How to Save Money as a Single Parent

Dealing with money as a single parent can be very stressful. One income and one parent has to run a household and pay for the costs of supporting a family. Learning how to take advantage of money saving strategies will help stretch your finances farther for your family.

Instructions:

Step 1. Set priorities. As a single parent you will need to make limited funds go as far a possible. Make sure you first focus on what your family needs. When you are able to financially cover basic needs such as food, shelter, child care and education, then you can look into providing your family with what is wants such karate classes, name brand items or a weekend outing.

Step 2. Shopping at thrift stores for furniture, appliances, and clothing whenever possible is a great way to save money as a single parent. Be on the look out for thrift store sales as well to make your money go even farther.

Step 3. Walk or use public transportation whenever possible. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere with great public transportation then you can eliminate the cost of gas, insurance, and car maintenance. If public transportation is not an option for you then try to combine trips when you run errands or walk any place that is within a reasonable distance.

Step 4. Get hair cuts at beauty schools. Instructors will be there to supervise and correct errors if necessary and you will save a big chunk of money.

Step 5. Entertain your kids using free public resources. Visit the library for story hours, rent movies or search for good books to read in the following weeks. Go to local parks to use the playground or hike on trails.

Step 6. Buy in bulk and buy generic for groceries whenever possible. Freeze perishable items that you won't use right away and stock up on non-perishable items when they are on sale.

Step 7. Eat out only as an occasional treat. Make preparing meals a family activity. Put on some music and talk about your days as you all prepare the meal together. Let your children help find recipes that they would like to try out.

Step 8. Keep a coin bank. Any time anyone has extra change in their purse or pocket dump it in the change bank. See how much money accumulates over the course of a year and use that for a special outing or item for the family.


Source: eHow Personal Finance Editor (eHow)

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Single parents: How to avoid taking your anger out on your kids

Frustration can abound when you are single parent. There is no one else there to pass the children off to when they'd become difficult or annoying. And every parent knows that children become annoying at times. When you are at the end of your rope as a single parent it to be hard not to take your anger out on your children. However, to keep your household moving forward smoothly, you must learn how to avoid doing this. The following article to give you tips and tricks that will help the single parent keep their cool even when their child does not.

Single Parent Anger Management - Take a Break

Perhaps the best way to deal with anger management as a single parent involves taking a break when emotions are running high. Of course, you cannot pass the child off to another parent to deal with at the time, but you can still give both you and your child breathing room.

Before yelling or speaking out of anger, take a moment to count to ten, leave the room and do some deep breathing, or do some other calming activity. It is good to tell your child that you are too angry to deal with them at the moment and you will discuss the issue later.

Single Parent Anger Management - Give a Hug

When anger overwhelms you, it is hard to focus on the positive. When you feel angry beyone words, remember the mantra, "I still love you." No matter how furious you might be at whatever your child did wrong, give them a hug before talking about it. A hug will difuse the situation and remind them that they are loved no matter what. This may be difficult with older children or teens who resist hugs. Looking them in the eye and telling them you love them no matter what is effective as well.

Single Parent Anger Management - Get Help

While a single parent may not have immediate help to deal with a child who is misbehaving in some way, they can still get assistance with how to avoid taking their anger out on the child. Parenting classes, therapy, anger management counseling can all help. Sometimes, just calling a friend or relative can dampen the anger welling up inside.

Taking your anger out on your child is never acceptable, but it is very understandable. Single parents, who do not have the luxury of sharing the emotional load of difficult parenting times, must find other avenues to diffuse situations before they explode into outright fury.

Source: MelanieM (Bukisa)

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Single Parenting Survival Tips

Successful and positive single parenting tips for raising happy and healthy children, while keeping your sanity intact.

Single parenting is certainly an undertaking requiring finesse and strategy. And some days, survival is the best to hope for. Keeping up with the details of daily living is hard to do, when you're darting here and there, trying not to lose out on any part of your child's life. It becomes harder, still, when we miss out on once in a lifetime events, when we know there should be some way we could juggle everything a bit more efficiently.

There is no single formula for successful parenting, but there are ways to help ease the load of single parenting and make a few rough days more bearable.


