This little guide is an introduction to the 13 money lessons that will bring you peace, prosperity, and a brand new outlook on money. I have learned these lessons my life as a single mom. Being financially responsible for my children basically forced me to learn these lessons because I did not want to be a welfare mom statistic.
The tips in this booklet range from ways to control your financial life to a plethora of savings strategies for your big and small dreams.
Managing money as a single mom (or anyone) can be challenging when the income source is deficient. The secrets discussed here will show you how to use what you have, heal from your disappointments, and learn how to magnetize more money.
Let’s dive in!
1. Controlled Spending = More Freedom
To turbo charge your financial life begin by developing a spending plan to avoid overspending. If the word budget conjures up feelings of restriction and lack; call it a spending plan.
Understand that when you develop a spending plan you feel more in control and it’s easier to stop overspending.
The first thing to do is think about and list everything you need, and then assign a dollar amount to each item.
Review your past spending trends to get an accurate look of how much you spend for bills, food, clothing, car/ transportation, and entertainment.
Review your bank account online for a ready source for seeing where your money goes.
2. Give a Kid a Dime He’s Happy for a Day Teach Him About a Dollar He’s Set for Life (Kids & Money)
Kids should know how the money is spent so that they can be more sensitive to money limitations.
When kids know approximately how much money is coming in and how much has to go out to maintain a life they will be more sensitive to your role as provider.
Knowledge about financial obligations might encourage kids to find ways to earn money on their own.
3. Hedge off Disaster or Head to Vacation (Rainy Day Funds)
Have a savings plan to prepare for emergencies? It is hard to predict when an emergency will happen that requires a large chunk of cash.
Putting away money for a rainy day is very empowering (I’m speaking to myself here).
If you have money saved, that is specifically for these times, your stress level will go way down.
A stash of cash can relieve feelings of desperation and resorting to uncharacteristic behaviors.
Most financial gurus recommend that you have $1k-3k in savings. If you can manage to save at least $500 that is better than nothing.
Open up a separate account for your rainy day fund. Use your tax refund, raises, or other windfalls of cash to fund this account.
4. Get Smart About Child Support
Get child support payments direct deposited if possible. There is nothing worse than waiting for a check to arrive in the mail from your ex.
If you are getting support through the state, you should have the direct deposit option.
If you have an agreement with your ex, insist on having the funds automatically transferred to your account. The money will be taken out automatically so you won’t have to worry about getting the funds on time.
5. Keep More of Your Money in Banking Transactions
Join a Credit Union to avoid outrageous bank fees. Your money will earn interest over time.
If you are eligible to join, you can easily become a member by completing a membership application, depositing and maintaining the minimum par value of a share (generally ranging from $5 to $25), and paying a one-time membership fee if the credit union charges such a fee.
As a member, you will have the right to vote at the credit union’s annual membership meeting for the credit union’s board of directors and its other officials. All of the officials are comprised of members, like yourself, from its field of membership. (MyCreditUnion.gov)
Banks are notorious for nickel and diming people to death. There is a fee for everything from checks to account balances below a certain amount. A credit union may be available through your employer, your state, or your school. Find a credit union near you.
An alternative is an insurance-run financial institution like USAA or PenFed. These types of banks
6. Knowledge is Power for Purchases (Research, Research)
Research products or services online for quality and price before purchasing. Before you go out and buy a product or hire someone to do a job for you please, please check online.
When you research prices and quality of service you can same much time, effort and possible frustration.
Take a class on starting a business through the local Chamber of Commerce or SCORE. You don’t have to have an MBA to run a business but you can take a class.
8. Master Your Mindset About Money as You Think So Your Will Money Be
Change your thinking about money. For many people, especially single moms, money has many negative connotations. You don’t have it, there is not enough of it, and you don’t know where the next batch is coming from. We have a tendency to think that it is out of reach so we struggle with it.
Money is simply a tool to get the things we need and want. Of course not having it and thinking about your lack will not make it come to you any faster.
