Financial independence is a dream many people share, but not everyone knows how to achieve it. The journey toward financial freedom requires dedication, knowledge, and the right mindset. In this article, we will explore 11 essential steps to help you achieve financial independence and take control of your financial future. (more…)
Road trips are a blast, but they can also be complicated, especially with kids in tow. Unless you’re flying by the seat of your pants (so to speak), you’ll have to set an itinerary, work out the details of how long it’ll take to get from one place to the next, and, of course, budget and save for the whole thing.
Budgeting can be the most difficult part of planning — a fact that became even more true in 2020, with fluctuating prices, limited options, and safety factors all put into play by the pandemic.
There’s a lot to juggle when you’re budgeting for a vacation, but it’s far from impossible, and you don’t need to let money concerns spoil your fun. When planning for your road trip, take the following steps to make sure it’s a success — and not a source of financial stress.
1. Save up ahead of time
If you’ve got a tight household budget, you may not have much wiggle room — unless you’ve got a vacation savings plan built in. Which you should.
Set aside a little each month to save up for your road trip. It’s impossible to know exactly how much it’ll cost far in advance (especially with gas prices fluctuating and the cost of accommodations in flux). But you can map out a general budget, then set aside a little extra in case of emergencies.
When you leave will likely depend on how much you save, so if you’ve set a specific target date (or scheduled your vacation with the boss), you’ll have to be diligent about sticking to your pre-trip budget. Otherwise, you might have to shorten your trip, pick a different route, or, worse, wait ‘til next year.
2. Map out your route
How much you budget (and spend) will depend at least in part on where you plan to go. Road trips are great because they can cost less than buying an airline ticket, and you can see a lot of things you’d just be flying over otherwise.
Many of the most eye-catching and beautiful sights are visible from the side of the road, or with a short detour. There are many scenic highways from which to choose, all across the country, with plenty of opportunities for “oohs” and “ahs” and making photographic memories.
Take your camera (or camera phone) and be on the lookout for breathtaking overlooks from mountain roads, historic bridges with majestic arches — even in this U.S., some are nearly a century old — timeless forests, or gigantic rock formations.
3. Give your vehicle a checkup
The last thing you and your budget need on a road trip is to have your car break down, so make sure its service record is up to date before you go.
Check the tread on your tires (you can use a coin to see where you stand) and replace them if any are too bare. Also, get an oil change and/or a tuneup — even if you aren’t quite due yet. You don’t want to have the oil light go on halfway through an extended trip and make you interrupt your fun with a few hours at a service station.
Take along an automotive tool kit, just in case you run into trouble despite your preparations. While you’re at it, make sure your car insurance is up to date and covers everything you need it to cover. Also, having a roadside assistance plan isn’t a bad idea for long trips.
4. Have a credit cushion
No matter how carefully you plan, something can always go wrong. Be prepared to roll with Murphy’s Law by making sure you’ve got enough credit to handle the unexpected. You may even have credit problems, but don’t let that stop you from taking your trip.
You can secure a fixed amount of credit on a card by depositing a few hundred dollars in an account to cover emergency expenses, if need be. With this kind of card, your deposit amount will be your credit limit, so you can’t go over. It’s another form of budgeting that helps you build your credit as you go.
5. Stock up before you drive off
Taking your own supplies on the road became a common practice during the pandemic. Disinfectant wipes, masks, and hand sanitizer became must-have supplies. It’s also become routine to stock up on food, water, and other essentials before departing — since the fewer stops you make, the less likely you are to come into contact with someone who has the virus.
Even as conditions improve and restrictions are lifting, these are good habits to maintain. Grabbing granola bars, water, soft drinks, snacks, and essential items before you leave will save you time and money: It’s a lot cheaper at your home grocery store than at a convenience store along the way.
6. Look for deals on gas, lodging
Discounts are always worth pursuing, regardless of your budget. Why pay more than you have to? There are plenty of tools to help with that. Download an app to find the cheapest gas and qualify for deals, or grab a loyalty discount card from a chain you trust.
