I just stumbled across this great article on real ways to make money from home. It references things like freelance writing, virtual call center work and crafting.
Enjoy!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Ways to Survive the Holiday Season on a Single Parent Budget Part 1
Holiday shopping on a single parent budget can be difficult to say the least. From October to January, single parents across the nation are faced with Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas presents and planning New Year's festivities. Before you get overwhelmed thinking about all of that, lets take a look at what you can do to stretch your holiday budget as far as possible. Here are some crafty ways to survive the holiday season on a single parent budget:
1. Be Proactive
Planning ahead for your holiday spending can save you a lot of headaches. The earlier you start setting money aside, the more wiggle room you will have when the holiday season approaches. As early as March or April, consider setting aside $25-50 per paycheck for holiday spending. If you don't trust yourself not to spend it, try putting it in a Cookie Jar account.
Cookie Jar Accounts
Typically offered by most local credit unions, a cookie jar account encourages you save by placing restrictions on pre-holiday withdrawals. You can make as many deposits as you want throughout the year. Near the end of October or beginning of November, they will send you a check for the balance of the account plus any interest accrued. If you have not started saving yet, keep the cookie jar idea in mind for next year and lets move on to some methods you can use right now.
Payroll Deductions
Setting up a payroll deduction can help you save holiday money quickly. If your employer offers direct deposit, consider depositing a small portion of your wages into a separate account. This can be a second account at your main bank or an account you open at another bank. Even if the deposit is only a few dollars per pay period, this can really add up if you stick to it. Although $35-60 would be ideal at this point, no amount is too small. Once you decide which account you will use, take the required documentation to your employer and specify the amount you would like deposited. The logic here is that if you don't see the money siting in your main account, you won't think about it.
Overtime
If you are having a hard time finding money to stash away for the holidays, consider working overtime. This might be easier than you think. You can easily earn 5 hours of overtime a week by arriving 30 minutes early and shortening your lunch by 30 minutes. Likewise, you could arrive 15 minutes early, shave 30 minutes off your lunch and leave 15 minutes later. You get the idea.
If your employer allows you to work overtime, there are ways to get it without making major changes to your schedule. If you are a full-time, hourly worker, you will earn one and a half times your hourly rate for each hour of overtime. For example, if you were making $13 an hour, your overtime rate is 19.5 an hour. Working those extra 5 hours a week would add $97.5/week to your paycheck. Set this money aside for the holidays.
There you have it! Three ways that you can be proactive for your holiday spending. The next installment of this series will be posted later this week.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Consider a SideJob: Content Mills
By: LaToya Lester
With the economy in despair many people are looking to take on a side job. This is especially true for single parents. Meeting the responsibilities of parenting alone and making enough money to pay the bills is a real challenge. There just is not enough time in the day to take care of child and work a second job. The internet provides many side job opportunities for a single parent to make some extra money. One of these options is content mills. Content mills are websites that purchase articles from writers like yourself, typically for a flat fee.
Here are some popular content mills:
1.Textbroker
2. Demand Studios
3. Associated Content
4. WiseGeek
5. PureContent
These are just a few sites that allow you to write for money. Keep in mind that content mills are by far on the lower-end of the freelancing job market. These companies typically pay a set rate per article or word depending on your writing level but with just a few hours a day, a single parent can create a second income to help pad a tight budget.
Overall, content mills allow a person to be flexible with their time and still meet their responsibilities as a parent while making extra money to take care of their children.
With the economy in despair many people are looking to take on a side job. This is especially true for single parents. Meeting the responsibilities of parenting alone and making enough money to pay the bills is a real challenge. There just is not enough time in the day to take care of child and work a second job. The internet provides many side job opportunities for a single parent to make some extra money. One of these options is content mills. Content mills are websites that purchase articles from writers like yourself, typically for a flat fee.
Here are some popular content mills:
1.Textbroker
2. Demand Studios
3. Associated Content
4. WiseGeek
5. PureContent
These are just a few sites that allow you to write for money. Keep in mind that content mills are by far on the lower-end of the freelancing job market. These companies typically pay a set rate per article or word depending on your writing level but with just a few hours a day, a single parent can create a second income to help pad a tight budget.
Overall, content mills allow a person to be flexible with their time and still meet their responsibilities as a parent while making extra money to take care of their children.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
If Expensive Vacations Are Not an Option This Year, Try a Daycation
By: LaToya Lester
As a single parent, it can be difficult to be able to get away on a
long vacation. Often times, time constraints and work obligations make
it nearly impossible to take any substatial time away from home.
Vacations can often be expensive as well, and it may not be possible to
spend thousands on airfare, car rentals, food and hotels. Needless to
say, not being able to get away from time to time can lead to built up
stress, which can create tension and negativitiy within the home.
One wonderful idea for single parents to relax and destress would be to consider a "daycation." Daycations can often be done on a weekend and do not require hours of travel across country. The idea of a daycation is to be able to provide a much needed "getaway," not only for the parent, but for the children as well.
One excellent example of a daycation would be to plan a day at a beach. One does not need to live near an ocean to do this, as a day at the lake would be just as fun. Having a picnic and bringing a cooler full of snacks and drinks would not only cut down on the cost, but would create wonderful family memories as well. Building sandcastles, or collecting interesting rocks or seashells can be relaxing and can also be great momentos for kids to take home.
If a beach or lake getaway is not an option, trips to local museums can be a wonderful way to get out of the house and relax. Another great idea would be to pitch a tent in the backyard and go "camping" with the kids! The best memories can be created sitting around a campfire (or flashlights) telling scary ghost stories and roasting marshmallows.