When you change your thinking about money, see its true purpose, and realize it’s abundance, you will have more of it.
Remember that there is more money available for you. Whenever I have to pay a bill, write a check, or spend money I keep that thought in mind. I will have more, not because I am doing anything special but because I just know that it will come again.
Let the money go to receive more. Think of it as a Money Cycle. Sometimes we get so caught up in holding on to money with such tight fists that we fail to realize that, “a closed hand cannot receive more”.
9. Creative Ways to Get Anything You Want with Little to No Money
When you look around the world it seems like everything requires money, but I want to share a little secret with you. It doesn’t.
There are ways to get anything you want out of life with little to no money. All it takes a bit of outside the box thinking and a little creativity. Read on to find out how to get more out of life with less money.
Discover other ways to get what you really want (money may not be the bottom line). With money constantly on the brain we forget that it is not what we really want.
The true needs are:
A roof over our heads
food to eat
clothes to wear
a problem solved
If you can look past money and see the true need or want, it’s easier to release the tension and negative thoughts about money and your situation.
Open your creative eyes and you find ways to get what you need without being burdened by the “not enough money” syndrome.
Bartering with Family/Friends
Barter with others including moms, small businesses, your health providers, etc.
Bartering was the first form of exchanging goods for services.
The basic idea is to give something to get something. You may have something that others need or want. It may be a product, service, or personal item.
Others may have what you want so you come to an agreement to exchange things or time instead of money.
The barter system is a temporary way to get what you need when money is flowing in slower than you want.
Join a Barter Club
There are bartering clubs all over the world. I belong to a club called TradeBank, and organized bartering club. I get what I need from members of the club using trade dollars. The value of a trade dollar is just like a real dollar.
You earn trade dollars by performing a service or delivering a product. Your trade account grows and give you more trade power. You can get medical, dental, contractor, retail, and other services. The Tradebank network is currently in cities across the US.
Join or Organize a Swap Meet/ Trade/ Exchange Group
Look for local swap meets with a regular schedule. You can connect with other women who have clothes, shoes, kids’ items, baby equipment, etc. that they want to swap with you. If you do not find one in your area you can start your own with ladies in your neighborhood, church, or community center. You can find out about swap meets on Facebook, Craigslist, and other community newspaper or classified ad sites.
Check out Freecycle Groups
People are always giving away free stuff in these groups. They’d rather give away stuff they don’t need to people who can really use it and appreciate it. There are hundreds around the country so you should be able to find one in your area. I’ve seen (and given away) furniture, equipment, clothing, and so much more. Here is the Freecycle link to check it out and find one in your city.
10. Truth About Being Need-y vs. Want-y
Learn to separate your wants and needs
Sometimes it is hard to separate our needs from our wants. Air, water, food, and shelter are really the only things we need to survive. Okay we need clothes too, but the basics are few. The rest of the stuff is optional.
Plan your purchases
When you see that you need (or want) a new thing it is very important to plan the purchase.
Write down what you need/want, do the research, save the money, and then make the purchase.
Make the wanted item a reward for doing certain challenging tasks that you may be procrastinating about.
11. The Giving and Gratitude Cycle is Huge for Prosperity
Your attitude about money plays a big role in how prosperous you become (and remain).
There is a saying, “the more you give, the more you get”. I’d like to add my own twist to it; “the attitude of your giving determines the altitude of your getting”.
The more grateful or thankful about the money in your life the more you will get. The more grateful for the things you have in your life the more you have. The more grateful for the people who help you the more people want to help you.
The same goes with the way you give. Give more (with gratitude) and you get more.
The interesting thing is you will rarely receive from the same place you gave. In other words, you will most likely not get anything from the homeless man on the street or the person you give a bag of clothes. You will get from a completely different source and often you will get back double what you gave.
Here are a few ways to practice giving with gratitude to increase your prosperity:
Pay your bills with a grateful heart. The services you receive in exchange for your money are essential for living.
Be grateful because you have the benefit of using the services provided by the city, phone company, car finance company, and on and on.