Hotels offer preferred-customer deals, too. Some travel apps give you a free night after you’ve reserved 10 nights through their service, and hotel chains offer similar deals for repeat customers.
Budgeting for a road trip doesn’t have to be a headache. Just the opposite: It can save you headaches down the road. If you know how to find deals, prevent trouble, and put yourself in good financial shape ahead of time, there’s no reason your road trip can’t be full of awesomeness.
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.
Every year there are single moms who are stressing about how they will buy Christmas gifts for their kids. It feels like a burden but did you know there are charities that give free Christmas gifts to kids every year?
I’ve faced this dread myself in years past. I know what it’s like to wonder where I’ll get the money to buy Christmas gifts for my kids. Several times I’ve made the decision to only purchase one gift or no more than three (in the spirit of Christ’s birth). As much as I wanted to give my precious little ones everything they wanted I just couldn’t. I didn’t have the money because I needed to pay the rent or car note. I needed to make sure there was food in the house for the days after Christmas.
There are so many moms who face the same struggle out there who need a helping hand this year. So I’ve done some research and came up with a pretty long list of resources. These are organizations that help needy families during the Christmas holidays. They give toys and sometimes clothes to families that need a helping hand during this time of year.
Most of the organizations have local chapters so you will have to contact the one nearest you for more information. Please don’t be shy about calling. They are there to help and often are looking for people to help. The more localized the better for you. Also remember to get a head start on applying for help. Some deadlines have already passed but try anyway. Your persistence will pay off.
Here’s a list of 11 charities, businesses, and organizations that give free Christmas gifts each year.
This organization has many local chapters. Their deadline in some places was in October but they are still taking applications. If they have toys left you will be contacted.
2. Angel Tree
This program is for kids who have parents in prison. There are also chapters run by the Salvation Army. Search Angel Tree and the name of your city to see if they have a program in your area.
3. Salvation Army
Contact your local chapter for information about their program. They don’t collect money in those little red pails for nothing. You just may be one of the families they help this year.
4. Shiners/Lions/Masons
These organizations are famous for the help they give to children. Call your local office and find out when and where they are taking applications.
5. St. Vincent de Paul/Catholic Charities
These Catholic organizations help people year around. They have offices in many locations so call and find out where you can go for help.
6. VFW/American Legion
Your local organization may have a Christmas toy donation program. Be sure to call and find out.
7. County Help Lines
Your county help line may have information about other local organizations that are helping the needy this Christmas. To find your state or county helpline, Google “[your state] + helpline”. It may show up as a crisis hotline but they may also have information that you can use.
8. Local Churches
There are likely churches in your area that are collecting toys to give to needy families. Open the phone book and call the churches near you and ask if they have a program. Find out how to get on the list.
9. Local Businesses
I worked for a large corporation that collected toys every year for needy families. They may work in cooperation with other charitable organizations but many may offer direct help. Look in the newspaper for announcements and call a few to learn about which companies are helping the needy. Also ask your friends if they their companies have programs.
10. Libraries/Banks
The local library and banks often have Angel or Giving Trees. Ask how you can get your kids’ names on the tree to receive Christmas gifts this year.
11. United Way
This organization is the umbrella unit of hundreds of charitable organizations. Call your local office and find out what programs they have to help kids for Christmas. I’m sure they can point you in the right direction.
There are likely many more resources out there you just have to investigate the options. Please do not be put off by the word “needy”. It is not an indication of you as a person but a temporary status. We are living in tough economic times right now so everyone is struggling. Fortunately you now have a few resources now to help give your kids a great Christmas.
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.
In this day and age, I think we can all agree that a little side hustle never hurt anybody! When approached and undertaken in all the above-board ways, making a little extra family income on top of the main parental or guardian salaries can help to relax the purse strings a little bit and open the door some more family fun throughout the year.
As the saying goes, ‘every little helps’, and if you are dedicated and creative enough, there are dozens and dozens of side projects you can take part in that will help to make some extra cash. To help you get in the right frame of mind, here are five of the most popular family side hustles that are a great idea to get involved with.
