Single Mom Taking her Kids Financial Future in Her Own HAnds

    I have seen so many single moms, or dads, depend on other people and get lost if something does not come through. A perfect example would be the stimulus money that everyone was supposed to get. There were some people that did not get one, and it devastated them. I personally did get them, but it went towards bills and put up for the kids. Why? Because I have set myself up to not depend on what could possibly come in, because I know what money is coming in. If I get more money for that month, then it is just a bonus and I put it towards securing my financial future for my two kids. I have learned the art of planning for the financial future for me and my kids in almost every instance.

    To begin I started with minimal money being put up. Even if it was $5 a month. Everything I could put up counted towards my kids financial future. In the last few years I have learned ways of making money from home by working online, selling scrap or by simply picking up change in parking lots. Instead of looking at things as simple money, I think of it as an investment to my kids financial future. 

    Always find ways to save money. There is so many ways now to save money on buying almost everything. I even use every receipt I have to put on apps and I save an average of $50 a month by simply taking pictures of receipts. I have a more detailed post on my other blog about getting Free Money with Receipts if you want to learn more.

    Once I learned with all of the simple steps, I researched more ways of securing my kids financial future. I have life insurance, death and disability insurance, and and disability insurance in case something happens and I cannot work. Each of these are planning for the "What if's" in life. I pay about $200 a month with all of these, but I know if something happens, I have my kids financial future under control, at least for a year of so depending on what happens. 

    I am a single mom of two amazing kids, plus I have raised my nieces. I have struggled financially and received help from a lot of great people through the years, but I tried to never depend on the possibilities of someone helping. I do not get child support, I have not gotten help with state aid in more than five years, and all of the money coming in is what I have worked on in one way or another. I have had so many days where I wanted to quit. I wanted to give up because I did not think it was possible to get to where I am. I have had many struggles in life but I know my kids financial future is more important than anything. Do not give up on your life or the plans you have, because it can work. 

Read more about me and my family on the posts

Where I come from Financially and Where I am going

Finally Some Financial Success but More to go

The Traveling Family Adventure has begun

 

 I have been working on a traveling blog for a while now, and it is doing great so far. I do a lot of things to earn extra money, but this is one that is beginning a real business for me and my family. It is the beginning of an adventure for us all. The blog is The traveling family adventures.

On The Traveling Family Adventures blog is sharing our family trips or simple road trips to place in Colorado and many other areas when we can. Our family enjoys back roads, trails, and going off of the beaten path. The views and adventures that we find is so enjoyable to share with everyone. My family includes myself, my mom, my kids  nieces and nephew, Desiree (21),  Danielle (20), Devon (17), Torrie (9) and Delila (2). We are not always together, but each trip includes a few of us on an amazing adventure. 

We are hoping very soon that this will be a full time experience. With road schooling and  sharing all of the teaching and learning experiences from all of us.

Mom investing money

A few years ago I started looking into investing money, but as a single mom I could not afford all of the fees and things that went along with it. Especially the minimum that most brokers wanted at the time. A few years ago I started hearing about sites like Acorn. I never gave it a try because I just did not know, and as a mom we have to have some how of knowing that we will see our money grow. I always had to watch every penny I had, so I put it off. Well about a year ago one of the sites I work on, I think it was Inboxdollars, posted to pay me a few dollars to try this site STASH. I was skeptical but I gave it a try. I am so glad I did.

For those who think it is too difficult, do not let it scare you. Stash has a lot of great helpful articles and will guide you through the entire process. It is $5 to start and believe me they will make the process easier than you can imagine.

Start investing for you and your kids as early as you can. I am almost 40 and really wish I would have started much earlier. I am hoping I have learned enough with STASH and other savings I have to start paying for college in 10 years. It will be here before I know it.


Look at my blog post about STASH on my finance blog

October was a good start rebooting to my online income

Since I had surgery October 8th I have been going through so many things mentally and I miss working from home. I know it will take some time to build back up to what I was earning, a couple of thousand a month, but it is worth the work.

October has only had a few small things going towards my online income, but every little step makes a difference. Here is a few things I did in October:

Blog Posts:

Live on less Money than what you Earn

As a single mom I tend to be looking everywhere for financial advice, money saving tips, and other money saving advice. I have learned that one of the biggest mistakes that people make with their personal finances is spending more than you earn. Even before I was a single mom, I did the same thing. I have learned that one of the biggest mistakes that people make with their finances is spending more money than they earn. Some people are trying to keep up with their friends and others just think that they can't stop spending. I have even noticed some parents spending more than they earn because they do not want to let their children down, believe me the kids will understand when they are put in the same situation.