Allow the changed perspective to change your attitude about paying bills. You could be in a homeless shelter, unemployed, or living with your parents
Lights, water, a car, gasoline, food, and many other necessary services are reasons to be grateful. Paying the bills is a blessing so pay with a happy heart!
12. Get Obsessive-Compulsive About Saving
Get creative with your savings techniques. Piggy bank, change jar, online interest bearing account, PayPal, or mattresses. All of these items and location are places to save your money.
Where Will You Save?
It really isn’t about where you save it but how you save it. Here are a few ideas to get your saving juices flowing:
Savings can come out in addition to tithe or other charitable donations.
Savings may come out before taxes on the payroll into a 401K account.
Still others save all their loose change and deposit it when it overflows the container they are using.
The key to the savings method you decide to use, is to be consistent.
Saving $5 or $10 per pay period or per month is better than saving nothing at all.
Keeping it safe from your prying hands may be a challenge but when you commit to saving, and you have a purpose behind it, you will leave it alone.
The Big Savings “Why”
Decide why you are saving your money, find a picture to keep prominently on your bathroom mirror, and start saving.
Tape a picture to the fridge, go to online and look at the features, and plan how you are going to use item you want.
Save or invest your windfall (tax returns, student loan refunds, stimulus checks, monetary gifts).
Windfall Savings Method
The tax season is prime time for a money windfall especially for single moms. The child tax credit and earned income credit is the reason we get a fat tax refund.
Commit to saving at least half of your refund. Use the other half to pay down debt or may annual purchases such as car registration, insurance, or other yearly expense.
When you get that stimulus check put that in the pot too, along with your student loan refund, and that birthday gift money.
If you play the lottery, put your winnings in there too! 😉
13. Embrace True Independence and Make Awesome Financial Decisions
Too often we are focused on the loneliness of single motherhood so we can’t see the blessing it is to be independent. If you can see past the negative you will discover that your independence is a ticket to an amazing financial life. Change your mindset so you can change your life. Here are seven perspective shifts you can make to embrace your financial independence:
Relish the thought of not having to answer to anyone for your financial decisions. As a single mom you have such autonomy.
Every purchase you make for the benefit of you and your kids is worry free.
To save or spend; get in debt or get out of debt is all up to you.
There is no one to question you or blame you if there is no money in the bank and you don’t have to fight with anyone about balancing the checkbook or taking money out without letting you know.
Money is one of the major reasons for divorce so there is something to be said about separate accounts and a house account.
Resolve any money issue you have and get settled before embarking on a new relationship.
Just promise me that you will check out his financial history and habits first before committing to a long-term relationship or marriage with him.
Now that you know these 13 powerful money lessons, pass them on to your kids so they will have the best financial start in life. You are their best teacher not because of what you say but because of what you do.
Which of these lessons will you apply to your life first?
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
We are living in a time when anyone can become an entrepreneur and make money on the web. Blogging is one of many ways to do this and is one of the easiest ways to bring in some mad money. I get asked all the time, “What is a blog and how do I start one?” The next question is, “how can I make money just writing about my life on a website?” or “how can I setup a profitable niche blog?”
The most important question is, “what will I talk or write about?” For single moms the topics are endless. You can talk about your struggles and triumphs. You can discuss your finances like Emma Johnson does over at Wealthy Single Mommy. If you have a pet project or pets you can blog about them. If you have goals that you are trying to reach blog, about it. If it’s about your quest to buy a house, a car, or start or finish college, write about that. If you are recovering from an abusive relationship, blog about your journey or, if you just got engaged blog about the wedding plans.
It’s best that your topic stays pretty focused so that your readers know what to expect and so that potential sponsors can target its advertising on your site. Focusing the content of your site also helps you in creating new posts and makes you something of an expert in your subject matter. Planning your content around a focal point gives you a lot of ideas to work with and expand on. It also cuts down on confusion and writer’s block.
Adding different elements to your blog to make it interactive is essential for getting people to come back. So is updating your blog regularly (at least once a week).
