Tip 1: Activities and Recreation Savings

When you are considering your budget, it is important to consider not only basic items such as food, shelter and medical expenses, but also consider the needs of each child individually. There are many school and community programs available for single parents, providing extra-curricular activities to those families at little to no out of pocket expenses. Some childcare services for instance are actually a doubled martial arts school, allowing your child to participate in a sport activity without the additional cost.

Tip 2:  Grocery and Food Savings

Many retailers offer double or triple stack coupon days, equally substantial savings for a single mom. There are many websites offering free coupons for both print and in-store savings. These savings may not amount to much at first, but as you continue to collect the various coupons, you can start putting multiple coupons towards the same items, creating some very low cost or free items off your grocery tab. Always browse the current week’s flyers to see which items will be going on sale, before going shopping.

Tip 3:  Meal plans and Menu Savings

Before going shopping it is essential to not only check the flyers to see which items are on sale, but also write down a hard copy of the groceries you plan to buy. Involve the children in the list making process, having them look at the flyers for great snack foods or even (if they are old enough) to help plan a meal or two with you. Involving them in the meal plans allow them spend quality time with you, and also helps teach them the value of a dollar, plus the added bonus of learning about nutrition and value.

Tip 4: In Home Savings

Of the 5 tips for Raising Kids on a Shoestring Budget, the easiest place to cut back, is in your own home. Start by looking at the number of electronics wasting power (for those families that pay for utilities.) Although the items on their own may not cost a lot, adding three or four appliances (think hair dryers, computers, cell phone chargers, kitchen appliances) can save a substantial amount of money every year off of your utility bill. Also, look into your area’s prime rates for electricity to stretch your dollar further as well. Instead of running your dryer during peak hours, hold off until the rate drops.

Tip 5: Transportation

For a single parent, transportation may eventually wear you down. The cost of running a car is more expensive now than ever before, with gas at an all-time premium. The problem unfortunately, is that more children are relying on their parents to haul them to and from events – instead of taking public transportation, or more environmentally friendly alternatives such as roller-blades, bike or two feet and a heartbeat.

Following these 5 tips for Raising Kids on a Shoestring Budget may not seem like a large amount of savings, but applying them all together will not only help you stretch your dollar further, but also encourage your children to be more physically active as they enter adulthood.

The problem seems to be finding the funding that will enable moms to continue the onward progress of their dreams. The ability to pay for an education will, for most people, determine whether they can get education in the first place! Now as a single mom, it’s TOUGH to make ends meet. Something like college can seem quite impossible. But if you are willing to work hard, there are some ways to make ends meet that will allow single moms (and single dads) to attend college or some sort of training program to better their career prospects.

The best hope is to get scholarships funding. Now there are numerous scholarships and grants available to aid in such moms and dads who want to head back to school. The trick seems to be knowing where and when to look for them. This article is dedicated to the plight of women who are trying to make a decision to continue their education. Many colleges offer scholarships and grants that have been specifically designed to help with post secondary education. The powers that be has seen the needs of single moms and responded in kind.

Single mothers are shouldering the full responsibility of their households are not looking for a hand out they want, need a helping hand. Scholarships and grants offer these mothers the advantage of being able to get the funds for college without the burden of having to repay a loan at exorbitant interest rates. The grants are for any woman of low income their backgrounds and ages are not a factor for most of them.

Scholarships are harder to get because of the numerous applicants for each single one. Like grants once it is awarded there is no need to worry about repayment. It is important that you get organized and have all the necessary information gathered before starting your application process. Most scholarships and grants have application deadlines, so when you are considering one you must adhere to these deadlines in order to be considered.

So lets look at the scholarship options out there.

Online Scholarship Giveaways

There are a number of online “sweepstake scholarships” as you might call them. You fill out a quick application and get entered into a 10k Scholarships for Moms. If you manage to win the scholarship, the money can be used towards any education expense. There are a number of these programs out there that are worth applying for, since it’s free to do so. For another such program, look at 10k Scholarships for Working Adults for another scholarship sweepstake you can apply for.

