Two days ago, out of nowhere, I heard an unusual gurgling noise from our toilet. It had worked fine before that, but now it will not flush (the water volume just rises). I tried plunging it, perhaps too vigorously, because shortly afterwards I noticed it has also started leaking a little around the base (result of my plunging?). I tried a toilet "shoulder" snake but couldn't find any obstructions. The sink and shower right next to it are both draining fine. It temporarily seemed to improve a little last night -- buckets of water I poured in would drain fairly well -- but now it's not draining again.

Besides the wax seal issue, which I guess I may have broken from plunging it repeatedly, I'm thinking it's either an obstruction in the drainline under the toilet or a venting problem. Any opinions? Is finding & snaking out the vent or drainline under the toilet a DIY option for someone who is not experienced with plumbing issues? How hard is it (scale of 1-10) to replace the wax seal myself? I just lost my job so I need to do this on a budget, otherwise I'd want to call the pros.

The whole family is having to drive to McDonald's just to go... please help!