After you have written a few entries on your blog you will want the world to know about it. There are several ways to accomplish this goal.
Submit your blog to blog directories, more specifically directories that fall within your topic range.
Promote your post on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media channels.
Add metadata to your blog template (it’s not hard) so that the search engines can find it.
Speaking of search engines, be sure to add tags to your post each time and use keywords within your post that people normally search.
There is a lot more to blogging but with these basics, you can have one up and running in no time.
If you have been contemplating starting a blog or website your timing couldn’t be better. Blogs are a perfect way to share your passion with the world and make money too.
But how do you start a blog?
That is one of the biggest questions I get when I tell people that I’ve been blogging for years. Here is how to set your blog/ website up in four steps:
The first step is to decide what you want to share with the world. Is it a hobby, your experience as a single mom, specialty cooking, your profession, or how much you love travel, dogs, or playing darts.
A blog can be about anything you want it to be about. With that being said you also want to decide if your topic is something other people want to read about or are researching.
Even though you have a blog, it is not guaranteed that if you build it they will come. Your topic does need to have some appeal so people will visit. Those visitors can turn into clients or customers.
Now that you know what you are going to blog about the next step is to get it set up. You will need a place for your blog to live.
You can create a blog pretty easily on a free site like blogger or WordPress.com and be up and running, but you will have a few limitations.
If you plan to make money I recommend setting up your blog so you own it outright. It is like you own the property instead of having to pay to play.
The first thing you need is a domain name. With a Blogger or WordPress.com site, your blog name will be something like yourblogname.blogspot.com or yourblogname.wordpress.com. Very different from yourblogname.com.
Go for originality and get your own domain name. I love GoDaddy.com because they always have special and discounts. You can get a domain name for $.99 sometimes. When it’s time to renew you will have to pay full price but $.99 for a year is a great way to see how you like your blog and the entire process.
Blog Setup Step 3 – Get Website Hosting
The next thing you need is a place for your blog to live. It’s called a hosting site.
Most websites and blogs live on a hosted server. I won’t go into all the technical details but that is how it is unless you have your own private server which can get expensive. So get your hosting through a reputable company.
This blog, RichSingleMomma.com, has been hosted on Hostgator.com for the last seven years or so. I haven’t had any issues with them and they have always helped me when I needed them.
Why can’t I use a free blogging service? Why set up a blog on your own server?
You could set up a free blog on Blogger.com or WordPress.com and it could look very nice. But you would be at the mercy of someone else’s whims. If they don’t like what you put on your blog they could shut you down and you’d lose all your hard work in an instant.
In the case of WordPress.com, you are not allowed to place ads or products to make money on your site. You cannot put Adsense or any other money generating ad networks on your blog.
With your own WordPress blog that is hosted on your server, you own everything and never have to worry about being shut down or limiting your money generating activities.
Here are the steps to set up your Hostgator website hosting service:
Choose Your Domain Name
If you have a domain name already you can skip this part
Choose your plan
I recommend you choose the 36-month plan to get the most bang for your buck. You can add unlimited domains to your plan.
Enter a username and pin code to access your new account
Enter your billing information
Choose optional add-on services
You can add them now or later. You might find them useful especially if you are concerned with hacking, monitoring, or want email service from Google. Your account comes with email capability so you don’t really need this part.
Enter a coupon code (if applicable)
If you find a coupon code online you can enter it here. It can help reduce the cost of your hosting. Check RetailMeNot.com or CouponCabin.com to see if they have a code.
Review Your Order
You can see here that a 36-month plan can be less than $100! That is an amazing bargain for online real estate. Yes you are now the proud owner of prime internet real estate. Congratulations!
Read the fine print
Your hosting price is an introductory price. The renewal price may be a bit higher, but by that time you will have an extremely profitable niche blog! 😉 Click to accept the terms and then you are ready to check out.
Check Out
Click the check out button to make your purchase. You will receive an email with your account information and login details.