There are many ways that a single parent can unwind and destress with the kids, without spending much money. All it takes is a weekend and a little creative thinking. It truly is possible to create cherished family memories without breaking the bank!
One wonderful idea for single parents to relax and destress would be to consider a "daycation." Daycations can often be done on a weekend and do not require hours of travel across country. The idea of a daycation is to be able to provide a much needed "getaway," not only for the parent, but for the children as well.
One excellent example of a daycation would be to plan a day at a beach. One does not need to live near an ocean to do this, as a day at the lake would be just as fun. Having a picnic and bringing a cooler full of snacks and drinks would not only cut down on the cost, but would create wonderful family memories as well. Building sandcastles, or collecting interesting rocks or seashells can be relaxing and can also be great momentos for kids to take home.
If a beach or lake getaway is not an option, trips to local museums can be a wonderful way to get out of the house and relax. Another great idea would be to pitch a tent in the backyard and go "camping" with the kids! The best memories can be created sitting around a campfire (or flashlights) telling scary ghost stories and roasting marshmallows.
There are many ways that a single parent can unwind and destress with the kids, without spending much money. All it takes is a weekend and a little creative thinking. It truly is possible to create cherished family memories without breaking the bank!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Building an Emergency Fund
By: LaToya Lester
It's not an impossible task for a single parent to build an emergency fund for long-term protection for his or her family members they are charged with providing love and care. Actually it's a pretty good idea for anyone. That said the common sense question to be asked and answered is do they have the mental discipline to honor the fund? Since it's conceptually different from a savings bank account where you're drawing a meager interest rate, is it really possible not to "dip-into" the emergency fund for reasons other than the original purpose intended?
There are several successful methods that can be and have been used to begin building a single parent emergency fund. Here are a few of the usual suspects that come to mind:
#1 - Certificates of Deposits. The rates may not be anything to write home about, but at least you're saving some money each year.
#2 - A large jar set aside at home where you can toss all of your loose change every day or night you come home. You'll find it can add-up rather quickly.
#3 - Start your emergency fund thinking: "small, “even if it's just $20 bucks out of each paycheck.
#4 - Treat your emergency fund as if it were a "bill" to be paid each month. When paying your usual monthly bills, pay your emergency fund $5 dollars, too; more if you can afford it.
#5 - Think $1.00 bills, not $10's or $20's. Each day or night when you get home, take a peek in your wallet or purse, dig out all your $1.00 dollar bills, and stuff them in your emergency fund jar.
#6 - If you drive an older car, dump collision and comprehensive, increase your liability
coverage, and put the $$$$$$$ in your emergency fund.
It's not an impossible task for a single parent to build an emergency fund for long-term protection for his or her family members they are charged with providing love and care. Actually it's a pretty good idea for anyone. That said the common sense question to be asked and answered is do they have the mental discipline to honor the fund? Since it's conceptually different from a savings bank account where you're drawing a meager interest rate, is it really possible not to "dip-into" the emergency fund for reasons other than the original purpose intended?
There are several successful methods that can be and have been used to begin building a single parent emergency fund. Here are a few of the usual suspects that come to mind:
#1 - Certificates of Deposits. The rates may not be anything to write home about, but at least you're saving some money each year.
#2 - A large jar set aside at home where you can toss all of your loose change every day or night you come home. You'll find it can add-up rather quickly.
#3 - Start your emergency fund thinking: "small, “even if it's just $20 bucks out of each paycheck.
#4 - Treat your emergency fund as if it were a "bill" to be paid each month. When paying your usual monthly bills, pay your emergency fund $5 dollars, too; more if you can afford it.
#5 - Think $1.00 bills, not $10's or $20's. Each day or night when you get home, take a peek in your wallet or purse, dig out all your $1.00 dollar bills, and stuff them in your emergency fund jar.
#6 - If you drive an older car, dump collision and comprehensive, increase your liability
coverage, and put the $$$$$$$ in your emergency fund.
Guide to Single Parent Finances
By: LaToya Lester
Many newly-single parents are blindsided by the financial aspects of raising a child. However, following a few basic principles can help any parent develop a fail-proof plan of personal finance management.
Organize priorities. Decide what is most important and arrange your schedule based on that. As with most families, no matter their structure, paying the bills for basic needs like housing, food, utilities, and transportation are the most pressing concerns. Make a list of monthly expenses, along with those that occur less often, like car maintenance or school clothes. See how much discretionary income remains for non-essential but valuable expenses, such as recreational activities.
Set up a budget. Single-parent households must be extra careful to balance needs with wants, since there is no second parent to help with expenses. There are many software applications that can help you develop a realistic budget that can be easily followed and updated.
Maintain employment stability. Don't give up a current job unless you have found another, except for true emergencies. Do your best at work to create a professional image and willingness to learn. Those kinds of employees get noticed by supervisors and may be offered raises, bonuses, or promotions. Their quality work performance earns top-notch annual review, and that helps to ensure job security.
Child support and alimony. If you receive child support, remember that any change in your ex's financial situation may impact your income as well. If the child's father gets a raise, you may be entitled to an increase in child support.
Plan for the future. Child support will eventually end when the children come of legal age, so you will need to revise your household budget when that happens. Downsizing to a smaller home or condo may help to offset loss of income. College expenses for a child should be considered, too, and both parents should plan for that.
With a minimal investment of planning and effort, single parents can learn to become successful money managers to meet their family's budgetary needs now and in the future.
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