time? "
That I cannot answer. My work lets me be creative... even if I did nothing else in my spare time, I would feel fulfilled. But I do make the time to be more creative with my own endeavours.
I guess, in re-reading what I just wrote (my "cliffs notes" were actually longer than I thought), the main point I have discovered is that I cannot work a job that is not creative. Whether it is related to what I enjoy doing most or not, the paying job needs to stimulate me creatively. I'm lucky enough to be creative in a field that pays good money.
Good luck.
A7