Once you have your hosting company, the next step is connecting your domain name to the hosting company.
You might be wondering why you can’t get them all in one place. You actually can, but I don’t recommend it. As a best practice, keep your domain name and hosting separate. You maintain more control over everything.
Now you are ready to point your domain name to your hosting. Go to the email you got from Hostgator and copy the Nameserver information to notepad. You will need that information to update the Nameserver.
You can watch the video below to see how to connect your domain name to Hostgator.
Now that you have your domain name and hosting connected it’s time for the fun part.
You will now install WordPress for your blog. It all happens in the back office of your hosting service.
Here is a video that shows you have to install WordPress.
Now that it’s installed you can begin to blog when you log into your blog’s admin area. Ready? Set. Go!
Now that you have your blog set up it’s time to think about how to make money from it. Here are three ways you can start making money from you blog:
1.Review and Recommend Products
When you build an audience you can begin reviewing and recommending products. Set up an Amazon Associates account and then link the products you recommend and get paid a commission when people click on the item.
2. Sell Products
If you are creative you can sell your own products. It can be t-shirts, crafts, jewelry, or something else. Set up a Gumroad or Shopify seller account to sell your goods or services.
3. Sell services
Depending on your blog theme you may be able to sell consulting services. You might offer virtual assistant, social media management, or coaching services.
It’s completely up to you to decide what will work for you.
Does this feel overwhelming? If so, you should check out my Free WordPress Setup offer. I will set up your blog for you on an easy to use template. Click Here to request this service now.
Are you ready to start a blog? What will you blog about? How will you make money from it? I’d love to know so do me a favor and leave a comment below.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Should I give my kid a cellphone? That has been a question parents have been asking for almost a decade now. I remember when my daughter first asked me for a cellphone. I wasn’t excited about the idea but I knew she would not stop asking me for one because all her friends had one. She was 12 years old and growing up fast. What could I do? Should kids under age 16 have a phone?
These days most parents would say yes. i understand that there are no more pay phones and kids need them if there is no home phone. Being a latchkey kid comes with it’s issues already but not having a way to communicate adds another set of issues. My daughter was a latchkey kid for a short time so I get it. But I think there should be limitations.
This was my biggest concern when my daughter asked for a phone. This was back in the day before iPhones came out. The Blackberry was all the rage so there were other brands that had similar features. Access to the internet was new but it was coming fast.
Lexi (my daughter) wanted a nice smartphone but I wasn’t having it. She would have to settle for a Tracphone or a similar type. She would be able to dial the number, get text messages, and no data plane.
When my son got older he began asking for a phone. Technology was much better now so the smartphones seemed like the only option. A few months earlier I came across a great deal from Freedom Pop to buy a Samsung Galaxy 3 pretty inexpensively and I’d get free talk, text, and limited data. I jumped at it so I had a phone. Not long after that I upgraded to a different phone and plan. I gave my son the Samsung and sent him on his way. He has a nicer phone than my daughter did but he has limitations like she did.
My daughter’s Tracphone prepaid plan was pretty pitiful. I can laugh about it now but back then she was not too happy. She had 100 minutes, maybe 300 text messages, and she got charged each time she checked her voicemail, LOL! It was awful. But it taught her responsibility. She could not talk endlessly on the phone and text all the time. She basically limited her talk and text time to me and close family. Over the years she has gotten upgraded phones and plans but she still does not talk very much and she has started to text her friends more.
My son’s limited plan has had a similar affect. He rarely talks on the phone and he barely sends text messages. Maybe it has to do with being home-schooled and not feeling peer pressure. He doesn’t use the data plan much either because he’s on wifi at our house most of the time. Best of all I saved money by putting them on pre-paid or free cellphone plans!
I can’t see giving kids under 16 a generous or unlimited plan for two major reasons:
They are not paying for it
They have no opportunity to learn self-control and responsibility for what they have
Other parents may disagree but I know that limited the cell phone type and plans for my kids have saved me thousands of dollars and taught them responsibility and self control.