Listings of Some Available Scholarships

Now that you know what to look for in a scam here are a few programs that are above board. They will each contain a link to provide you with detailed information.

• If you live in the State of Arkansas you could apply at http://www.aspsf.org/, for the Single Parent Scholarship Fund awards a scholarship to residents of over 70 counties in the state of Arkansas. Once you go to the website you can look up your county on the locator map.

• In 1978, the Jeannette Rankin Foundation has been awarding scholarship to eligible women. You may apply from November thru February. Only 500 women will be granted awards so the earlier you apply the better. http://www.rankinfoundation.org/, click on this link for more information.

• Congresswoman Patsy Mink made a huge step to see the realization of one of the causes she was most passionate about. She started the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation to aid low income, especially single mothers to further their education. Click for more information.

• It is a horrible commentary on society but the fact is that a lot of single mothers are also a domestic abuse survivor. The R.O.S.E scholarship is for women who have already completed one full year of undergraduate classes in the New England area. For more information go here.

Government Sponsored Grants

The government also has several grants that you can apply for. The Pell grant is open to all residents but you have to apply for it by starting with the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which can be applied for here. This one application will open other doors of possible funding.

Government Financial Aid Requirements (FAFSA requirements)

• Be a U.S Citizen or an eligible non citizen
• A social Security Card
• Registered with the selective service program
• Have a high school diploma, GED or pass an entrance examination
• Be enrolled in a school that participates in the program
• Not have any drug convictions while you were receiving federal grant monies
• Not be in default on a student loan
• You must be able to show that you have financial need

Most of the single mothers in America can show financial need easily. If you are living at or below the poverty level your need is apparent. Even if for some reason you are denied Federal Aid you may still be accepted for some of the State and Local grant programs.

As a single parent you should also be aware that there are some local churches and civic organizations that also offer grants at various times during the year. These are a little harder to find and will require that you be diligent in your search. Start calling local groups or Googling them to see if they have a information about grants on their websites.

Another overlooked source of funding is the colleges themselves. Some have scholarships and grants for various groups and degree programs. Women going into typically male dominated fields qualify for a wide range of scholarships. With the high need for teachers in the United States there are several Grants that are aimed at getting more people to enter that field. They come with a few strings attached but hey what doesn’t. The TEACH grant for example requires that you contract to teach in an elementary or high school in a low income high need area for a number of years post graduation. If you do not then the grant is treated as a loan and interest will be attached. You will have to pay it all back. The following link takes you directly to the website for more information. It is worth at least reading the offer.

Child Care Assistance

Going back to school or continuing your education brings with it all new set of concerns including that of childcare. Even if your kids are older and spending a full day in school there is the after school care that is needed sometimes while you are in transit. Childcare cost have skyrocketed in the past few years and single mothers are having it harder than most. There is also funding available for that if you know where to look. One source of funding can be through the Department of Children and Families. If you follow this link, it will take you directly to the landing page for their childcare program. You will find all the information you need to know to apply in your state.

How to Avoid Scholarship Scams

There are a number of phony scholarship programs out there that rip people off. Don’t fall victim to these programs. Here are a few things to look for to avoid getting scammed:

1. Scholarships are not won or are a part of some type of drawing. You apply for all of the legitimate scholarships. So if you get something by email, snail mail or a phone call saying you won a scholarship, do not believe it.

2. If you get a correspondence of any kind and its from a company or other concern offering to apply for scholarships on your behalf do not give out your personal information. These are usually identity theft scams.

3. Any offer of a scholarship that claims everyone is eligible cannot be legit as most scholarships set applicant criteria.

4. If the program is asking for any type of up front fee you can bet it’s a scam. Oh, they may have given out a thousand or two to some people, but this was only to make them look legitimate. They make more on the ones who get bamboozled into sending them the fee than they ever give away.

5. Never pay a consulting or matching service. Any information they would give you can be found by you, if you only take the time to do a few Internet searches.

These are just a few of the most popular scams to look out for. The main thing is to be vigilant and to research any organization before giving them your personal information.

