Getting Help Online
Single parents can now find a wide array of choices online. They can get financial assistance, educational courses and scholarships by visiting specific web sites that pertain to their particular case. You can get more information by going to online discussion boards and online forums. Talk to the other experts online and find out more about the available internet agencies that can provide you with education and assistance. There are several free materials and tools on the internet that can give lone parents educational assistance. You will find several laws and regulations that pertain to your case, which might help you get more support.
Studying Online
You can make use of the different materials on the internet, such as ebooks, downloadable files and online programs. There are even games and social networking sites that can help make the experience more informative and enjoyable at the same time. Studying online means you can spend time to continue your education, without compromising your other obligations to your child and the home.
A lot of single parents opt to study on the computer, so that they can stay close to their kids and still attend to the different needs of their child. You can expect to finish your course in just a few months or 2 years, depending on the program and the course. It is important to develop a network that can help you with your studies, as well as provide you with emotional backup just in case your stress levels rise too quickly.
Financial Aid For Single Parents
While being a single parent means all things are under your control, you must admit that finances often are not. However, you can cruise through the financial problems with less pain if you know how to manage it or where to get help.
Admitting The Need For Financial Assistance
You should be very proud that you've made it this far without breaking down and calling for help. However, you must know that you can't do everything by yourself. When it comes to finances, if calling your ex for help is not an option, you should familiarize yourself with what resources and services are available for single parents in your community.
As a single parent, that money can help make situations less stressful. Most solo parents are already so proud of being solo that they tend to disregard the need for assistance. Remember, you won't get any help if you do not first admit that you need it.
Managing Household Spending
Being the parent in a single-parent household entails sacrifices. This means you must manage your income strictly and keep your costs to a minimum. To find out if there is something in your spending habits that can be trimmed down to avoid going over the budget, write each of the following down and do this for at least months. This gives you an idea of your spending trends.
When you review this list, you will often find that a lot of things you do are unnecessary and can be done away with. For example, while electricity and water bills are a NEED, eating takeout food is something you can scrap. Have a look at how you've spent for the family over the 3 months you recorded your spending behavior and map out a new, and more frugal, plan based on that.
Financial Aid For Education
The government provides assistance to single parents who need help sending their child to school, as with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). From FAFSA, you or your child can move on to apply for Federal student loans like direct lending or Stafford loans, a Federal Pell Grant, or take advantage of school-based assistance, such as the Perkins loan, federal work study, or supplemental education grants.
Most educational aids are based on the applying family's need, so it does not cover a child's tuition 100 per cent. However, if you're simply looking for a way to augment your spending and make the load lighter, you may findf these opportunities helpful.
Financial Aid For Energy Bills
You can apply for assistance for your cooling and heating expenses, called the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, through the Department of Health and Human Services, or DHHS.
This program is designed to assist households with small children, elderly residents, or those with low incomes but have high energy bills that often lead to health problems. The application format is dependent on the state you reside in, so get in touch with your local health center to inquire about the procedure.
Financial Aid For Basic Needs
If a parent loses a job and cannot provide for the family's basic needs for the short-term, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is available and willing to help. While you're out looking for a new source of income, the TANF can supply your household with basic necessities. Again, each state has its own set of qualifications and guidelines for this program, so its best to get in touch with the local human services center.
Other Sources
There are other resources helpful to single-parent households within the community, most of which you may not be aware of. Food banks, for instance, can help reduce living expenses.
Resell shops and thrift shops can also lower your budget for clothing. Take note, some of the most stylish clothes can be found at these stores, so there's no reason to be embarrassed by going.
For temporary or permanent shelter, you can get in touch with the local YMCA/YWCA.
Being a single parent does not only entail a higher sense of responsibility and endurance, but also the need to be humble enough to admit that help is needed. By taking advantage of these financial aids, you can help make your daily spending a lot less taxing -- leaving you more time to manage the things that actually matter, like having some bonding time with your kids.
Financial Challenges of Single Parents
Single parents have to learn how to deal with the various challenges that come with their position. The financial challenges are one of the biggest issues that they need to overcome, provided that they have to work twice as hard to reach the average income that two parents come up with each month. Single parents have to be more resourceful and creative to ensure that they can provide the best future and options for their growing kid.
Getting Jobs
The cases of single parents can differ depending on the missing parent. In terms of financial challenges, fathers can usually overcome faster and better, since men are usually fully employed and have more options when it comes to raising their child comfortably. Mothers, on the other hand, may need to do more adjustments, just so they can cope with the various needs of their kids. Mothers will need to find work, if they currently are not employed, or may need to find a second job or a second source of income if they already are earning, just so they can fully provide for themselves and the home.
About Income
Most single parents say that the easiest stage of the financial challenges is during the infant years when all the needs of the baby are just basic, like milk or food, water and clothing. They can make use of used items like cribs, strollers and toys and can ask for free items from friends and relatives like diapers and feeding bottles. Once the child turns 3 or 4 years old, the needs will begin to arise leading to higher income requirements.
At age 4, the child will have to be enrolled in preschool. Education expenses is reported to be one of the biggest among single parents, so they need to boost their savings by working double jobs or looking for other business opportunities. Single parents also need to face the challenge of having to be constantly present for their kids for emotional support.
Other Tools and Materials
Single parents may also need to suddenly acquire new things that they weren't used to before, like a vehicle to transport their kids to and from locations like school, the hospital and grandparents' house. Single parents might need to invest in some things to hopefully boost income like a home computer or laptop and other gadgets. Single parents have to deal with the regular expenses that couples face each month, such as phone bills, electric bills, rent and groceries.