1) Find time saving ways of accomplishing everyday tasks. Cook larger portions than needed, especially on weekends when you might have a little extra time, and freeze extra portions in individual meal packages. Then, during the busy and hectic weekdays, take packages out, and heat and serve your ready-made meals. Run errands all at one time, instead of coming and going from home to different places around town, expending your gasoline and your energies. Also, let the kids help at home. It's good for them, and better for all of you.
2) Have a life outside of parenting and your children. Join a club, have regular workouts at a local gym, take yourself out to eat or out for a day of fun with your friends. Allow yourself time at home to be alone, like enjoying a long soak in the tub, free from phones and other demands. This might mean enjoying the tub when the kids are at school, or, you might even hire a babysitter for a couple of hours. Whatever it takes, find unique ways to keep your kids occupied that also give you a chance to recharge your own batteries.
3) Pay attention to your child - each one individually, if you have multiple children. Even though parents need a separate life for themselves, children need lots of attention and tender loving care. Spend regular quality time with each child. Hear what they're really saying, and spend fun time together. Don't wait until your child gets in trouble before you pull yourself away from your busy life to hear what they have to say
4) Be honest with your child. Though children may not always need to hear the whole, ugly truth about life, and about your past (especially in the case of divorce or a troubled past that resulted in the birth of that child), kids deserve to be treated with honesty and respect. Answer their questions in a straightforward manner. Be honest! Kids have a way of finding things out. Better for you and for your child, not to mention better for your long-term relationship, that you be up front with your child from the very beginning. Of course, care should be taken on how much you say, depending on the age and maturity of your child.
5) Let your children become independent people. Don't shelter them to the point of overshadowing and smothering a child's independent nature. Give them responsibilities early, and then expect them to keep up with them. Let a child have a life outside of you and home, with friends and other families with whom they can relate. If you have no close adult friends who can befriend your child, check into the Big Brother/Sister program. Screen candidates very carefully!
6) Look for ways to network and connect with others for support. Join a single parents' group. Form a network with colleagues and friends. Form a car pool or a parents' day out, or try a cooperative for buying supplies in bulk to save each member of the Coop money for their individual family needs.
7) Don't be afraid to ask for help. You're just one parent, and you can't always carry the load alone. Know when it's time to lean on others to get things done, or for support to help get you through another trying day. You're no less a parent when you have to lean on others. Besides, you may be the perfect person to let another single parent lean on you, in return.
8) Don't take yourself too seriously! Learn to have fun and how to laugh. Find a balance in your life. Life is serious enough, without parents carrying all of life's burdens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Let yourself go. Let chores around the house go for awhile. Give yourself a break now and then. After all, you don't HAVE to do it all, all of the time. Learn to laugh with your child and with your friends.


Lest this sounds like single parenting is just one giant nightmare with no end in sight, it is not. Parenting is one of the most rewarding activities a person could undertake. Yes, there are responsibilities, and the load grows quite heavy when carrying it alone. But a child doesn't need perfection. A child just needs a parent to be there, to love, guide, understand and protect. Love and Limits. When you put everything into perspective, the load seems lighter, and the joys of life and parenting begin to glow brighter than the responsibilities and tasks of everyday life.

Source: eSSORTMENT

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Common struggles of single-parent households


There was time in the not too distant past when single-parent families were relatively few, but in recent decades, there has been a dramatic increase in this type of family arrangement due mainly to increasing family problems.

In a perfect world, children have a natural right to have two parents to care for and nurture them through to adulthood. But we don't live in a perfect world and through death or divorce, there is a marked increase in single parent families.

The reality is that most single parents are women and being a single mother, perhaps with multiple children, is a monumental task. A single parent has to juggle a host of responsibilities such as housework, finances, secular work, schooling and dealing with illness when it comes along. As a result, single parenthood can become a struggle.

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS

As the only breadwinner in the home, the single parent will no doubt struggle financially, perhaps having to sacrifice things other families take for granted. It may involve having to live a very frugal life, denying the children some of the luxuries their peers enjoy as standard.

LONELINESS

Even if the parent works secularly, this doesn't dispel the loneliness a single parent feels within the home. There may be children for company, but a single parent will still miss the companionship of a loving partner who can give support and assist with the children.

SOCIAL ISSUES

Behavioral problems with the children can become an issue as the children get older and the single parent has to deal with these alone. This can be overwhelming in the context of having to care for a multitude of other issues on a daily basis.

SCHOOLING

Taking care of the children's needs at school is another challenge for the single parent, having to be available for school visits, being home in time after school and dealing with any concerns arising for their children during school hours. When the children are absent from school due to illness, this can affect the single parent who is holding down a full-time job to support the household.

ILLNESS

When illness strikes in the single parent household, this can be a tremendous struggle. Even more so if it's the parent who is ill. A parent struggling with poor health will still feel the need to get on with household matters depending on the age of the children. When the children are sick, it may require the parent to take time off work to care for them, bringing further financial hardship.

Being a single parent throws up some mountainous problems, and those who cope successfully with them are to be highly commended.