Does Cellphones Increase Drama for Teens?
My sister mentioned a conversation she had with a co-worker. Her son is girl-crazy and is having a lot of problems out of him. My sister told her that her son, who is the same age, doesn’t have this issue and that it could be that he doesn’t have a cellphone. The lady admitted that maybe that was where she went wrong.
A phone in itself cannot control behavior but it can be a contributing factor.
So should kids under 16 have a cell phone? I think they can if you as the parent put limitations on the type and plan. Can you trust a 13 year old to keep a $400 phone safe, free from cracked screens, or from being stolen? Can a 10 year old truly be responsible if given an unlimited plan and the latest iPhone?
I don’t think so. That’s my opinion, but the boundaries I set with my kids have been successful.
What about you? How old was your child when you gave him/her a cellphone? Has it been a headache for you?
Disclaimer: This post contains links to products recommendations for which I may be paid a referral fee. This helps keep this blog up and running with quality content. Thank you for your support over the years!
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
What do you do when you are strapped for cash? How can you make quick and easy cash? The first thing is to take a deep breath and count to 10. This is not the time to panic but to put on your thinking cap.
To help you out I’ve compiled a list of ways you can come up with quick and easy cash right now. Choose a method that works for you and give it all you’ve got. I’ve used all of these methods to make quick cash when I was in a bind. The amount you make varies but it will be worth it.
Now on to my 7 Single Mom Quick and Easy Cash Methods:
Cash back for shopping
Have you ever wished you could get back just a little bit of the money you spend on clothing, shoes, and household goods? I learned about Ebates a couple of years ago. I signed up and got my first check shortly after that. You can get cash back on clothing, travel, shoes and much more on all your favorite stores online. Simply signup at Ebates and start getting cash back.
Sell small electronics online
If you are anything like me you have a bunch of old electronics laying around. Cell Phones are the best items to sell so are tablets. Services like Gazelle or Amazon Trade-in will pay you cash for your electronics. Gazelle sends you a cash and Amazon gives you credit for anything you want to purchase at Amazon.com
Sell stuff you don’t need on Craigslist and Amazon
The go-to place for making quick cash is Craigslist. You can list just about anything and it will sell. In demand items include electronics, furniture, baby items, video games, and consoles. You can also sell your stuff on Amazon with the Amazon Seller Program‘s individual account. Simply upload your images and description to the seller site then ship when someone buys your item. You get all the cash on Craigslist of course, but with Amazon, you pay a small fee.
Clean up for cash
Put your cleaning skills to work in homes or offices to make cash quickly. Busy people will pay you to clean up after them. Ask family and friends if they need help once a week or month. Join Care.com or Hux to list your services.
Weekend babysitting
Head back over to Craigslist to place an ad for babysitting. Moms and dads like going out on the weekend so this is prime time for babysitting. Charge a premium rate for babies and toddlers and a little less for older kids. A Care.com profile comes in handy for this too. Download the Care.com app to your iPhone to sign up conveniently and create a profile.
Sell a service
Put your skills, talents, expertise, or gifts to work for others and make money quickly for yourself. People will always need food, childcare, admin help, beauty products, and other services. This is a great opportunity to start a side gig online or in real life.
Drive for Cash
Your car is a money maker. Services like Uber and Lyft need drivers in their rideshare program. Services like Postmates, Uber Eats, and Door Dash, etc need food delivery drivers. Get out on the weekends and rake in the cash with your car.
If you feel overwhelmed by the choices simply pick the one that feels the easiest to do. After you have your cash and feel back on top of things financially, consider starting a side gig so you can generate more income. The financial stress will lift and you will be able to breathe again.
Check out my Side Hustle Guides and the More Money For Mom Masterclass (Coming Soon) where you will learn more ways to earn extra money on the side.
Look out for my business start-up webinars and classes coming next year. In the meantime, get out there and start making cash quickly using the seven methods above!
