Student debt, work, bills and motherhood! It’s a lot for anyone to juggle; but when you’re flying solo, balance can be darn near impossible. So what’s a mom to do? First, let’s tip our hats and give a big thanks to the 13 million hard working single parents in America. Your selflessness and giant hearts are incredibly admirable. Second, we’ve put together the following 5 tips to help you tackle some of the stresses of debt as a single parent.
#1: Try meal kits
In today’s online world, there are plenty of ways to save both time and money. No time to go the grocery store this week? There are tons of fresh and healthy meals kits that will deliver a weekly supply of food right to your door! Some meals can be made in 15 minutes or less while others require no cooking at all. Talk about a time saver! The price? Many of these companies offer great introductory offers for first timers. You can try them all and typically enjoy anywhere from 10% to 70% off.
#2: Kid carpools
Not only is it time-consuming to drive kids to/from school plus activities every day, it’s also expensive! Gas prices are constantly rising, and taking time off from work isn’t always an option. Try to set up a carpool schedule with other parents you trusts in the neighborhood and/or are involved in your child’s extracurricular events. Take turns on driving days so everyone can reap the benefits. Big plus: kids love spending more time with their friends!
#3: Swap, borrow and trade
Kids are constantly growing, and each growth spur typically requires tons of new oufits. Instead of buying a whole new wardrobe every few months, team up with some fellow parents to start a swap, borrow and trade system. You can even start a group on social media to expand your trading pool. P.S. this isn’t just a great option for kids, but also works for adults. So go ahead, trade up those flats to some sweet new stilettos your co-worker never wears!
If you don’t already have a cash back credit card, you might want to think about getting one. If you have good credit, most cash back credit cards let you choose which areas you want more rewards for. Groceries, gas, restaurants- make your pick! Quick word of caution before you go on a spending spree: to avoid costly interest rates or potentially go even deeper into debt, make sure to always pay-off your credit cards on-time and in-full. To put it simply: if you don’t have the money to back it up in your bank account, don’t put it on your credit card.
#5: Find out if you qualify for a LOWER student loan payment
For all single parents drowning in student loan debt – you’re not alone. However, there are ways to avoid budget-breaking payments. Several income-driven repayment programs offered by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) may help you lower the amount you owe each month. For those who qualify, monthly payments can even be as low as $0! To learn more about the benefits of a consolidation and to see if you qualify for a lower payment through an income-driven repayment plan offered by the DOE, call the pros at Docupop at (866) 269-5501 or click below to get help now!
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