Single Parenting | Keeping Your Eye on the Prize (Not Price)

Single Parenting | Keeping Your Eye on the Prize (Not Price)

The time of life between the ages of 25 and 45 is one where you start to think about settling down and looking toward the future.

If you are female and have a child between this age, and the father of the child is not present for whatever reason, it is no cause for panic.

Single mothers between ages 25 and 45 can build a secure life for themselves without many of the pitfalls that might show up such as lack of a two-income family, the high cost of essentials like day care and groceries, etc.

For starters, if you are short on cash turn to areas that will help save money in the short term. If a family member is available to take care of your child during the day when you work, take advantage of it. You may be able to work out some sort of a barter arrangement rather than having to pay a higher rate at a day-care facility.

Stretch your food dollar by applying for aid, such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children or whatever your state government offers. Do not feel like you are a loser by doing this. In this tough economy, more people are turning to assistance as the fallout from The Great Recession continues. This way, you can buy staples such as eggs and milk and have a little money left over.

If a family member dies, take on some responsibilities such as settling that person’s estate. Duties of an executor include paying debts, paying estate taxes and making sure possessions in the estate end up in the right peoples’ hands, among others. Executors are paid for their services; for example, in New York compensation starts at 5 percent for the first $100,000 and goes down on a sliding scale.

Have a bit of extra money? Try your hand at investing. Consult with someone who is an expert at the investment market or even check with friends or family members that invest money. The phrase “do not put your eggs in one basket” may be an old one, but it applies here. Start with one mutual fund or stock and spread your money out from there. Diversifying portfolios helps if one mutual fund or stock declines. Other stocks going up will balance the scale.

If you are skittish about the market, put your extra money in a higher-interest savings account  for use on a rainy day.

Being single and in this age group does not mean you have to be shaky and insecure in your everyday dealings. With a little time, investment and careful planning, you can build a secure future for yourself and your child.

This is a guest post by R. Wilcox