Are you a single mom and stressed about how to survive financially as a single mom to save money on childcare? Look no further. Surviving financially as a single mom doesn’t have to be as challenging as it sounds to be. We are here to provide you with ways to help lower the cost of taking care of your kids.
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Budget, Budget, Budget!
Everyone knows that the key to sound financial health is a good budget. Now that you’re a single mom, budgeting is more important than ever. So how would you set up a reasonable budget that takes care of you and your kids? As being a single mom is not easy and it always arise a question that how to survive financially as a single mom?
It’s all in the organization of your greens, and no, we don’t mean groceries. Not completely anyway. Always be aware of what your money is going into. Start with a list of expenses for each month.
Start with listing the most critical and immediate needs. This may include heating bills, child care, credit cards, food, and rent. Whatever your strategy is, the most important needs always pop up continually. So, any trick that you know that might lower some of these essential costs is always a plus.
For example, did you know that lowering your thermostat to just two degrees during winter can decrease your heating bill by the hundreds? No matter what you do, though, these bills will remain. They must always be paid first.
Secondary needs include things like non-immediate needs such as clothes, cable, or toys for junior. These expenses are the easiest to manage since they don’t usually have a time constraint. This is also the part of your list where you need to think about what’s more important. Do you need that cable package? Is that Starbucks coffee essential, or can you make your own at home for less money? These questions are essential to realizing what you can save money on.
There are always ways to learn about how to survive financially as a single mom to help cut costs on some of these expenses. Some might even be covered in this article. The whole point is to figure out the difference between wants and needs. From there on, you can see where to cut costs to pay off long-term debt. With this budgeting strategy in mind, you can help yourself survive financially as a single mother.
If you need any extra help budgeting, try National Resource Connect to help answer any financial questions. It is a free service, so take advantage of it if you find yourself stuck figuring out your finances.
Find Free Activities to Do
You can’t put a price on fun. Although, you’ll have to suffer through some incessant whining when you don’t take your kids to that expensive theme park. The truth is that there are tons of fun stuff to do for free that won’t eat up your wallet. You can try spending some time at the park or have a movie night with popcorn. Even your local library can host fun, free activities for the kids.
All you need to do is look around and see what’s available to spend some quality time with your children without breaking the bank.
Don’t Spoil the Kids
Despite what marketing ploys may tell you, kids don’t need a lot of new stuff to be happy. You don’t need to get them the newest toy. They can go without name-brand clothing. Instead, look for children’s consignment shops or thrift stores to purchase much-needed clothing items and toys.
Yes, we understand it may not be the most fashionable way to go. Some people may even judge you for daring to provide for your kids in a reasonably cheap way. This shouldn’t hinder you and your good judgment. Keeping up with the Joneses is not all it’s cracked up to be. Trust us.
If you want to find coupons to help you save even more money, try Free Samples Pro USA. Here you can find dozens of deals on practically anything. This way, you won’t have to worry about looking deprived.
What comes from this is a smart way to shop and a valuable life lesson about materialism and gratitude. Always remember that your kids don’t need extra stuff to be happy. They just need you.
Remote Work is Your Friend
There are countless jobs that you can do right from home. Some jobs even pay up to $50 an hour if you’re skilled enough. You can do anything from writing to graphic design and so much more. You can even sit around and watch short movies with Inboxdollars. That’s why it is important to learn about how to survive financially as a single mom.
Do you have a knack for bookkeeping? Bookkeepers.com is a great way to start your own bookkeeping business right from home. In addition, you can make your hours, so you don’t have to lose precious working hours in case of a child emergency.
Unfortunately, rising daycare costs are one of the reasons some mothers have to quit their jobs and stay home. This is even if they have a significant other. The good news is that you can keep your kids at home and earn that extra money on the side with remote work. This also helps save a ton on daycare.
Get All the Grants You Can for Care Assistance
Did you know that the government can help pay for things like mortgage and child care if you’re a single mother? Take the CCDBG, for example. CCDBG is the Child Care and Development Block Grant. This grant is given to mothers with low-income to help pay for daycare needs. Other grants include State Assistance and Preschool Programs as well as the Childcare Development Fund.
Each of these grants is meant to help lower-income families pay for schooling or other care assistance needs. Remember to call in and see the specific requirements for each grant before you start applying.
If you want financial assistance for other areas in life, you can always apply for Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC). WIC is always a blessing to single mothers wanting to buy good nutritional food, healthcare, and other support for their children.
Homeschooling is Easier Than You Thought
On average, school cost ranges up to $9,700 a year for public school and over $11,000 for private schooling. However, those costs can dramatically lower once you settle on teaching your kids at home. On average, home school costs equal to roughly $2,000 per year. That’s a huge price change!
Home school is also better for your kids. Some studies show that homeschooling kids show better emotional, social, and psychological development than public schools. They also tend to score higher than kids from conventional schools.
The reason may be that the parent gets to set the schedule and curriculum. This helps your child grow in a way that caters directly to their specific needs. After all, who better know the child’s strengths and weaknesses other than the parent?
This isn’t for everyone. For example, some parents may not be cut out to be teachers. This can also be a lot of extra responsibility for a single mother who may not be able to handle it. If this is the case, then don’t worry. There is a homeschooling curriculum that requires minimal parental attention. The only thing you’ll have to do is make sure your kid is doing the work and grading papers. Sounds good, right?
Although, how to survive financially as a single mom is a challenging task, but you can overcome this by engaging yourself into homeschooling.
Check out different curriculum to see if one works for you and your kids. You’d be surprised at just how easy it is to teach your child right at home.
Did We Miss Anything?
There are multiple ways for how to survive financially as a single mother. However, when done correctly, you can breeze through even the toughest challenges of childcare. All it takes is a little understanding of how the system works. From there, you can find the best strategy for you to make the most of saving money as a single mom.
