Home    •    Forum / Community    •    Free Offers     •     Classifieds     •     Gifting Program

Top

» Search

5 Ways for Single Moms to Save Money

by Jenna Lang

Single moms are always looking for ways to save money, and for good reason – the more money you keep in your bank account, the more peace of mind you and your children have. It’s important to find ways to cut corners on the little things that perhaps you don’t think about too often, because those are usually where your biggest money drains are. Which of these options can help you save money?

read more...

Madlynn is Kid of the Month

Cutting Grocery Costs without Cutting Nutrition

Simple, healthy, and affordable ways to weather the rising price of food

by Karen Collins, R.D., American Institute of Cancer Research

Grocery prices are projected to increase again in 2008 – that’s following 2007’s highest annual increase in 17 years. But surviving these tough economic times doesn’t have to mean sacrificing good nutrition. Some simple strategies can help you cut food costs and eat more healthfully, too.

read more...

Using Insurance to Reduce Risk

econ4u.org

All Choices Involve Risk: There are no risk-free choices. Usually, the best way to reduce risk is to take action yourself. For example, to reduce health problems, eat right, get plenty of exercise, get enough sleep, don’t smoke, avoid drugs and so forth. But, since there is no way to avoid risk completely, a common approach is to buy insurance to help reduce the financial losses that can result from bad things that happen.
How Insurance Works: ...In the real world, the fee (premium) would have to be large enough to cover not only the losses but the cost of operating the business and earning a profit. And because things don’t always go according to plan, an insurance company needs to be prepared for unexpected costs. If 10 residents have their apartments robbed, the insurance company needs to have enough cash in reserve to pay them back, for instance...

read more...

How to Save on Your Grocery Bill

A full cart doesn’t have to leave you with an empty wallet

by Kati Neville

Don’t buy non grocery items at the supermarket. Health and beauty goods are usually cheaper at mass-market retailers, like Target. And you’ll find the best deals on paper products at warehouse clubs.

Purchase oranges, onions, and potatoes in bags rather than individually. You’ll pay roughly half the price.

read more...

Fix, Freeze, Feast

by Kati Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik

In addition to recipes they also have tips for organizing your shopping list, packaging meals and preventing freezer burn...

Are women paid less than men?

by Diana Furchtgott-Roth

One of the concerns of working women is the “pay gap” – the alleged payment to women of 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man. But there are more behind these numbers than first meets the eye, because women work different hours, major in different subjects, and choose different careers.

read more...

Gut Decisions May Not Be Smart

by DEIRDRE VAN DYK

If you have ever struggled with a difficult decision — new job vs. new boyfriend, sports car vs. minivan, read the book vs. see the movie — you have likely also been offered a heap of decision-making wisdom. Make a list of pros and cons. Go with your gut. Sleep on it.

read more...

5 lessons the rich can teach you

They don’t just have more money. They spend it, borrow it and save it in ways that might benefit you, too.

by Liz Pulliam Weston

... Studying the habits of this relatively large and growing group of affluent folks can teach us a lot. These people don't just have money; they treat it differently than people farther down the economic ladder.

The rich are indeed different
At least, so say various surveys of the affluent. Among the most notable differences:

read more...

Saving money - you can do it

Strategies for saving more and spending less

read more...

 

Banking news
 

Top

Single Moms - find here resources on financial aid, scholarships, help with basic needs, food, prescription drugs, health care, housing, legal info, and much more...

Financial Advice


How to deal with economic stress

Stressed about the economy? You certainly aren’t alone. According to a recent survey from the American Psychological Association, 74% of Americans say work or money cause them stress and anxiety.
The thing is, stress has a huge impact on your body. It can cause headaches, impair your immune system, disrupt your digestive system and can even affect heart function.

Here are some stress-busters you can start today to help curb your symptoms.

read more...

Fight against credit card rate hikes

by Gerri Willis, CNN finance editor

As expected, credit card issuers are raising fees and rates just before legislative restrictions take place next February. But you don't have to be vulnerable. Here are some alternatives to bank credit cards.
Recently two Harvard doctoral students found that credit cards from credit unions were less likely to charge fees and penalties that big banks do. And when fees are involved, those fees are less.
In order to join a credit union, you typically need to be a member of some kind of organization. Ask your employer or your college alumni organization if there's a credit union you can sign up with.

read more...