The Final Word on Scholarships for Single Moms

It does not matter if you are returning to finish a long put off career choice, enhancing a degree you already possess or are looking for vocational training on a short term basis, there are grants and scholarships available to help with all of these. Knowing that you are not alone in this struggle can give you comfort and courage you need to proceed in the face of adversity. There are several websites that provide a place for mothers to chat with others, not unlike themselves to share their knowledge, strength and hope. Websites like singlemoms.org are valuable Internet resource that was started in an effort to consolidate the information out there into a easy format and provide assistance to single mothers who are in need of help in all areas. Not only do they provide valuable links to other sites they have pages that cover everything from parenting to finance and housing. It is worth it to bookmark this site for your personal use in the future. They have also started their own scholarship program. It is advisable for you to take the time and give the site the once over, as a single mom you are sure to find topics that interest you. They offer an extensive list of links to various grant and scholarship applications as well.

Another font of valuable site to bookmark for future reference is the government student website. This link will take you directly to a page listing various scholarships and grants with information about where and how to apply. It is important that you check for reputable sites such as the ones listed here. A sad but true fact is that there are scholarship scams on the web. In order to help you recognize these scams here are a few tips describing what you should be on the look out for.

Ok, first off, the primary financial assistance programs available comes down to the following: grants, scholarships, loans, and government (welfare) programs. But this list is by no means comprehensive. This article will try and cover all the major financial help for single mother options, though by no means is the information all inclusive.

Grants for Single Mothers

This topic has quite a bit of misinformation written about it. Grants are considered need-based awards. This means they are given out to people or organizations with financial need. Now first off: most government grants are given out to organizations and not to individuals. Government grants for individuals, at least from the federal government, are unusual, the exception being school grants and business grants.

If you are looking for business grants (which you may, if you are trying to start a business as a single mother), you may want to visit the government business website. You can also view a list of some of the government grants here.

Government grants, as stated, are usually for businesses, organizations, or students. You may be able to find state grants that are given out as financial assistance.

A Quick Look at some website giveaway programs of interest

You can however find a wide range of private scholarships for individuals. These are given out by schools, non-profit organizations, and even businesses. You may find specific scholarships just for single moms in the private sector. One recommended program is the 10k Scholarship for Working Adults. This is a free-to-sign up sweepstake giveaway offered by a website that gives out $10,000 each month to single moms, dads, or any working adult for school expenses. Considering that it only takes a couple minutes to fill out, it’s worth the time. There is even a similar program for dads, called the 10k Scholarship for Dads. And if you want one more such program, the 10k Scholarship Zone program is another.  These are only three such scholarship programs you can find in the private sector.

There are some other “private” programs that you can sign up for to get some help. I recommend signing up for the free PlanningFamily.com membership. Doing so will get you free baby stuff, printable grocery coupons, a parenting newsletter, helpful parenting articles and a chance of winning free diapers for a year. Worth signing up for that free stuff as there is no cost and every bit “helps” when you are struggling.

Another means of getting a chance at some “free stuff” is to fill out a quick survey for a website and get entered into a draw for some prize (you usually get some discount coupons too). If you have a bit of time, here are some “mom-related” giveaways you can take advantage of:

• Fill out a simple survey and get entered into a $50k scholarship draw for school
• Do You Have a CuteKid? Submit photo for a chance to win 25k if you’re kid is the cutest!
• Complete a brief survey out for a chance to win a $3500 shopping spree
• Fill out a survey and get a chance to win a $1500 gas card
• Win a $3500 dollar nursery makeover for you baby by filling out a survey
• Get a Free $250 Gift Card to your Favorite Baby Store
• Get ready for school with $1,500 shopping spree — short survey

How to Apply for Government Grants

This is a topic that merits a post itself. Well here is the basic process:

1. Find a grant you qualify for and is still currently available
2. Fill out the grant application, providing all request information and any supplemental information required (you sometimes may be required to write a proposal or essay about what you will do with the funding, etc). You should buy a book on grant writing to help guide you through this process.
3. Send out the grant proposal and wait.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 with other grants you may qualify for

And that’s how you apply for a government grant. Now the main questions people ask here is WHERE to apply for a grant. Good questions indeed.