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Financial Ebooks

I have been writing small articles and financial tips for about 10 years now. I also went to school for business and received my degree in 2015. As a single mom I have found numerous ways of saving and making money in about every aspect of my life. I have decided to share my experiences in more detail through books. So far I only have 4 simple Ebooks about finances, but I do plan on having many more in the near future. If you would like to take a look, please do. These are just the beginning, and I am learning more about writing Ebooks with every one I publish. I have set the prices below $3 on the first few books until I can write the finance books in more elaboration.

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How to Feed a large Family on a Budget

Feeding a large family can be a task in itself, but it is even harder when you have to feed a large family on a budget. There are a lot of ways for you to cut your grocery bill, and save money. Here are a few things that you can do to feed a large family on a budget.

Begin by clipping coupons, or take advantage of online sites that offer coupons. You can use these coupons to receive merchandise for a big savings, or even at times free. You can save even more if you shop at grocery stores that offer to double or triple your coupons. Coupons have been a very big part to help feed my family on a budget.

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Saving Money on Groceries

Saving money is a big thing for most families in today’s economy. Groceries tend to be one of our biggest expenses, and saving money on groceries can make a big difference in our family’s budget. There are some very simple things that anyone can do to save money when grocery shopping.

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Hubpages

I have not submitted much on Hubpages, I have just been going through and updating articles. I have included backlinks to some of my blog posts which has been great. On one post I had close to a thousand views in a day. I have not seen that in a long time on anything I have submitted or posted. I am sure it is because I have not put in the effort though. 

Here are a my top three hubs for October:

Direct Sales tax Deductions

Preparing Dinner for Later 

Financial Planning Steps for a Single Mom


The month of October did not really see an income, but I see what is coming and what I am setting my mind to. The success is in my hands, and I am the one responsible for making a real online income.



 

I am Back Focusing on my Home Business

It has been a long time since i have really focused on my home business. I have to say its because I work about 60+ hours a week and I now have a 14 month old and my son that is 8. It has been a struggle to really push my home business in addition to everything else. I have had a realization that I cannot keep pushing so much at my current job. I love my job, but I love my kids more.

Over the last few years I have put more emphasis on my career than I have anything else. I know that is not the best thing to do as a mom, but that job has done a lot for my family. It has helped me purchase two vehicles over the last few years and a home. I am hoping soon I will be able to purchase another home and use one as a vacation rental since I have a front door view of Pikes Peak.

My plan of action is to stop working a full time job within the next three years. I want to be able to work from home and spend more time with the kids. I feel like I have missed out on so much of my sons life because of my working so much, and I do not want to do that to my daughter too. Now I cannot say I have the entire plan put together, but I hope I will soon. Up until now I have not told anyone what I am thinking, but it is time for me to do something else with my life.

Finally Graduating! (Hopefully)

For those that have been following me on here, as well as the other numerous sites that I work on, you know how crazy my life has been the last few years. Since I started school in August of 2012 I have been going non stop. Working full time at a convenience store (with the exception of a couple of months I took off do to injury) going to school full time (on average 15 credit hours each semester with the exception of 1 that I took 12 credit hours), and being a single mom of my amazing little boy.
In April my boyfriend died to carbon monoxide poisoning, and then last month my sister passed away from numerous health conditions. My sister left my mom and I to raise her 3 amazing kids.

With all of this going on, I am up for graduation next month. I only need this one class to get my Associates of Applied Science with an emphasis in management, and I am pretty sure I will pass. With the tremendous stress I have been under, I have had some difficulties. I am to the point of passing the class will be good enough for me. The class is statics, and it is very difficult. I held a 3.3 GPA throughout the last couple of years, this class will drop that GPA. Especially since it is the second time I have taken it, but that is ok. I have come a long way, and I am proud of this accomplishment.

This is one thing I have worked harder than I could have ever imagined to achieve, and I am seeing it through. I did not quit, and I can show other single moms that it can be done. If it is important to you, you can do anything.

Helping a Family in Need

If you have time I ask that you please read my recent hub. Helping a family in Need. It is a very personal story about recent things happening, including the loss of my sister.