Source: JC Campbell (Helium)

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How to Handle Stress As a Single Parent

Being a parent is very, very stressful. When you top that with work, family and chores around the house - after a while you feel as if you could just crawl into bed and never get up. Being a single parent is even more stressful. Often times, it feels as if there is no one else in the whole world that can help alleviate some of your load or help you to avoid so much stress. This article discusses some of the ways that you can handle stress as a single parent and get through the tougher times.

ME Time

Everyone, especially single parents, need me time. This is very important for keeping your stress level low and keeping you happy. However, most single parents feel as if there isn't one single minute during the day that they can steal just for themselves. The key is to make some. If you don't do it, you will keep devoting 24 hours a day to everyone else and none to you. Hire a sitter to take the kids for a few hours each week and go see a movie. Leave the kids at a family member's house on a weekend night and enjoy the time you need. Whether you go out and remember what it's like to be a person and not just a parent or you lie on the couch and watch movies - it's still YOUR time.

Laugh

There are probably few times during your day when you feel like laughing. However, laughing is just plain out good for you. Laugh with your kids, watch some comedy - do something to make yourself laugh. It's amazing how much stress you shed when you're giggling to the point that you're crying! If you can't find something to make yourself laugh - make your kids laugh. Make funny faces at them or tickle them until they laugh. Soon, you'll end up rolling in your own laughter as well!

Calming Techniques

Stress is very bad for your heart, your body and can actually make you physically sick. Try a few calming techniques next time you find yourself wound to the point of snapping. For instance, close your eyes and breathe very slowly and deeply. Count to ten in your mind and see the numbers in your mind's eye. By the time you get to 10, you will have evened your breathing and begun to calm down. Another thing you can do is imagine something that is comforting to you - whether it's a hammock in the yard or a crackling fireplace. Imagine it until you see it clearly, smell the smells, hear the sounds and more - you will calm yourself down so that you can move on.

Stress is terrible - it is definitely a silent killer and it's important to find something which reduces the stress in our lives. Each time you feel yourself becoming stressed, try one of the techniques in this article to calm yourself down until you are able to continue without the stress. Good luck.

Source : Danielle L. Taylor (EzineArticles)

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Tips to Relax for Single Parents

Life as a single parent can be emotionally, mentally and physically draining. They have to handle work, household chores and children all the same time. They have to play the roles of both ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ single-handedly. Here are some tips to plan your schedule, take out some time to relax, manage everything and remain sane for single parents:

· Stop being bogged down with guilt and regret for things you are not able to do.
· Before going to bed at night, plan the next day.
· In the morning, first review your priorities and do things likewise.
· You may have to compromise with some things and learn to prioritize. Perhaps, doing laundry is more important than mopping and sweeping one day or visiting the school of children may override your visit to the bank on another day.
· Paperless desk fills you with positive thoughts, so avoid clutter and throw anything you can. Try to see a paper, work on it immediately and get it out of your way or just file it away, if it’s for future.
· Skills used for office management prove handy at home too. Clean workplace and three folders labeled ‘Urgent’, ‘ASAP’ and ‘To be Filed’ will make your life much more easier.
· Good filing system will ensure that you don’t have to spend hours looking for some paper later on in the long run. Labeled manila file folders should be kept in a file cabinet with drawers.
· A small tape recorder with headphones can allow you to schedule anything that comes to your mind while driving or cooking. You can do planning, make appointments and listen to songs and even novels too.
· Ask for help from other family members, neighbors and friends or whoever is willing to help and let the kids help too.
· Set alarms for everything and concentrate on only one thing for a set period of time. When the alarm rings, move on to another task and leave the task at hand for another day.
· Set about half an hour in the evening just for your child and let him or her know that at this time he or she can get your undivided attention. If necessary, turn off the mobile and keep the phone off the hook, so there are no distractions.
· Set about 20 minutes for just yourself too and do whatever makes you feel better such as relax, scream, exercise, cry or laugh. Teach the child not to interrupt you at that time and you may make somebody see young children for just that time. The timer may tell the child, when he can speak to you again.
· Things or fulfilling child’s every wish and whim cannot replace the missing parent ever. Over-compensation the children may just spoil them and they may turn selfish and may try to control you.
· Once a month, ask someone to baby-sit your child while you can try and do all the short errands and odd jobs on the appointed day.
· Things do get out of control sometimes and you can take time to just relax or think over things while you are waiting in traffic or queues.
· If you are too tired or stressed, do not feel ashamed of putting off things or procrastinating.
· Writing up notes, addresses and phone numbers on a small diary or small cards that can be put in file will keep you from losing them.
· On weekends, just relax and enjoy time with your child. Get all work done on weekdays itself.
· Share work and time with your kids and try to do it now such as cleaning kid’s room and get older kids help to cook and then go on a fun trip together.

