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.



 

Saving money?

I have been in Colorado for close to three years now. During this time I have been focused on school, work, and being a mom. I have not shared a lot about my online life, so most do not know that I have over 1000 articles published online. Most of these articles are about saving money.

A couple of days ago a friend of mine was asking if I used coupons, or if I knew about these sites that give you gift cards to use their coupons. I sent her links to a few sites that I have earned money and gift cards from for a number of years. I have been saving money and making money online since 2009. At one point I was making over $1200 a month by just writing money saving articles. I am sure I could get back to that point if I made time for it, but for now I want to use this as a part time income and way to share my experiences with saving money.

Here are sites I truly trust, and I have made money on since the beginning:

Inbox Dollars The minimum payout is $30 but I usually make that without a problem. You earn by doing surveys, searching the web, printing and using coupons, and other things. You also receive money by referring others.

My survey This site is just surveys. You can cash the points in for merchandise, paypal payments, or a check. There is not really a referral program unless you have a website that has a lot of views. I have been a member since 2009 and have received merchandise to test, and many payments from them.

My Points My points is a site that you can print coupons, shop at online retailers, read emails, search the web, and much more while earning points. You can use these points for many gift cards, and I have received a lot of them. There is a referral program, but it requires you to send emails to your friends.

I highly recommend all of these sites to anyone wanting to save money. It is great because you can save money and make money at the same time. Even with very minimal effort over the last three years, I have taken advantage of these sites.

One of my first articles on Yahoo was about saving money. I read it today, and it is still good tips. 50 Real ways to Save Money

Money Saving Coupons and Free Samples of Baby Products

Since the day I had found out I was pregnant I made sure to find as many ways to save money on baby products that I possibly could. There are actually quite a few places that you can go to online to find coupons and get free samples of baby products in the mail.

The first thing that I highly recommend is going to manufacturers web sites to see what they have to offer. I received coupons or samples from Enfamil, Similac, Parents Choice,  Pampers, Huggies, and quite a few other sites by simply going to there site and signing up for there group or just requesting samples. This has saved me the largest amount of money on my baby products.

I also use sites like inboxdollars and Mypoints to print money saving coupons for baby products. With both of these sites you can also make a few cents when you use the coupons. Both of the sites are easy to use. I have saved and made quite a bit by using both of the sites.

Of course you can also check your local papers to find coupons for baby products. Some times you can find small inserts that are completely focused on baby products.  

Single Mom Seeking Financial Stability

Being a new single mom I am worried about my personal finances, and with the move that we just made I am even more concerned. Financial stability is something that all of us are seeking, but when you have another person that is completely dependent on you there is an even bigger concern. I am working in a good direction for financial stability, but it is going to be a lot of work.


Employment:

I have been putting in applications for numerous opportunities for the last week. I did get a call today for a local bank, and I have an interview tomorrow. I am also going to get my license to work at a local casino. There is a fee for the license, but I feel it is going to be well worth it. I am hoping that I can get both positions and work my but off for the next few months until I can start school. Once I start school I will work at the one that I earn the most money at, and has the best benefits.

It will be well worth it working two jobs for a few months. I will be able to put money up for my son, save money to put the down payment on the house we are leasing to own, and hopefully get a vehicle so I do not have to depend on my sisters ex husband to pay her car note. There are a lot of benefits, but one huge disadvantage. I will be away from my son a lot. I know it is for him, but I will still miss him more than anything.

I am still going to be working online as well. I do not make a lot of money online, but it sure helps with things that I need. I have been able to buy the baby formula and diapers with my earnings. If I can continue to have at least that coming in every month I will be thankful. I will also be trying to work more online so I will be able to have more money to put away and pay bills.

Saving:

I am trying to learn a lot of ways to save money. I am starting to clip coupons again, put up change, cut back on utilities, and buy store brand items. These are only small savings at a time, but they add up. I am living on the saying "A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned". This statement is the truest thing I have ever heard, and I am learning it more and more every day.

Financial Stability:

I know financial stability is something that is very hard to come by, especially for a single mom or dad. I feel that I am working in a good direction though. I will continue to make financial goals, save money, and work as much as I can to have financial stability for my son.  It may take time and hard work but it will be worth it all in the future.

Getting Adjusted and Making Changes

I have now been a mommy for almost 7 weeks, and I am adjusting pretty well. I have had a few problems like the baby in the hospital, not being able to work, and now moving to Colorado. I have my son in a good routine and he is actually a great baby. He doesn't cry a lot and he sleeps through the night. He has been a big blessing in my life.