Cutting Grocery Costs without Cutting Nutrition

Simple, healthy, and affordable ways to weather the rising price of food

by Karen Collins, R.D., American Institute of Cancer Research

Grocery prices are projected to increase again in 2008 – that’s following 2007’s highest annual increase in 17 years. But surviving these tough economic times doesn’t have to mean sacrificing good nutrition. Some simple strategies can help you cut food costs and eat more healthfully, too.

read more...

10 Investing Habits of Rich People

by Natalie Pace

Embody the habits of the rich to enrich your own wallet!

1. Tax-free: Contributing and trading within a tax-qualified brokerage account means that you could be earning up to 30% additional in returns (which you don't give to the IRS for capital gains taxes). Compound that year in and year out and it could be worth millions.
2. Play it Safe: Always keep a percent equal to your age safe, i.e. out of the stock market. Certificates of Deposits, savings accounts, money markets, and bonds are less risky than stocks. (Bond funds should be counted as stocks, not bonds.)

read more...

For New Parents, Baby Means Big Changes In Money Management

David K. Randall, Forbes.com

Few things compare with the excitement and worry that comes with having your first child. But sometimes lost amid shopping for a crib and a diaper genie is a frank discussion about how becoming a parent will change your financial life.

“New parents have a massive amount of things to consider, and sometimes it becomes so overwhelming that they tune things out,” says Michael Kay, a financial planner in Livingston, N.J.

read more...

Financial Advice for Single Moms

How to Find the Best Car Loans for Single Moms
The best car loans for single mothers might be just around the corner at your local car lot.

read more...

11 Financial Tips For Expecting Parents

Forbes.com

Number-Crunch - Assess how the child will affect your income. Run the numbers to determine your household income if mom or dad begins staying at home to help you set a realistic budget.
Medical Bills - Add up childbirth costs. Hospital charges typically run around $35,000. Even if you have coverage with a big insurer, like UnitedHealth Group or Aetna, you could get saddled with four-figure bill.
Know Your Benefits - Tally maternity leave and other employer benefits. In addition to six or more weeks of paid maternity leave, some employers, like Microsoft and General Electric, offer flexible work schedules, on-site childcare and education discounts.

read more...

Year-end tax moves to make now. Right now

By Carolyn Bigda, Money Magazine

There's plenty to distract you from financial planning this time of year, from cheering on your favorite football team to daydreaming about Thanksgiving dinner. But you don't want to let some end-of-year deadlines slip by without taking steps to minimize taxes and maximize savings. Especially in this economic climate, a little extra cash can go a long way.
And there's more cash on the table than usual this year. The government's stimulus package is loaded with incentives to motivate people to make certain big-ticket purchases -- but the deals will run out soon.
So if you were thinking of buying a car or appliance, it might make sense to move those purchases up a few months. In terms of the savings, "it's now or never," says Bob Meighan, vice president of TurboTax.

DVR the game, and take a bit of time to make these moves now. You'll start 2010 with more to be thankful for.

Snag tax breaks

If you're in the market for -- or have already bought -- a car or a home, don't miss these tax incentives courtesy of the stimulus package.

New-car sales tax deduction
You can deduct state and local sales tax paid on a new set of wheels purchased this year (between Feb. 17 and Dec. 31), regardless of whether you itemize. The deduction is limited to the first $49,500 of a vehicle's price, and the break begins to phase out for singles with modified adjusted gross income of $125,000, or couples with $250,000. If you buy and register a 2010 Honda Accord in Chicago for a base price of $21,055, you would reduce your taxable income by $1,948 (based on a 9.25% sales tax).


First-time homebuyer credit
Since a credit is directly subtracted from the taxes you owe, the first-time homebuyer credit could put up to $8,000 back into your pocket if you bought a house this year. To qualify, you must not have owned a principal residence in the past three years.
Your modified AGI must be $75,000 or less if single, $150,000 or under if married. Plus, closing and title transfer must be completed by Nov. 30. (If you can't make the deadline, you may have another shot; bills to extend the credit have been introduced into the Senate.)