Source: Parenting (iloveindia)

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Ten Tips for Single Parents

1. Ask for help if you need it. Remember that it is a sign of strength, not weakness, to seek help and accept it when problems are overwhelming . Seek out professional counselors in your community, or from PWP and friends.

2. Allow yourself and your children time for readjustment.

3. Remember that a single parent home doesn't have to be harmful to your children and don't attribute all difficulties to your single situation. Whether you are the visiting parent or the primary rearing the children, your ability to cope makes an important difference.

4. Allow bitterness, jealously, blaming, revenge, and self-pity to disappear from your life. Such emotions drain energy from the important tasks of building a good home for your children and a new life for yourself.

5. Allow your children to respect and love the other parent. Don't belittle the parent or involve the children in battles, or force them to "choose." Remember that the children's feelings and perceptions of parents are not the same as those of the spouse for a spouse.

6 . Try to remember the positive parts of your marriage, but without living in the past. Share the good memories with your children.

7. Make sure your children understand that they did not cause the single parent situation and that they are not being rejected by the other parent. Make sure they know you won't abandon them and that you will be able to care for them.

8. Be open and honest; share your feeling with your children and let them share theirs with you. But don't impose your feelings, or demand their confidences.

9. Make an effort to think of yourself as an individual and not part of someone else. Examine old feelings of dependency and neediness. The value you place on yourself will be reflected in your children's sense of self-worth.

10 .While it's easy to become wrapped up in your children, take some time for yourself. Use your single status as an opportunity for growth and development. Make each day count by trying something new or making new friends. Remember that your situation will change old relationships and will lead to new ones.

Source : A Better Child ( education .com)

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Single Parenting - Four Role Models to Avoid

Nobody ever said single parenting is easy. As parents, we all learn with time. However, too often, the pressure of single parenting can be so overwhelming that it’s easy to make mistakes.

Are you one of these single parents? Learn how you can avoid being one:

The Emotional Patient
Most single parents try to be a good friend to their children, which is a good thing. However, a problem arises when single dads or moms see their children as a source of emotional support. Children of single parents need stability and security. A divorce or the death of a parent can be a particularly traumatic experience for them. No matter how mature or old your children are, avoid making them your confidante on issues such as how much money you have or what a lousy day you had. Don’t rob them of their time to be children. It is unfair to burden them with issues that are difficult for them to handle. If you need to speak to someone, speak to your friends or a counselor.

The Guilt Tripper
As a single parent, it is easy to feel guilty about many things. Not being around when your children need you, not being able to help them with their homework, and so on. The danger with feeling guilty all the time is that some single parents tend to develop a lower self esteem that they may pass on to the children. Don’t be hard on yourself. Learn to take the ups and downs in your stride. And, by all means, don’t try to bolster your self-image by fishing for compliments about what kind of parent you are.

The Permissive Parent
Children need as much love and attention as you can give them. However, some single parents make the mistake of being too permissive and never correct their children when it’s necessary. Research has shown that the children brought up in overly permissive parenting style may develop behavioral problems because they do not easily accept responsibility.

Be firm and know where to draw the line. Shower your children with affection but set clear rules and limits. This, of course, does not mean being harsh or too authoritarian. Perfect the art of saying “I love you but a NO means a NO.”

The Martyr
Single parenting can be such an overwhelming experience that many parents simply forget to take care of themselves. With all the effort and sacrifice required to handle regular tasks such as meals and activities, it’s no surprise that many single parents get burned out. Don’t be a martyr. Your children require your time and energy and the only way to sustain it is by allotting some time for yourself. Pamper yourself from time to time, be it writing in your journal, listening to music, or working out in the gym. Arrange for a babysitter or a trusted friend to look after your children when you are away. Look at it not just as time goofing off, but very important re-charging time so you can get back to the difficult job of being a great dad/mom.


Source : GreatDad Writers

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Single Parenting...Challenging yet REWARDING!

Being a single parent and raising a child is the toughest and yet rewarding job that a person can have. It is full of ups and downs… There are times when anger and frustrations sets in. But it’s normal just don’t have to take out your feelings to your children.


Parenthood is a very demanding job and once you’ve accepted it you can never resign! And as for me being a single mom, it’s very difficult to raise a child all by myself. Like a typical mom, I have fears, worries . if I will be able to raise my child in a good way. If I will be a good mother to him . If I will be able to give all the things he need. If I will be able to send him to a good school . Full of if’s , but I know with the support of my family and friends I will conquer all those fears and worries.


Parenting does not have a destination. It does not have a landing pad where you finally realise it all. Rather it is a journey of maturation and growth. Of learning alongside our children as together we charter unknown territory.

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