On a Budget: Best Ways to Cut Back on Costs As a Single, Working Mother

As a single working mom, finances are not a walk in the park, but there are so many obstacles to being frugal when you're trying to do it all. Here's some tips from reader Sarah on how working single moms can also save money.

When it comes to being a single mother, things don’t come for you as easily as it would if you had a spouse or significant other. But just because you don’t have a significant other in your life at the moment, that doesn’t mean that you’re a woman destined to fail, by any means… that just means that you have to do things a little bit differently than someone with a partner.

Single mothers are actually some of the strongest people in the world. They don’t let the fact that they are raising their child alone define them… single women do it all the time and live happy lives. In the same breath, just because a woman is a single parent, that also doesn’t necessarily mean that they are raising their child alone. Single parents get help all the time from friends and family and a lot of times, if it weren’t for them, you don’t know how you would have made it.


The World is Changing For Single Mothers

You see on TV all the time how single mothers are running around “like a chicken with its head cut off.” It’s almost as though in the movies and on TV, the worst things that can happen to a single mothers, actually happens to them. Things like consistently being late to work due to trying to get their child to daycare or living in public housing because that’s all they could afford, are all negative portrayals of single, working mothers and that’s the furthest thing from an accurate depiction of them.

Today’s single, working mother has a good job (and even makes extra money), can keep a roof over her head, and takes good care of herself and her child but that doesn’t make it as easy as what you see on TV. Single mothers still face their fair share of issues but it doesn’t defeat them… Single mothers have mastered the craft of figuring out what needs to be done to better their situation. Take a look at how single, working moms are kicking butt at cutting costs and proudly wearing the title of “single mom.”

Hire a Nanny Instead of Day Care

No longer are you frequently seeing single mothers rushing to daycares to drop off their kids before work. Today, single mothers are taking full advantage of the many benefits of nanny services. Not only are nanny services more affordable for as a means of childcare but nanny services provide way more than just childcare… nanny services provide other services like:

• Cooking
• Cleaning around your house
• Senior care
• After school tutoring

Those are just a few of the perks associated with hiring nanny services but one thing is for sure… you can’t get those additional services by dropping your little one off at daycare, so if you’re using nanny services, it’s definitely something for you to look into for consideration.

Cook instead of Eating Out

Eating out is one of the main places where everyone’s money goes… eating out literally and figuratively eats up your money! Sure, a lot of people do it out of pure convenience but can you imagine just how much money you would save if you ditched the short convenience and got in the kitchen and prepared a meal that would last you a few days?

It’s not only saving you money but it’s also providing meals for you that will keep you from needing to cook or go out for a few days… all you would have to do is warm everything up! According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a typical household, on average, will spend a little over $3,000 on eating out.

Cancel Unnecessary Bills

Did you know that there are people in the world who have various memberships to gyms and health clubs and don’t even use the facilities? So that means that they are having money come out of their account for services they’re not even using… if you are in this boat, do yourself and your bank account a huge favor and cancel those memberships. Those memberships can range anywhere from $10 per month to a few hundred dollars per month, so if you’re not using those facilities and have other more important responsibilities, like a child… cancel those memberships.

Even as a busy, full time working single mom, there are ways to save money. Good luck!

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