Replace old appliances

Thinking about buying a more energy-efficient furnace this winter? Congress has earmarked nearly $300 million in rebates for new "green" appliances. The rebates will typically range from $50 to $250 and take effect as early as the end of this year (dates, amounts, and method of redemption will vary by state).
While there's no deadline per se, the offer operates like this year's "cash for clunkers" program. "When the money is gone, the program will be over," says Meighan of TurboTax. To find out when rebates start and what they'll cover, go to energystar.gov (click on Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency).

Reap your losses

Even with the market's rally this year, the S&P 500 is still down 32% from its 2007 peak. So you probably still have losses in your portfolio. Take advantage of them and the chance to get rid of deadbeats.

If you sell a stock, bond, or fund in a taxable account for less than you paid, you can use the losses to offset your gains. Have more losses than gains? The IRS lets you deduct up to $3,000 in remaining losses from ordinary income. The rest can be used on future returns.

You can't buy the same investment or one that is "substantially identical" within 30 days before or after the sale. (Otherwise, it's considered a "wash sale," and the loss is disqualified.) So you can't, for example, swap S&P 500-tracking funds. But you can switch to a fund following another index (even a total stock index), and trading one actively managed fund for another is okay. "Presumably, the managers don't pick the same stocks," says wealth manager Chuck Roberson of Old Tappan, N.J.


Prep for the AMT

For once Congress passed its alternative minimum tax (AMT) "patch" early in the year, raising the income exemption on this parallel tax structure to $46,700 for singles and $70,950 for marrieds. Generally, higher earners must compute their tax bill using both the traditional code and the AMT, which disallows certain deductions and credits -- then pay the higher. The patch is necessary because the AMT, which was intended to keep the wealthy from abusing tax breaks, is not tied to inflation.

The new exemption levels are similar to those for 2008. So if you were stuck last year, you'll probably be stuck this year, says New York City CPA and tax attorney Alan Straus. It's not easy to get out of the AMT trap, but some strategic end-of-year moves may help.

Since big deductions can tip you into the AMT zone, limit what you plan to write off. For example, don't prepay fourth-quarter estimated taxes to your state, which you can deduct on your federal returns, in December. Wait till January.

Also, try reducing your income in order to make the most of your exemption: Max out your 401(k)s. Ask your boss to put off any bonus (ha!) until early next year. And if you're self-employed, hold off on sending invoices.

(And if what you do now fails to get you off the hook, there's still some potential for relief: As part of the stimulus package, Congress is allowing AMT payers this year to take tax breaks normally disallowed, such as child- and dependent-care credits.)

Give gifts

As always, send in donations to charitable organizations by the end of December if you want to deduct the gifts on your 2009 tax return. Also, this is the last year you can do a direct rollover from an IRA to a tax-exempt organization.
The 2008 Emergency Economic Stabilization Act lets you give up to $100,000 if you're 70½ or older. You won't owe federal income tax on the money (though you can't take a deduction).
Speaking of estate-minimizing strategies: Remember that you can give up to $13,000 per recipient tax-free this year (a couple can give $26,000). That should make somebody's holidays especially happy. will vary by state)...

read more...

91 Ways to Save on Almost Anything

by Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine

Here's how to stretch your dollars -- and pinch your pennies 'til they scream -- while you feel little or no pain.

Want to save a buck? How about a few hundred or a couple thousand?

We took a look at eight spending categories in your budget and identified dozens of ways you can keep more money. Whether you need to plug leaks in your spending, learn where to find the best deals or even trick yourself into shaving expenses, we've got something for everyone.

And here's a bonus tip: Before you even start looking elsewhere in your budget to cut costs, start at the source with your paycheck. If you get a tax refund, that means you're overpaying Uncle Sam from the beginning. Boost your take-home pay today by adjusting your tax withholding with your employer.

read more...

Your 5-Minute Guide to Credit Cards

 

Up to your ankles, knees or neck in debt? Try these two dozen tips to help get your finances back on track.

 

At some point in our lives, most of us have borrowed too much. If you're in over your head, don't despair. But make no mistake: You must learn to live on what you earn.

 

First, stop making excuses about why you're in debt. Don't blame the credit card companies or your parents. Put that energy into reducing your debt.

read more...