Now my big concern is trying to take care of him financially. My family and I are moving to Colorado on the 13th of August, and I am going to be responsible for my son as well as everyone else. My mom and sister is not able to work, and my sister has three beautiful children that I want to make sure are cared for. I am hoping I can find a job fairly quick when we get to Colorado. I have been putting my application in everywhere, and will put in even more once I get up there. Our rent is paid in full up until October 5th, so that gives me a little time to get a couple of paychecks, but not much time to find a job.

BIG CHANGES COMING:

We have all got to make big changes with this move. The first thing that is the biggest is to save money everywhere that we can. I have learned that every penny counts, and I am getting the family into doing the same thing. Money is going to be the biggest factor in this move, and I have to find ways to get more coming in and keeping as much in the home as I possibly can.

The kids have to adjust to making new friends and a new school, which is something that they are not looking forward to. My sisters kids are 8, 11, and 12 and they have lived in the same home since the oldest one was 2. This is a big adjustment for all of them. The reason that all of them are coming is that there dad left my sister after 20 years together, and he is not supporting them in any way. He is supposed to pay child support, but has already gotten behind on that.

I am going to have to adjust to being away from my baby a lot. I have gotten used to being here when he wakes up, eats, bathes, and goes to sleep so missing any part of that is going to be hard. I have to think about his future though. If I can not get financially stable now, then it is going to affect his future. I want him to have much more than I did when I was growing up.

My entire family is going to have a lot of problems adjusting, but this move is for the best. We will be moving away from the people that has had the biggest negative effect in our lives, and having a new beginning. I know that it is in Gods hands, and it will all work out if we make sure that we work hard on making it happen.

Financial Planning for Expecting Single Moms

I have been trying even harder to get my finances together since I learned about being pregnant. Now that I only have a few weeks for the new baby, I have been focusing even more on the financial future of my baby and I. The one thing that I know for sure is planning is one of the best things you can do for your financial future. Your finances are even more important if you are expecting to be a single mom. These are some things that I have learned about financial planning for a single mom.

Maternity Leave:

One of my biggest current financial concerns has got to be maternity leave. Since I am bringing in the only income, how is it possible to take maternity leave? It is possible if you plan in advance, but you may not be able to take as much time as you would like.

The first thing you should do is talk to your employer about your options. Some companies do offer a short term disability program, or you can use your paid time off that you have coming from the company. Your boss can tell you everything you need to know, if he doesn't know contact your human resources department.

I do not have the benefits of having any paid time off. I started working with the company two weeks before I found out I was pregnant, and we are a small franchise operation so there were no other options either. I had to make financial plans for me, without the help of another income or paid time off. I still have not given up, I have a decent plan that will help me get through a few weeks, just not as long as I would have hoped.

Two to four weeks of maternity leave is going to be all I can do. The reason I had to shorten my leave is due to my reduced hours at work. I have been having a few problems with the pregnancy, so my hours were cut dramatically. If I had not started planning early, I would not have had the money to reduce my hours at work.

This is was what I did:

Financially Preparing for Maternity Leave When Single

Budgeting:

If you are a new mom you may not have had to budget much before, but being a single mom means watching every bit of money that is coming in and out of your home. I think the biggest part of financial planning is your budget. Your budget should include everything that comes in and out, be sure to include even the smallest amounts.

You will want to find every way possible to save money around your home. There are so many ways that you can save money, and you need to incorporate as many money saving options into your life that you can. There are a lot of free resources available to single moms online that can help you budget.

Helpful Articles for Single Moms Trying to Budget:

Financial Tips for Expecting Single Mothers

20 Ways to Save Money on a New Baby


How to Avoid Overspending at the Supermarket

How to Save Money by Stocking Your Pantry Properly


How to be an Organized Coupon Shopper

50 Real Ways to Save Money in Your Home 



Making More Money:

Single moms have a lot of concerns about there finances, and making the money is what is important. Every single moms situations is fairly different, but we can all take advice from each other. There are things that you can do to make more money.

The first thing you may consider is getting a better education. The government is offering great grants and financial aid to help single moms get there education, so why shouldn't we take advantage of it. There is so many different options for schools that you can be a mom and go back to school. Some schools will even help you find child care assistance if you need it.

Another option is to find a better job, ask for a raise, or find a second job. This is hard for single moms to do at times, be we have to do what we have to do. This is a good option for people that have help with childcare. You do not want to work a second job just to cover childcare expenses.

Find ways to make money from home. Making money from home is a lot easier today than it was a few years ago. There is so many different opportunities such as; direct sales, freelance writing, recycling, surveys, other freelance work, and you can even find actual jobs from home that pay fairly well. This is my favorite option for making more money, because I will be able to spend more time with my baby. I will still have to work, but the extra income does help.

