Parenting is hard enough when you have two parents. When you have only one, not only do you have twice as much to do, you have half the energy and money. Running a single-parent household can be challenging. One of the biggest challenges that single mothers face is how to budget for their families. To ease some of the financial strain, here are four things that single mothers can save on this fall. School clothes, home improvements, vehicle maintenance, and utility costs are all things that single mothers can potentially pay less for.
School Clothes
Back-to-school time usually means new clothes for the kids. Children often outgrow their clothes from the previous year, and single mothers are often left with the burden of shopping for new clothes while trying not to put a huge strain on the family’s budget. Thrift stores that sell secondhand clothing often feature used shirts, pants and other garments that still look new and cost considerably less than in other stores. Tuesdays and Fridays are often the best days to find low prices on back-to-school clothes.
Home Improvements
Investing in the right home improvements during the fall can end up saving single moms a lot of money in the long run. By having the proper maintenance and repair work performed, fewer problems are likely to occur that could affect different parts of a house. Have the gutters cleaned to remove leaves and other debris that has fallen into them. This can keep them from overflowing with water that could damage a home’s foundation and result in costly repairs. If new vinyl siding is needed for the home, choose a contractor who can offer a special deal. This will be a great way to save money.
Vehicle Maintenance
Special maintenance services should be performed so that your vehicle can run efficiently throughout the fall and winter seasons. There are ways for single mothers to find low-cost deals on many of these services. New windshield wiper blades are often inexpensive and can help keep the family vehicle’s windshield clear on rainy or snowy days. Adding inexpensive antifreeze and finding good deals on oil changes can also help keep the car running in the cold without having to shell out a lot of extra money.
Utility Costs
Utility costs are known to increase in many homes during the winter because of the heat that’s required to warm the interior. To improve a home’s insulation and reduce the need to have the heater on, plastic covers can be installed around doors and windows. Weather stripping can be purchased cheaply and placed at the bottoms of doors to save additional money on heating. It’s also a good idea to apply caulking material to cracks around doors and windows to keep more heat from being wasted.
Raising a family as a single mother can be expensive enough, so it’s especially important to find as many ways to save money as possible. These money-saving tips can help single moms hold onto more of their hard-earned money to put toward other important household expenses.