5 Ways to Safeguard Your New Baby's Financial Future

by Life-Line.org

Your beautiful new baby has arrived and you think you've got the safety thing under control. The house is child-proofed, you've got the pediatrician's phone number posted on the fridge, and a brand new car seat sits in the back of your minivan. But physical safety is just part of the challenge. Unless you're Julia Roberts and your baby has a multimillion-dollar trust fund, you need a financial gameplan that will keep your baby financially safe in times both good and bad. Here are five steps from the nonprofit Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE), to help you get started on the right financial foot.

read more...

Tuesdays in the Pocketbook: How to Keep Divorce from Devastating Your Family Finances

by DK Simoneau, Author of "We're Having a Tuesday"

Let’s face it. Getting divorced is a financial blow to any family. It is quite a touchy subject. Even in the best of circumstances there are double the housing expenses because suddenly there are two homes to support. Ah you know, two phone bills, to cable bills, two water bills and so on. When there are kids involved and split-family living becomes the lifestyle of choice for the foreseeable future, finances can get even stickier. If you are on reasonable terms with your ex-spouse there are some ways to avoid common pitfalls of supporting your kids financially. If you are not, there are still limited actions you can take without having to involve the family lawyer, they just may not be as equitable.

read more...

 

Note

The listing of or omission of an institution, organization or corporation on this Web site does not refer to programmatic capability nor does it confer any official status, approval, or endorsement of the institution, organization or corporation itself. This listing does not purport to be a listing of all organizations & corporations that are providing relief in the affected area. Additionally, there may be organizations providing relief in the affected area that are not accepting donations at this time. It is not the purpose of this Web site to make, or enable to be made, any representation to the public concerning the organizations listed. This listing is for informational purposes only. Any contributions or submissions you choose to make from links on this Web site are at your sole discretion.

 

Join the SingleMom.com forums. Share your tips, resources and experience with other single moms

Top

Top 8 Tips for Reducing Kids Screen Time This Summer

Reducing time spent in front of televisions and computers is one of the easiest ways to improve your family's health. Here are eight simple ways to limit screen time so you can help crank up your kids’ energy, re-charge their minds, and improve their health.

read more...

What would you change?

Weekly Column, by Annette Bridges

Change -- some people dread it, and others can’t get enough. It may be much like the idiom, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” When it comes to what we would alter or why we would make a modification, the answers vary because we all have different things we value, want, need and consider important.

read more...

Being a Role Model

by Laurie Cesario-Overton

If I had to choose one sentence that would best describe what I feel parents need to learn, it would be this: Be your child's BEST ROLE MODEL in all the ways that truly count. Be your child's HERO. Whatever you do, do it for all the right reasons.

read more...

How to Find the Best Car Loans for Single Moms

Financial Advice for Single Moms

The best car loans for single mothers might be just around the corner at your local car lot.

read more...

3 Money Rules for Stay-at-Home Moms

As we all know, life is unpredictable. We lose jobs, get divorced and even become widowed...
Here are three steps stay-at-home parents should take to better manage their own and the family’s finances.

read more...

You May Have Too Much Debt But You Also Have Options

How Life Works

If you feel like you're in over your head with personal debt, you're not alone. Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions. Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.

read more...

Could fat babies mean fat toddlers?

A new study from Harvard Medical School found that babies who gained weight quickly had a sharply higher risk of obesity. The study followed close to 600 babies and found those in the top quarter of weight for their length at 6 months had a 40 percent higher risk of obesity by age 3 than smaller babies.

read more...

Crystal Bowersox - A Single Mom And A Real American Idol

Read how the amazing Crystal Bowersox. the runner-up of American Idol Season 9, handles fame and life as a single mom, raising her 17 month old son.

read more...

5 Ways for Single Moms to Save Money

Single moms are always looking for ways to save money, and for good reason... It’s important to find ways to cut corners on the little things that perhaps you don’t think about too often, because those are usually where your biggest money drains are.

read more

Suze Orman's Recession Rescue Plan - helps you survive in times of financial crisis

OPRAH.com

Do you know what your family would do if you lost your job - or worse, your home? Financial expert Suze Orman is ready to help you devise a recession rescue plan to survive - and possibly thrive - during this deepening financial crisis...

read more...

Your Just-in-Case Emergency Plan

by RealSimple

Who do you call if you can't make it home in time to meet the kids' bus? Who do you trust to take in your mail when you're on vacation? Who do you trust with the extra set of keys to your house?

read more...