Helpful Sites for Making More Money:


Ways to Make Money From Home Fast, or Over Time


How to Successfully Make Money Online

My at Home Income Blog

How to Decide on a Direct Sales Company

How to Earn Money as a Stay at Home Mom



Plan for Yours and Your Child's Future:

Today is not the only important time for you or your child. As a single parent you are the one who has to plan your child's financial future as well as your own. There will be things that you need money put up for such as; school, medical, emergencies, and other things that may come up in the future. Short term and long term future planning is something that you have to consider.

You can begin your future planning by opening a savings account that is strictly for your financial future planning. Set an amount that you will put into this account every month, and continue to do this on a regular basis. It does not matter if it is only a very small amount, that is why you start now instead of when the baby gets older.

Look into different savings options that are available for you and your child. Talking to a financial adviser at your bank or local investment firm would be a great way to learn about your different options. Most of these options are for a longer term investment, so be sure you have the money that you can put away without touching it.

The above is some simple things that all expecting single moms can do to begin financial planning for there future, as well as there new babies. It does not go into details on every thing that is an option for us, but it is a great way to begin financial planning.

Single Mommy Budgeting

I have always thought that budgeting was essential to everyone, but becoming a single mommy has made it even more important. Before I only had my needs to worry about now I have to think about the baby food, diapers, clothing, medical, and the babies future in addition to my expenses. Budgeting and finding ways to save money is more important than I had ever thought before.


Some Things to Help a Single Mommy Make a Budget, and Save Money:

1. Know exactly what is coming in to your home
       To begin a good budget you need to know where all of your money is coming from and how much it is. This could be child support, employment, side income, government help, etc. The only thing I would not include is BONUS money that may or may not come in.

2. Know All of Your Expenses
       Take time to write down your expenses for ever month. Some of these expenses may vary from month to month, but keep the amount as accurate as you can. In addition to your household bills you should include miscellaneous expenses such as; gas, fast food purchases, drink purchases, entertainment, etc. You can get an idea about your average spending by keeping track of all of your spending for a month. If you have items that you have to pay yearly you should divide that amount by 12, and put up that amount each year. This will help you avoid having to come up with one large lump sum.

3.Prepare Yourself For The Unexpected
      There is always going to be something unexpected come up, and we should try to be prepared for those situations. These unexpected things could be anything from car problems, to your child needing $10 for a school. Putting money away is important for everyone, but I am noticing that single parents have a lot of things come up. Preparing for the unexpected can be done by simply putting up a few dollars a month into a savings account or hid at home. Most place I read that you need at least six months of expenses put away, but most people cannot afford to do that. If you are one of those people, every small amount put up is helpful.


4. Cut Your Expenses to Save Money
         Now that you know what money is coming in, and what money is going out, you will be able to see what expenses can be cut out of your budget. Sometimes it takes us to be very critical of ourselves to cut things that we think we need. Begin by reducing your everyday spending on items that you can do without, then work your way up to the big items. There are many ways to cut your expenses, you just have to really decide that you want to stick to your budget and save money.

5. Live Within Your Means
        I see so many single parents trying to keep up with people that they know that have two incomes, most of us are not able to do that. Move if you can't afford you living arrangements, avoid big ticket purchases that you may not be able to pay for later, and avoid running up any debt that you may never pay off. This will help you a lot in the future, and you may be able to do a lot more once you get all of your finances in order.

This is just the basics of making a single mommy budget. Take these steps, and run with them. I was always worried about my future, but the kids future is so much more important than I had ever thought. Kids are expensive too, but worth every penny.



Helpful Articles:

How to Live Within Your Means


How to Save Money on Household Purchases


50 Real Ways to Save Money in Your Home

Save Money When You are Expecting
        

Preparing for a New Baby

I have helped my sister raise her three kids, but it is so much different trying to prepare for my own to come into this world. It is even more difficult knowing that the father doesn't want anything to do with his son. Trying to prepare for financial issues, emotional issues, and whatever issues may come up is difficult. I am so glad that I have a positive attitude, or I would probably be worse off.

Preparing for the newborn to come home:

I have read so many different articles about what you may need for the baby, but I believe that your list will vary somewhat from other moms. It will depend on where you live, and your living environment. I did find two sites that have printable lists to help a new mommy keep up with what they are getting for there baby. I like lists, so I use them as much as possible.

New Baby Checklist

Free Newborn Baby Checklists

Preparing financially:

All of us have worries about being financially prepared for our baby. We will probably never be completely prepared, but there is steps that we all can take to get ready.

Just a few to start:
-Start Saving as soon as you find out you are expecting
-Find every way possible to cut costs around your home
-Be sure to have a baby shower for gifts
-Accept second hand items from friends and family
-Keep receipts for everything so it can be returned if you can't use it
-Sign up for all of the free samples that you can find

Financially Preparing for Maternity Leave When Single