Tech Consulting
If you or an older teen in your home has a higher than average understanding of technology, then why not offer your services for hire in the form of lessons and consulting sessions? This can be a small or large scale as you like. For example, there are always elderly neighbours who want to get to better grips with the internet. For a small fee, you can give them a beginner’s guide lesson to make it easier for them to socially network with their family in different locations.
Sell Produce
If you have a lot of land at your disposal, then why not start selling your own produce? Local, organic fruits and vegetables are more popular now than ever before. Lots of neighbors and families from further afield will love the opportunity to buy goods that have come from their own area.
Rental Service
If you have a second property that isn’t always in use, make the most out of it by making it available for holiday rental. There are plenty of online facilities that allow you to advertise your property and set a nightly rate, enabling tourists and visitors to book up instead of staying in a hotel or bed and breakfast. This is a simple and effective way to make extra cash.
Arts & Crafts
If someone in your family is particularly gifted in the arts and crafts department, then you should consider opening up a small side hustle business for things like homemade greetings cards, labels, small sketches, knitted/crochet items or whatever. These types of businesses are especially popular during the Christmas and other celebratory seasons and with secure and safe parcel delivery through ParcelBroker, your small business can be really professional.
Reselling Goods
If your household is the kind that always has extra and unused items in it, then you can swap those items for cash through websites like eBay and Amazon Marketplace. Keep in mind that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, so rather than simply throwing away the items that you don’t want, see if they gain any interest on the online marketplace sites. It’s an easy way to add to your family’s income.
All it takes is a little thought and effort and you can find side hustles to make extra cash with and for the family.
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.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and this is the story of how I was able to escape domestic violence.
It’s a time to take a good long look at this problem in our world. Despite all we’ve learned about this problem it still persists in thousands of households each year. People who are not in that situation can’t understand why a woman would stay so long and almost lose her life. Why would she subject her children to such a life of violence?
No Escape?
What those same people don’t realize is a woman in this situation probably feels helpless to leave. She may be a stay at home mom who is isolated from family and friends because of her husband’s (or boyfriend’s) threats and manipulations. She probably doesn’t have the financial resources to leave because she is dependent on him for survival.
My Experience
From firsthand experience, I can tell you being in a situation like this sucks the life out of you. Domestic violence is not necessarily a sudden thing. It creeps in your life little by little and women with very blurry boundary lines are easily victimized. It starts out with verbal put-downs and criticisms. Then it escalates into yelling and screaming to shock the senses and terrorize. The next step is shoving or slapping, which escalates into punching and beating. All the while you are being manipulated into giving up your friends and stop hanging around your family.
If a baby comes you are likely to remain at home and interrogated if you leave the house. You are dependent on the provision of your partner. This is one of the most insidious forms of abuse; being a financial hostage. You have very little or no access to money and every penny you get is taken away.
Holding on to My Identity
My situation was not this bad but it could have gotten to this point very easily. Things never progressed to the shoving, slapping or into being beat. I came to my senses before it escalated to that point. I did, however, experience the verbal and psychological abuse. Money could have easily become an issue but I refused to give up my financial identity. Toward the end, my bank account was almost wiped out, but I had another account that I could transfer my money into. I recognized the downward spiral I was in and determined to regain control of my life.
Going through this was very terrifying and heartbreaking. I was angry, scared and confused, but I had to keep my head on straight. My children depended on me to get us through this nightmare. Fortunately, I had resources before I got involved with this person so I could escape much easier than a woman who has been in bondage for years.
Financial Savvy is Key
When a woman begins seeking a way out all the literature she reads and the people she talks to tells her to stash away money. That is the only way for her to escape a situation like domestic violence. Without money, she is stuck indefinitely.
Financial independence is very liberating so it is important to cultivate a financial mindset. It is never too late to learn all you can about earning, saving, and budgeting. Giving up your financial identity is never a good idea in a relationship, but being empowered with financial knowledge is essential. Cultivate your financial savvy and never give up your personal identity for anyone.
I Found My Power
My situation turned out much better than millions of other women. I already had a very strong sense of who I was (I had only temporarily lost my way) and could tap into my strength. I knew how to get out and get help and I was angry enough (versus too scared) to do something about my situation. I was driven by a sense of fairness and protection for my children. I wasn’t dealing with a crazy man, just a coward who I escaped rather easily when I threatened to expose him to our church. Sometimes that’s all it takes, but other times it’s more difficult.
