Ten years of being a single mom and I struggled with finances. Big time. One bankruptcy and nearly $100,000 of total debt. Sound familiar, friend? Because I’m not good at keeping secrets and because I don’t want you to struggle for as long as I did, I put together this list.
My top 10 secrets that helped me stay content and press on to get out of debt and stay there. I hope you are able to use a few of
As a single mom, I’ve landed
And I’ve been wondering lately, if you are too.
Most of us have done it. In some way or another.
Regardless of how warm and cozy we’ve cuddled up to our debt, or how we accumulated it, whether it be during a marriage or divorce, single mom journey, medical bills, through college, or simply trying to keep the lights on during the hustle of life, most of us want it gone.
Today I’m bringing to you five savvy single mom blogs leading the pack and setting the bar for women who are choosing to launch platforms providing applicable tools and resources to help single mothers navigate their journey.
In 2002 when I became a single mom the ability to connect with other single moms was almost absolutely impossible. Fortunately for me, my best friend since high school got knocked up two years before my — BIG WHOOPS!
She jokes to this day about how sad I was when she got pregnant thinking that she ruined our twenties with children! She is quick to remind me it was just a few short years later —we were rocking the tough journey of single motherhood together. I thank God to this day he gave me her friendship!
But regardless, we had our own lives to live. I moved on and attended college while my friend got busy building her income. It’s been over 15 years since those beginning days of depending on one another and a big reason why I began this journey of loving on single mommas.
The concept of a zero-based budget may be an easy achievement for some, but for those that feel their financial situation is getting the best of them and struggling to gain some ground, I am here to tell you there is life beyond the misery.
I’m also going to tell you it’s more rewarding than painful.
A zero-based budget is one of the first and most simple steps in working towards a debt free life and forever changing the trajectory of your family’s financial story.
During my ten years of being a single mom, besides earning a Bachelors in Communication Science, I think I also earned a doctorate in Frugal. I believe I may have acquired a double major in Thrifty & Just Don’t Spend.
It’s been over five years since my family screamed that debt free scream in our living room and I still fight the urge to recycle EVERY plastic baggy I come across in our home.
I remember the days I would buy a four pack of toilet paper for my family of two and it would last us TWO weeks! I think we must have been really busy and drinking little to no fluids because I am not sure how that happened.
Paper towels? Same thing. Only I would make one roll last us an entire a month. What?!
Although I have yet to delve into my debt free story, I hope to do that soon, I wanted to give you three powerful and awesome little jewels to help you right now. I want to keep you motivated in this debt free run you are on. So here are three FREE things you can do RIGHT now to get ready for a debt free life.
Sometimes we just need to take a break from the grind and hear something encouraging, sweet and deserving.
Because who is able to accomplish something great without being encouraged?
Few, my friend. Very few.
There was a time in my life I was very good at quitting. During high-school, I quit track and soccer. In that exact order.
Thinking back to when I was a little girl…
My imagination ran to the wildest of places. One of my favorite childhood memories is that of me riding my pony, which was merely a saddle on a stand in a small 3 ft x 3 ft shed. But oh the miles I traveled while sitting on that pony, near the side of our little yellow house tucked deep in the woods. The Indians I chased and the cowboys I ran with were enough to solidify any cowgirls wildest dreams.
But somewhere along the way, somewhere between little girl land and those tumultuous teenage years…
In last week’s blog post, I talked about why it is few women support one another in managing their finances.
I would much rather talk about the heart of the family. The organization of putting a home in order so things can run smooth for you. In doing so I can’t leave out your finances. I just can’t do it. All week I had so many other ideas to chat about but I knew the foundation of this series on debt had to be laid. The topic addressed because the stress of my finances was the one thing that I never mastered as a single mom. I don’t want you to do the same. That is why I can’t ignore this grueling topic.
This week, I want to address the top five reasons why it’s hard for us to let someone into this private and very sacred financial place and yet, why it’s so crucial to the vitality of single parent living.
So let’s go!
I ask this question because it came up often when I was a single mom. My daughter and I, being the extroverts we both are, loved to be on the go. Always. Looking back, I wish I would have done things differently, but those thoughts are for another post.
Back to our plans for the weekend. Lot’s of fun options to choose from here, ladies!