Here are a few sites to start with:

• Grants.Gov (THE place to go for government grants for organizations and business. Not for individuals though)
• http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ (The source for government student grants)
• http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/grants.jsp (Another source for student aid grants)
• Free Grant Approval Guide (sign up for a free (yes) guide that will help you find grants)

How to Apply for Private Grants

Private grants are harder to find, but potentially more lucrative in that they are given out to individuals. Your best bet is to do a web search for some of the private grant programs. I’ve already mentioned a few private grant programs like the 10k Scholarship for Moms.  You also might try looking at a scholarship searching website like scholarships.com or grab a list of scholarship programs for a college financial aid office.

NOTE: BEWARE OF GRANT SCAMS. There are a hideous amount of grant scams out there that take advantage of the desperate. I want to make this clear: there are no such thing as OBAMA GRANTS. There are government grant programs that are legit, but as stated, most federal grant programs target businesses and non-profit organizations, not individuals. So be very wary of any website or organization offering you some type of government grant. Very very few federal grants of this nature actually exist. Any website asking you for MONEY  to apply for a grant or claiming to offer guaranteed grants is flat out lying! You’ll simply lose the money you pay out for this “grant.”

One of the biggest scams is to get you to sign up for a grant program (which really offers you nothing you can’t get for free or do yourself), then get rebilled 50-100 bucks a month. While these are not really “scams” in that you don’t get ripped off, you are paying for something you don’t need to pay for and if you don’t cancel, you end up paying each month.

Scholarships for Single Mothers

These are like grants in the way that they are free money that does not need to be repaid. They differ than grants, however, in the way that scholarships are given out. A scholarship in the truest definition of the word is a merit-based award. Grants are need-based. Now there may be scholarships that are a combination of need and merit based, but a traditional scholarship is given out for something like academic excellence. Scholarships are usually offered either by schools themselves (many colleges have entrance scholarships and high GPA scholarships for students) or by scholarship Foundations. Some corporations may give out scholarships to employees who want to go back to school too.

You might look at applying for a web sweepstake giveaway like the ScholarshipZone’s 10k Scholarship. Note this sort of scholarship is NOT a “scholarship” but a sweepstake though.

How to Apply for a Scholarship?

It can be tricky getting a scholarship. Basically, you need to fill out as many scholarship applications as possible. This can be time consuming, but potentially lucrative. You also need to (usually) have good grades. While you may be able to qualify for some scholarships without good grades, the vast majority of the traditional scholarships reward academic excellence. You should start by educating yourself how to properly fill out a scholarship application. There are web tutorials on the subject and there are countless books written on how to write a scholarship application. Indeed, do yourself a favor and buy “how to get a scholarship” book on amazon or check one out from the library. There is quite an art to applying for a scholarship; knowing what to do can do a great deal towards helping you qualify for one.

The one sure piece of advice I can offer to you moms looking to get a scholarship is that you need to apply for as many of them as you can. Don’t apply for a couple and thing you are going to be assured any money. You need to get your hands on as many applications and start shooting them off. You should be able to grab a list of current scholarships from any college financial aid office (call them or visit the school’s website). And don’t forget to try your hand at the web-based scholarship giveaways either.

Government Financial Help Programs for Single Mothers

No doubt as a single mom, you are looking for some concrete financial aid programs that you can apply for. There are a lot of websites out there that just give fluff information that doesn’t help you get the help you need. Now, are there some legit government aid programs? The answer is yes, the government makes available some aid programs for the needy. The thing is, many of these programs are scattered around and it’s up to you to find one that you qualify for. There is no one stop financial help for single mothers application you can just fill out and get home assistance, food assistance, and monetary assistance (in the US…Canada has the welfare program which covers the basic financial and housing needs of every person…),

Food Stamp Program

This is the cornerstone of America’s unofficial welfare program. Each year, millions are given out in food stamps to financially needy families. Chances are, if you are a single mom in need, you will qualify for food stamps from the government.

Note these are only some of the government financial help programs out there. You can find out how to apply for these programs at your local Department of Human Services office. Note that each state has their own DHS website.