Educate, Empower, Think
Domestic violence will not go away overnight. Young girls must be taught they are worthy of love and respect. They must be taught not to fall for the first guy that says, “I love you”. They must be empowered through education, critical thinking skills, and financial savvy.
Make it your business to empower yourself and every young lady you know. Learn to make good decisions in every area of your life. Develop a strong sense of who you are and never let anyone label you or tell you who you are. Ask a million questions of potential suitors and trust your instincts.
If you are in a domestic violence situation get help ASAP by calling a domestic violence hotline. 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide services in more than 170 languages. Hotline advocates answer questions, provide safety planning and information as well as directly connect callers to domestic violence resources available in their local calling area. All calls to the hotlineare confidential and anonymous.
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.
Grants specifically earmarked for single mothers, in general, don’t exist. There are grants single mothers can apply for based on criteria such as income-based, ethnic group, residency, career interest, knowledge base, etc.
Free money or grants specifically for being a single mom are hard to get. There are organizations offering temporary assistance such as churches, state and/or local government (not federal), several private, and a handful of corporate organizations.
The Hype about Single Mom Grants
A lot of the so-called free grant information online is linked to products and services of very little value and relevance to single moms. When you click on the hyped-up ad, you most likely land on a link farm or page full of links to other pages created by a person who has several affiliate program links embedded.
Every day millions of single moms, desperate for financial assistance scour the web looking for grants. They see ads touting millions for single moms only to be disappointed when they land on the webpage which is usually full of links or other irrelevant ads.
Not to be deterred, she searches high and low for grants she seems to qualify for. Frustration sets in and she usually gives up. In one last ditch effort she heads over to the forums and inquires and again she is pointed to the same websites full of links to pointless pages of ad hype.
Even though the search seems fruitless, there are sources of grants and financial assistance but only under certain circumstances. Here are a few sources of grants for single moms which require more than a quick glance. It requires research and asking the right questions.
Check locally for Single Mom Grants
Local organizations, usually non-profits that give grants or assistance to single moms, may not necessarily be in the form of money but could be housing assistance, food, or job training.
Resources could also be in the form of grants to children of single moms for summer camps, sports or music lessons, or medical assistance. Do a search on your city or state plus the words “grant”, “financial assistance”, or “scholarship” and you may come up with a few sources meeting your needs.
For more information about grants for single moms grab my free single mom grant report. It contains great education grant information and an interview with a very successful grant writer.
Going to school and being responsible for providing for a child is difficult, but it can be done. You have options and in this day and age, the opportunities are greater because of the internet.
I’ve included several sources of grants and scholarships for women below. This is a very general list. Some of the information may be repeated but look through them all anyway.
Have you considered going to school online? What about a program that offers in-person studies and online studies so you only have to go to the actual school part-time? As for working, perhaps you can find a work-study job or something on campus.
Remember, you have to do the research and apply early. I know it’s a pain but it’s worth it in the end. Also, bug your financial-aid officer at your college every week for new opportunities. They have the best information and can guide you.
If you are not already, get temporary government assistance until you are finished with school. There will be plenty of opportunities to give back through taxes when you are working full time after school. There is no shame in getting help for a legitimate need.
If food is a concern, contact local food banks through churches and other non-profit organizations. Things are tight all over but you can still find help. Use coupons and buy items that are on sale in the store circular. Go to consignment shops for clothes and thrift stores for furniture. Go to the dollar store for inexpensive school supplies, etc.
Just don’t lay down and give up. There is always a workable solution. Also, check into dependent care services on campus.
If you want more information and specific sources of grants and scholarships for single moms, women, or non-traditional students grab a copy of The Single Mom Grant Guide. In this report, I cover two important things for single moms.
The first discusses how to find and maintain life balance when you are in school, parenting, and working. The second section lists hundreds of financial resources including where to find local, state, and federal grants as well as hundreds of scholarships just for single mom, women, and non-traditional students.