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Let’s face it — college is expensive. Whether you’re still in school trying to pay for textbooks and housing, a professional facing your student loans or a parent saving for your child’s future tuition, the cost of an education can result in debt that looms for decades. More people are finding that full-time jobs are not even beginning to cover the costs. Today’s side gig economy and sharing economy offers many different avenues to supplement your budget and ease the burden of education-related expenses, all while providing flexibility and self-determinant hours.
Do you have a car, auto insurance and some spare time? Ride-sharing apps, like Uber and Lyft, offer an opportunity to make quick cash by driving riders in your local area, using your own vehicle. Drivers work as independent contractors and receive a payment based off of how many hours or miles are logged each week. “They make it extremely easy to make quick money if I need it,” says Aidan Monheim, a student at the University of Massachusetts-Boston who drives for Lyft in his spare time to earn money for utilities and other bills. “It allows me to be flexible around my classes and earn money without working a set number of hours a week.”
Another “side-gig” opportunity that is gaining popularity is the home-sharing industry. Apps like Airbnb and HomeAway connect would-be travelers with locals willing to rent out rooms, or their entire home. Simply list your place on the site, and screen candidates based on your preferences. By listing your residence during peak travel times and arranging to stay with friends or family, renters can earn supplemental income for their education, with very little effort.
Direct selling provides a flexible opportunity for people to make additional income on their own terms, and within their own networks. Take Nakul Arora, for example, who became an Amway Independent Business Owner to help pay for business school. Amidst earning his degree, working full time as an accountant, and studying for professional certifications, 25-year-old Nakul worked his direct selling business in the evenings. “I saved every penny I earned through my Amway business to help pay for my education,” says Nakul. By joining a successful company like Amway, a global leader in direct selling, you can share and sell high-quality products to your friends, co-workers and colleagues to earn additional income. The unique flexibility of direct selling offers an opportunity for you to work as little or as often as you want, around traditional day jobs, classes, family, or other responsibilities.
Often described as the services used by those with more time than money, apps like TaskRabbit, Handy, Thumbtack and HomeJoy offer opportunities to get paid for home cleaning and maintenance work. Seemingly simple tasks, such as cleaning a home, mowing a lawn or assembling a piece of furniture can run up to $50 an hour. And the best part? Like Uber, direct selling and other gig economy services, you work on your own terms and can make your own schedule around studying, work or other commitments.
Is your closet piling up with unwanted clothes and shoes? Maybe you have spare furniture cluttering your storage space, or a drawer full of old electronics. Why not turn your clutter into cash? Apps like ThredUp, PoshMark and LetGo offer opportunities to sell your stuff in an auction-like setting, and do all the work for you — simply list your items, watch them get purchased and place them in a shipping bag that is provided by the company. Selling old items is an easy and painless way to make extra money for tuition, textbooks, or loans. (BPT)
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
The Top 25 Most Frequently Asked Questions about Homeowners Insurance
Owning a home is the American Dream for many people. Single moms are no exception. But owning a home is more than a mortgage. You have to protect your asset as well.
Do you know the worth of all your assets? Could you recover in case disasters like a fire or flood damaged your home? Could you recover from the theft of your property?
Homeowners insurance is one of the best types of coverage you can purchase if you own the home you live in. With this coverage, you can be sure of keeping a roof over your head and a shirt on your back. Homeowners insurance protects your property as well as your family and even your pets.
While many households have invested in homeowners insurance, not many truly understand its importance, or what it covers. Here are 25 commonly asked questions asked by consumers about homeowners insurance.
Do I really need homeowners insurance?
If you don’t want to pay out of pocket for property damage and liabilities – such as medical fees for dog bites – you need homeowners insurance. The cost of recovering from theft or damage as well as defending yourself in a lawsuit can run into the thousands of dollars. Unless you have no attachment or need to replace the items you own (including your home), you should have some level of homeowners insurance.
What does homeowners insurance cover?
This depends on the type of insurance policy you buy. According to a survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), 33 percent of Americans mistakenly believe that their homeowners insurance policy will cover them for flood damages.