Families First/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

A very popular program that gives out small cash funds to families who are in need of money. The program specifically targets families that are struggling to make ends meet. Families that qualify usually have children. Keep in mind that this is not just “free money.” A parent must either work or train for a job for at least 30 hours each week and kids must be put into school and receive all the usual vaccinations kids at that age receive. So you might think of this program as a sort of supplement income for struggling families.

CHIP Program

Stands for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. This is a government insurance initiative to provide insurance for every child in every US state. The program is really designed for parents who simply lack the financial resources to pay for medical insurance for their children. The CHIP provides dental, vision, and medical coverage for kids. You pay a very small fee or no fee at all, depending on the situation.

Free or Reduced Meals Program

A large percentage of children only ever eat a properly nutritious meal at a school lunch. The government recognizes this and has developed a meal program to ensure kids get the proper food they need – even if they don’t get it at home. If a family makes less than a certain figure each year, they may qualify for this program. Children of qualified families will get either free or greatly price-reduced meals at lunchtimes.

WIC Program

The Women, Infants, and Children program is one of the more popular and successful government funded programs out there. This program targets financially needy moms. The way the program works is each month, coupons are given out for free items. These coupons can be traded in for basic necessities that children and pregnant/nursing mothers might need. The government backs this program with more funding than most other programs, so it’s easier to qualify for the WIC than other programs.

You may also find more financial help programs at the official government help website. Most of these programs will require you too look at your state assistance website to apply. I’ll try and post a list of state assistance contact info later, but for now, you’ll just have to google for your state’s state assistance info.

Private Financial Help Programs

If you’ve exhausted your government supply of financial help, it’s a good idea to look at what the private sector can offer you. I want to make this clear: you are far more likely to get “aid” in the form of goods and not money. It’s rather unlikely that you are going to find a private organization that’s just going to hand you a wad of cash. It may be possible through some sort of private grant for single mothers, but don’t bank on this. It’s far more likely that you will get  food items, clothing, counseling , job-training, and maybe even a temporary place to stay while you get your life on track. But direct cash? Unlikely.

Here are some potential “private” aid sources you can seek out.

Web-Based Giveaways

I talk a lot about these because it’s a legit way to get some “free stuff.” Now to be clear here, many of the websites that offer something for free are doing so because they eventually want you to buy something. That’s fine, but you can certainly sign up and get the free stuff and not buy anything.

I’ve mentioned the ScholarshipZone 10k Scholarship already, in which you enter into a draw for $10,000 to be used for school.

You can also get free stuff like baby samples of stuff, grocery coupons, etc. by signing up for a FamilyPlanning.com membership (don’t panic, it’s completely free). There are a number of other such website giveaway programs you can find online. It’s worth your time if you can get something free out of it.

Some more web-giveaways that may appeal to moms:

• There is another web giveaway contest where you fill out a survey and then get entered into a $50k scholarship draw for school
• Another survey giveaway where you  get a chance to win a $1500 gas card
• Win a $3500 dollar nursery makeover for you baby by filling out a survey
• Get a Free $250 Gift Card to your Favorite Baby Store
• Get ready for school with $1,500 shopping spree — short survey
• Do You Have a CuteKid? Submit photo for a chance to win 25k if you’re kid is the cutest!
• And here’s one where you fill out survey and get a ton of grocery coupons for online savings

Financial Help for School Programs

If you want to go back to school, it is possible. It’s going to be hard as a single mom to go to college, but if you are willing to put in the work, you can do it. Realistically, as much as we’d love to just say there’s a sure-fire way of getting financial help to pay for ALL of your school, there really isn’t. You are going to probably have to get student loans, government financial aid, work a part time (or full time job), and apply for every scholarship under the sun.

A good place to start is the government financial aid website. Here are a couple useful links to help:

• Government Student Loans
• Government Financial Aid
• FAFSA Website

One possible alternative is to look at getting a degree online. I’m not talking about those bogus degrees where you pay money and get a “degree”, but a real, accredited online university. You can do your coursework from the comfort of your home (at more flexible hours) and it’s MUCH cheaper than attending a regular college. If you are a single mom, you should look into this. We recommend looking at Classes and Careers to help you find an online school. They also offer possible financial aid assistance for students too.

