by admin on June 27, 2010
It’s often not easy for a single mother to make ends meet. The first reaction that a single mother has is to look at seeing what sort of help is available to solve the financial problem. But help doesn’t always need to come from an outside source. There is something to be said about that help coming from within. Yes, as a single mother I realize just how difficult it can be to pay the rent, cloth and feed your child, and just generally survive. But a single mom doesn’t need to be a victim — they can achieve many great things.
If you are able to pick yourself up as a single mom and figure out a solution on your own terms, it’s incredibly empowering as a woman. Think of all the people who have told you there’s no helping yourself. How many other single moms do you know that solve their solution by just finding a man to take care of them or waiting for a government check to pay the bills. Why I’m not saying these are not options, there is a better option: help yourself.
It’s easy to talk about helping yourself when you are a single mother, but it doesn’t have to just be a sort of pie-in-the-sky dream. You can make a real difference in your life. The first place to start is to think about a rough plan. If you need money then you are going to need to either find a job, find a better job, or make your own business. I firmly believe every woman is able to make her own destiney in life. I’ve heard a lot of doubters in my life about what’s possible and what’s not possible. But the bottom line is that every woman is able to make something happen if they really really want to.
Here are some possible solutions:
- Work at home jobs (yes, despite all the scams out there, there are some real legitimate jobs out there that allow you to work at home)
- College Education
- Professional Jobs
I support myself and my children by working at home. As a single mom, I was tired of scraping for money each month. The solution I found was to look at ways to create a better job situation for myself. I went back to school and got training in website design. It was a lot of work balancing school and job, but in the end I came out of my program a better and more accomplished person. I know work from the comfort of my living room designing websites. So it is possible.
I know plenty of single mothers who have gone back to school to get a college education. It’s not easy, but the mothers who have done so have all managed to get white collar jobs and have worked themselves out of poverty. Even better, they didn’t need the assistance of any man to help them!
So dare to dream and don’t sit around waiting for someone to save you. Every woman wants a knight in shining armor to save them, but if you look down deep enough, you might find that you can be your own knight.
by admin on April 27, 2010
The job of a single parent is not an easy one. One person must assume the roles of both mother and father. The family must survive on one income, which can affect the quality of housing, food, and even the children’s education. The overwhelming majority of single parent families are headed by the mother, which quite often leaves her in low-level employment and inadequate housing, and facing numerous barriers to break out of the situation. However, there is help available. In this article, we will discuss the different types of single mother financial help.
Some single mothers are forced out of full time employment due to childcare issues. The children are too young to attend school and the costs of day care negate going to work. With no income, life can be quite difficult, forcing many to live off public assistance. Under the WIC program, single mothers are eligible to have the basic food costs of the family covered. Such fundamental items as milk, beans, peanut butter, cheese, cereal, and eggs are covered. The aid is given in the form of vouchers that can be used at the local supermarket.
Another form of single mother financial help comes from the Department of Children and Families. Called TANIF, it provides temporary assistance to families in need. The families that qualify are given monetary support to cover the needs that are deemed most urgent. This can include housing, food or transport. The TANIF program is available to two-parent families as well as single mothers.
Housing vouchers are another form of single mother financial help. Again, under the authority of the Department of Children and Families, this program will help find adequate housing for a single mother and her family. They will often locate an apartment or residence at a fraction of the normal cost.
One of the oldest forms of single mother financial help is food stamps. Depending on the situation, the mother or head of the family is awarded a certain dollar amount in food stamps. In the past, they came in the form of paper stamps, but they are now similar to a credit or debit card.
Finally, one of the most essential costs for a single mother is health care. If she or one of her children becomes ill, there are programs that make it possible for the family to receive medical attention. Medicaid and several other healthy kids programs allow children from qualified families to have their medical needs addressed for free. The programs are based on need and vary from state to state. In some areas, the services are completely without cost, while others require a small co-payment.
The role of a single parent is demanding and challenging. At times it may seem impossible to create any significant degree of change. However, with the availability of some of the various forms of single mother financial help, small steps can be taken.