More Financial Challenges
Single parents have to enhance their savings for bigger and future expenses like sending their kids off to college, providing educational vacations and perhaps, purchasing other materials for added security and convenience like a car or laptop. It is up to the single parent whether or not they want to provide these for their kids. The financial challenge actually begins from the time of conception, until about 18 or 21 years old when the child becomes independent. In the case of divorce or separation, the lone parent has to come up with more financial options to enhance income quickly, since the needs of an older child is significantly greater than the average infant.
Getting Help
There are now several social agencies, religious groups and government agencies who can help single parents overcome the different financial challenges that come with their position. Laws and regulations have been devised to help single parents cope with the various demands. These groups can provide assistance by boosting the morale of the earning lone parent, as well as finding more opportunities for them to effectively come up with the needed amount to pay for monthly expenses. Some parents will be given options to join other ventures and income-boosting activities like network marketing.
Providing Info
Single parents are encouraged to be fully honest about their condition at the time of interview, so that the agencies can give the right kind of help and support. Parents also have to trust these agencies and find other people who can help them. There are financial help and assistance provided to parents. Lone parents should also know more about protection laws and regulations to keep them safe from unscrupulous plans and individuals.
Financial Help For Single Parents
Money is often tight for single-parent families. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, single-parent households are twice as likely to be considered low-income families as two-parent households. The government takes action by providing financial assistance and food stamps. The problem is that many single-parent families earn "too much" to qualify for government assistance programs but earn too little to get by every month. If this perfectly describes your situation, there are still other ways to get help:
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), TANF program is available nationwide, but name often varies depending which state you live in. In any case, TANF can help you receive training, financial assistance, food stamps, and obtain and keep a job. If you have been turned down before, it is always good to check regularly as your eligibility may have changed.
Child Support - In order to qualify for any government assistance program, you have to apply for child support. The logic is that, the government believes that both parents should be financially supporting the child before it steps in and provides the needed help.
Food pantries - Food banks or food pantries can be found at your local area. They may be able to help you or point to additional local resources. The good thing about food pantries is that, you can receive assistance even if you do not qualify for TANF.
2-1-1 - If 911 responds to emergency, 211 provides information and referral to access services such as utility assistance, child care, housing, food banks, counseling, health care, employment, etc. Dial this number for free.
Community organizations - There are different groups that are aimed to give assistance to single parents and less fortunate individuals. These groups, which can be found nationwide, offer different basic services and temporary relief that you may not be aware of. Contact schools, different churches, religious groups, and community organizations.
Yourself - While the government and different non-government organizations are willing to provide financial assistance as well as basic services, it is important to realize that you can do something about your situation. It is nice to know that there are people who are willing to offer some help, but it is important to exhaust all the possibilities to find employment and to improve your financial standing. Do everything you can in finding permanent source of income, budgeting any cash flow you have, and finding for other ways to create extra income.
Home Buying Programs for Single Parents
Owning a home and finding opportunities to meet monthly payments is difficult enough for a married couple, thus, making it doubly challenging for an individual who has one or several children depending on him or her. Single parenthood, does not mean that you will be renting out a home for the rest of your life, until, of course, a high paying job comes along. Home buying programs for single parents exist to assist solo parents in purchasing a home without the added and unnecessary stress. Home buying, should be an equal opportunity for everybody, regardless of one's civil status.
Why Rent, When You Can Buy A Home?
Having your very own home is an investment in itself. Every time you spend, it's not likely you're going to see your money make its way back to you anytime soon. In contrast, if you place your income into a home, a tangible asset, you are where your money is going and are doubly sure that you have something to fall back on when the need arises in the future. Your own home is a guarantee that you will never need to switch houses ever again, and, being a single parent, this is perhaps one of the most essential things to have.
Home Buying Options
Regular realty offers are friendlier towards households where two people earn income. Single parents looking to own their own houses usually take longer to finish paying off the mortgage because the solo income is divided into too many other important payments that concern his or her family. Luckily, there are real estate and home buying programs that are sensitive towards the needs of solo parents.
HUD
You can start by getting in touch with the Housing and Urban Development office in your office. A lot of HUD-run housing agencies have home offers and can draft payment schedules that are more considerate of single-income households.
The good thing about getting qualified for a home loan is that because only one person is applying, the approval process becomes relatively faster than applications that involve two-income households. Your local housing and development office will be able to point out which areas in the community are best fit for solo-income families and which are well within your budget.
Buy A Condo
Because a single family home does not really need so much space to begin with, you might want to consider buying a condominium or apartment unit. This way, you will not have to worry about external housing maintenance costs because the building administrators will take care of everything for you. For a small association fee paid monthly, all you need to think about is maintenance within the confines of your home. You won't even need to fuss over the outside hallway, unless, of course, your condominium does not provide maintenance.
When it comes to pricing, a condo unit is relatively cheaper because there is no lot to speak of. As a single parent of one or two children, this is a practical choice, especially if you're always on the go and rushing off to work.
Get A Loan
Single parents fall under the same category as first-time home buyers, so make sure to point this out when you're talking to your local bank for a possible loan. Banks like to invest in their clients, so the more open you are about your payment capabilities and your housing requirements, the more your bank will be able to point you exactly to where you need to look and choose.
Home Requirements For Single Parents
Single parents home requirements are the same as any other household. The house must be in a safe neighborhood where the kids can move around and play; it should be close to schools and local hospitals, and it should be close to the commercial area