A standard-form insurance policy doesn’t cover flood damage. Standard insurance policies usually cover damage by:
Smoke
Vehicles
Falling objects
Explosions
Fire
Lightning
Weight of snow, sleet or ice
Frozen plumbing and other household systems
Theft and vandalism
You may have to get extra coverage for other disasters.
Is homeowners insurance expensive?
According to a February 2016 study by the NAIC, the average cost of homeowners insurance increased by 6 percent to $1,096 in 2013. This is an average of $91 per month. This is much less than the thousands of dollars you would have to pay in case of a disaster or liability.
You can reduce the cost of homeowners insurance by comparing home insurance quotes online and searching for the best deal.
Is my backyard shed included in my homeowners insurance policy?
Yes. Real property is included under the policy. Real property includes your home, any shed on your property, the garage and any other structure on the property.
How much is my shed insured for?
The value of coverage for any auxiliary structure on your property such as a shed or garage, is dependent on the value of the main structure (i.e. your house). If the house is valued at $80,000 for example, then the shed will be covered for 10 percent of that value (i.e. $8,000).
Who decided how much my property is worth?
This is determined based on state laws. Insurance companies will base the value on various common methods including actual cash value, replacement coverage and extended replacement cost.
Are my valuables and jewelry included in the cover?
Standard policies have a limit to the coverage provided for jewelry. You may need to add extra coverage to ensure you are fully covered.
Am I covered for flood damage?
No. If you live in a flood-prone area, you may need extra flood insurance.
What about earthquake damage?
No. You will need additional insurance.
Will my policy protect me if my neighbor slips and falls on my porch steps and threatens to sue me?
Yes. Your policy will cover the damages if you are found liable.
Am I covered for damages if a tree on my property falls on my house in a storm?
Yes. You will be covered for damage of the roof and removal for the tree.
Am I covered for the removal of a tree that falls during a storm but doesn’t damage my property?
No. Your trees are covered for risks such as fire and vandalism but not wind damage.
Are my children who are away in college covered by my policy?
If your children are full-time students and still part of your household, they will be covered to a limit of 10 percent. Coverage for children living away from home varies from one insurance provider to another.
Is my mother-in-law who lives with us covered under the policy?
She will be considered as part of the household and will have her property covered under the policy.
Is my vacation home in another state covered under the same policy?
Insurance providers operating in multiple states can issue a policy to cover your vacation home. However, the second policy will only cover the property (i.e. a dwelling policy).
I work from home. Is my business property covered?
Yes. However, the coverage is limited. It is therefore best to have additional coverage.
Am I covered for natural disasters?
Natural disasters, also known as ‘Acts of God,’ are not covered by standard policy. Additional insurance is required.
How much will I be paid in case of damage to my personal property?
This is outlined in your insurance policy under special limits. The amount paid will depend on your cover and the insurance provider.
Are my possessions covered even when I’m on vacation?
Yes.
I rent out a room to a tenant. Are they covered under my policy?
No. Tenants are not covered under homeowners insurance.
Where should I start after losing my property?
Begin by taking inventory and then contacting your insurance provider.
What do I do when my property is stolen?
Contact your insurance provider immediately.
Is insurance for my condo different?
The coverage offered for condo owners insurance covers the same general areas as homeowners insurance. However, there may be some differences based on the specific requirements of the condominium unit owners.
Are there exclusions in homeowners insurance policies?
Yes. These include intentional loss, neglect, damage caused by war or general power failure.
My golf clubs were stolen from my car. Are they covered?
Yes. Homeowners insurance covers your property anywhere in the world.
Now that you have the answers to the most frequently asked questions are you ready to buy a home? If you already have a home do you have the protection you need? Be sure the home insurance agency you choose can answer all of your questions and give you the best value for your money.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Hi! Welcome to RichSingleMomma.com. I started this website almost a decade ago because I couldn't find any blogs back then that helped single moms with money. I was having some success in that area so I decided to share what I knew about side hustles, making extra money, and managing money. Read more...
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