MONEY. A Necessary Evil.

Finances and budgeting. No one really enjoys these topics. Having to do it on your own makes things even more dreadful. Being the breadwinner as well as the nurturer, basically playing all of the roles needed for a family to survive is no easy task. But take heart, it is possible. You can and will, do it!

Here are a few simple tips and tricks to make the budgeting nightmare less scary:

1.      Ask for help. This is something that as a single mom I have learned is the first necessity. It isn’t shameful or wrong to ask others you trust for help, in any capacity. When it comes to financial circumstances, it is vital. Find loving friends, family, and neighbors to tend your kids while you work at little or no cost. Obviously, this isn’t always an option or a long-term solution. But when just starting out on this new path of single parenthood a penny saved is almost like two pennies earned! People will help you while you get your feet on the ground. Just ask.

2.      Be thrifty. As a wise man once said, “Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.” Elder Boyd K. Packer was speaking to us when he said this. Kids (or yourself) growing out of jeans? Cut them off and make cute shorts! Need a haircut? Find a local cosmetology school that will do it for cheap or even for free! Don’t worry about having all the newest things, smart phones, or clothes.

3.      SAVE SAVE SAVE! I saw an idea on Pinterest that I loved. Every $5 bill that comes in to your possession, save it. Either put it in a special bank account or a special box in your home. It will surprise you how fast the money adds up. My 2 year old enjoys putting any and all change she finds into her piggy bank. The more you save, the more you earn.

“Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.” 

-Elder Boyd K. Packer

4.      Assistance is OK. Programs like WIC and Medicaid are made for you. I know it isn’t ideal or enjoyable to “live off the government” but programs like this are made for people in our situation. Short term help is OK and fine. Just don’t rely on it forever!

5.      Cook! Don’t waste vital time and money on fast food or frozen meals. Learn how to make delicious foods from scratch. Cooking at home is much more cost efficient than dining out. It is also a lot more fun. I love that my daughter is so interested in my cooking and baking. And I look forward to the time when she can help me in more ways. Get the little ones involved!

Sometimes I feel like Ebenezer Scrooge. Or Hamm from the Toy Story movies, “Money, money, money!” being a single mom makes the financial side of life even more so. Student loans. Day care. Travel. So many added stresses. At the end of the day though, none of this really matters. Material things are just that, things. The squeals of joy and smiles of love from our children are more precious than anything money can buy.

Share your money tips with us!