How to save $10,000

By Liz Pulliam Weston

If you were hoping for a list of small tweaks you could make in your spending to save $10,000 a year, sorry. The reality is that $10,000 is a lot of money. And saving big money usually means making big changes in the areas where we spend the most, such as: Housing, Transportation, Food.

read more...

The Super, Sexy, Single Mom on a Budget

by Renee Rayles

A quick reference guide designed for the busy, single mom who has

little time to read while running the mom taxi, cooking dinner, helping with homework, and trying to fit in a date night every now and then.

read more...

Single Mothers &
Male Role-Models / Mentors

Single mothers carry an enormous load of responsibility, especially those having sole and/or primary custody of minor children. They nourish, they nurture, they teach, they discipline, they shelter, they protect, and they provide… all without the assistance of another equally-invested adult.

read more...

Mom's Obesity Raises Newborn's Heart Risk

from the National Institute of Health

The more obese a woman is when she becomes pregnant, the greater the likelihood that her newborn baby will have a congenital heart defect, a new study suggests. The finding raises concerns because 1 in 5 women are obese at the start of pregnancy in the United States.

read more...

The 10-Ingredient Shopping Trip

By Tara Parker-Pope and Mark Bittman

... In his latest “How to Cook Everything” segment on the Today Show, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman makes it surprisingly easy to cook a week’s worth of dinners with just a 10-ingredient shopping trip.

read more...

Your 5-minute guide to protecting your identity

20 steps to protect yourself from identity theft, and seven ways to clean up things if you become a victim.

read more...

TheOnlineMom.com offers parents and consumers a guide to the top-rated, age-appropriate, kid-tested and parent-approved tech toys and gifts.

read more...

Single Moms in the News

6 Best Celebrity Single Moms
Read about Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Michelle Williams, Reese Witherspoon, Kimora Lee Simmons, Mary-Louise Parker... read more

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

by Jeff Kinney

For those wondering why tween boys don’t read very much, the answer is that more books aren’t like this...

read more...

Top

Money makeover: Single mom

Jacqui Sentmanat is trying to give her child the best of everything, but who's looking out for her financial future?

by Joe Light, Money Magazine staff reporter

(Money Magazine) -- When you're the single parent of an only child, you want only the best possible life for your kid. That's how Jacqui Sentmanat feels. But it's an expensive proposition.

read more...

The best financial advice ever

Prince Charming isn't coming. Live like a college student.
Never co-sign a loan. Money experts like David Bach and readers like you share the best nuggets of wisdom they have ever received.

by Liz Pulliam Weston

... If you're not doing well financially, maybe you're finally ready to hear some advice that could make all the difference.

read more...

Tips on How to Take Care of Yourself During a Global Crisis

by complaintsboard.com

During these last few months, the stress levels have been on the rise, from people struggling with finances, to the banking stresses, to the swine flu projected pandemic. There is a lot of uncertainty, a lot of unnecessary panic, and a lot of overall fear... For one thing, with the information overload that is being thrown in every which direction except straight leaves you wondering what is the truth, and what is not? ...

read more...

Live well without going into debt by Donna Freedman

Living frugally (and debt-free) is a lot more fun than living with worry. I'll show you how you can enrich your life without breaking the bank.

read more...

No More Money Stress!

...You have to remain positive..., because anxiety muddies your ability to think through problems clearly. Panic fuels rash decisions that could cost you much more in the long run than those made after careful deliberation.
If you've plunged into a financial funk, just take a deep, serenity-bestowing breath and follow these guides to regain control.

read more...

Top

SingleMom.com™ Pages:   Home  •  About SingleMom.com™  •  Privacy Policy  •  Contact us

SingleMom.com™ Features:   Forum / Community  •  Free Offers  •  Classifieds  •  Gifting Program

SingleMom.com™ Sections:   Ask “Joy”  •  Education & Career  •  Help for Moms in Need  •  Housing  •  Kid Stuff  •  Parenting  •  Day to Day  •  Health & Well Being  •  Cooking & Recipes  •  Legal Issues  •  Finances

© 2005-2010 SingleMom.com™, Sponsored by Internet Genesis™ company, All Rights Reserved.
Revised: 26 July 2010.