10 College Scholarships for Women
I came across this list of 10 college scholarships for women. I’m passing it on to you. Do you plan to attend college this fall? Have you already applied for financial aid? Do you know of any other scholarships?
Financial aid is a huge problem for millions of students every year who want to attend college. And yet, it is reported that billions of dollars in scholarship funding and grants are given away annually. One website, ScholarshipsOnline.org, helps students find those opportunities.
Below they have identified the top scholarship opportunities for women:
#1 – The AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship Program provides scholarship funds to low-income women who are over the age of 50, and are seeking new job skills, training, and educational opportunities.
#2 – The Betty Rendel Scholarship is available to female undergraduates each year who are attending a four-year accredited college or university and majoring in political science, government or economics. It is open to women across the nation.
#3 – The Women’s Independence Scholarship Program, Inc. helps women who have survived domestic violence to return to school and become self-sufficient. The primary candidates are single mothers with young children who lack the resources to attend college.
#4 – The Miss America Scholarship Fund offers scholarships to over 12,000 young women who compete in the state and local competitions as well as Miss America first place winner, four runners-up, semi-finalists and non-finalists.
#5 – The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship is open to female undergraduate seniors or female students enrolled in a graduate program and studying Computer Science or Computer Engineering.
#6 – The Young Women In Public Affairs Award is a scholarship for young women age 16 to 19 with an interest in public affairs who plan to enroll in college.
#7 – The Talbots Scholarship Program awards one-time scholarships to women who want to go back to school to earn their undergraduate degree after graduating from high school or receiving their GED at least ten years ago. NO LONGER AVAILABLE
#8 – The Go Red Multicultural scholarship champions greater inclusion of multicultural women in the nursing and medical industries, address important gaps in treatment, and ensure that all Americans have an opportunity to work with their healthcare providers to make the best choices that lead to good health. NO LONGER AVAILABLE
#10 – The AWG Minority Scholarship program encourages young minority women to pursue courses of education and careers in the field in geosciences.
#11 – Wynetta A. Frazier Sister-to-Sister Scholarship – Created to provide financial assistance to mature African American Women in their pursuit of post-secondary education. An applicant must be a returning student, whose education was interrupted by family responsibilities or other personal demands and is now ready to complete college or one who is entering college for the first time because of these factors.
#12 – Bethel Foundation USA Grace Scholarship – This $3000 scholarship is to assist moms with their tuition, costs of their books, and supplies. To qualify, you must be enrolled or in the process of enrolling in any institution of higher education.
9 Single Mom Friendly Colleges
Here is a list of the best colleges for single moms. They offer scholarships, housing, and childcare options to make the college education journey manageable.
1 – Wilson College – Provides family-friendly, on-campus housing year-round to single parents and their children (between 20 months and 12 years of age) so the parent can pursue a bachelor’s degree full time.
2 – Kent State University – Kent State’s robust LIFE program helps both single moms and their child with workshops, access to resources, and services designed to help you reach your educational and professional goals.
4 – Western Governors University Single Parent Scholarship – WGU is proud to offer the Single Parent Scholarship. This scholarship, valued up to $4,000, is designed for motivated single parents who wish to advance their education.
5 – Marian University – Awards tuition and stipend grants to economically disadvantaged single parents with dependent children – parents who possess the desire and determination to achieve a four-year undergraduate degree.
6 – University of Louisville – The Ann T. Allen Endowed Scholarship is for current University of Louisville undergraduate single parent students and the annual amount to be awarded is approximately $1,000.
7 – James Madison University – Offers a scholarship for heads of single-parent families who are in financial need.
8 – Oakwood University – The New Beginnings program offers supportive resource aids to custodial single parents, male or female, who are enrolled in a college, or other institution of higher learning within the North Alabama area.
Balancing college and parenting can be challenging. I’ve done it before and believe me it is a worthy sacrifice. You can get through it and I can help. I wrote The Single Mom Grant Guide to help other single moms understand what they will face. Order your copy on Amazon.com now to get a head start on your new life as a single parent in college!
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...
10 College Scholarships for Women
