Lack of income and finances are some reasons many women consider abortion when facing an unplanned pregnancy. This is true whether the woman is married or not. April is Financial Literacy Month. However, no matter the day, the week, the month, or the year, most of us can use tips for managing our finances. Money Management International is a great place to start with its 30 Steps to Financial Wellness. The site also features free resources, including webinars and worksheets, to help a person get a better idea of their financial situation.
Financial health is critical, whether one is single, married, with or without a family. It costs a lot of money to provide for oneself or a household, from housing and food to transportation and healthcare. Buying a car and maintaining it; renting or buying a home; purchasing food, visiting a doctor, even buying school supplies and clothing costs money. Therefore, managing that money wisely is vital.
Here are eight tips for helping you stay (or become) financially healthy:
- Plan weekly meals and build your grocery list around them
- Check weekly grocery ads before shopping and use online or print coupons when you go.
- Set a monthly budget and stick with it.
- Consider supplementing your income with work-from-home jobs that you can also enjoy, everything from jewelry-making to sell on sites like Etsy to creating crafts for holiday bazaars.
- Find and use your tax credits.
- Build emergency savings.
- Resist temptations to buy what you want and stick to purchasing what you need.
- Save up for a special vacation and while doing so, take outings close to home to save money and to enjoy time with your children and/or other family/friends.
Wondering how to budget? Budget sheets are available online or in paper form. Find some ideas here: https://www.daveramsey.com/budgeting/how-to-budget/.
Remember that tax season is upon us. You may find savings and receive a refund this year. If so and you are in debt, money experts advise reducing that financial burden with your income tax refund. Or, use that money to start (or add to) your emergency savings. Deadline to file your 2017 taxes is April 17, 2018.
There are many websites with helpful information on money management and budgeting that’s good for everyone, including single parents. Here are just a few you might like to review:
http://www.moneymanagement.org/
https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/budgeting-tips-for-single-moms
https://toughnickel.com/frugal-living/Frugal-Living-Tips-for-Single-Moms
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/20/5-winning-money-strategies-for-single-parents.html