Food Banks for Single Mothers

If you need food and don’t have the cash, you don’t have to starve. One certain way to get some food as a single mother is to visit your local food bank. What is a food bank? It’s basically a center where people donate food. That food is given for free to people in financial need — people like yourself. These are a great resource for moms who need to feed a hungry family. Where to find a foodbank? I’ll compile a list in the future, but for now, you can go here to search for a local foodbank.

Charities for Single Mothers

There are a number of private charity programs. These programs aim at lending a helping hand to the needy — be it in the form of food, clothing, or advice. Many are religious-based.

• Catholic Charities USA
• Salvation Army USA
• The Nurturing Network (Pregnancy Assistance)
• Angle Food Ministries (buy foods for discounted price if you are in financial need)

This list is not exhaustive but rather gives a good overview of some of the more popular charity programs.

Your Local Church/Religious Organization

Many church organizations do offer assistance in the form of women’s shelters, charity aid, free foodstuff and so on. You should do a search in your area for churches and contact them (phone or website) to see if these services are offered. Don’t be too proud to seek out help! These places are a good way to get a helping hand when you need it.

Our Resource List

We have compiled a seriously HUGE resource list for mothers (and single parents) including things like healthcare, food, daycare, and charity that you will no doubt find useful.

Loans for Single Mothers

I generally advise single moms to stay away from loans unless they have a very specific reason why they are taking out a loan: starting a new business or going to school or some sort of temporary emergency. Outside of these reasons, you can land yourself in a world of trouble if you get a loan and don’t repay it. So beware.

Loans and Your Credit History: What’s the Relationship
Loans are also linked with your credit history. Basically the relationship between loans and credit history is this: if you have good credit, you can get hassle free loans with very good interest rates; if you have bad credit, you will (usually) have trouble getting a loan and/or your will get stuck with a very high interest rate. If you have any plans on getting a loan other then a payday or student loan, try,try,try to maintain a good credit score. Generally, good credit is considered a score of 640 and higher. A credit score of 620 is generally the dividing line between good and bad credit. If you don’t know your credit score, you MUST find out to see where you stand. You can check your credit score for free online or you can write a request to all 3 of the major credit score agencies and ask for a report to be sent to you (this can take a while, but it’s free at least). You can request one free one each year from all three major credit agencies (equifax, etc).

There are generally a few basic categories of loans out there.

Payday Loans

These are a big one and popular. These are also called cash advance loans or paycheck loans. In principle they are to “tide” you over between paychecks. You usually write a post dated check to the payday loan company and the company cashes the check at that period. Sometimes you simply take out the loan and make the payment directly. Payday loans do have their place – you can take out a cash advance to pay for some emergency medical/dental procedure or fix up your car so you can go to work. One online payday loan lender that has a good reputation is 60 Minute Payday which is a no credit check online payday loan lender.

Now, it’s imperative that you repay your payday loan as soon as possible. Payday loans have the highest interest rates out of any loans and if you miss payments, it only takes a few months for your interest to overtake the actual principal amount of your loan! If this happens, payday loan consolidation is about the only way you can get out of financial difficult here.

An alternative to a payday loan is to take out a credit card cash advance, which functions like payday loan. However you still pay high interest (usually 19-23 percent or whatever rate your credit card gives out).

The best solution is to usually take out a personal line of credit which has the lowest interest rate. But you ability to do this will often depend on your credit history and relationship with a bank.

Auto Loans

These are loans you can get that will help you buy a car. You get these from an auto loan dealership, bank, or online auto loan company. Credit history here is pretty important since it will determine your interest rate on the loan. If you have bad credit, you may find you cannot take out a traditional loan from a bank or car dealership. If this is the case, you can use an online bad credit auto loan lender.

Home Loans

Also called mortgage loans. It used to be easier to take out these kind of loans, but the 2008-2010 recession has made it extremely difficult to get a mortgage. These days, you need to have really good credit and a solid employment history to get a mortgage loan. There are options if you have bad credit, but very few. If you have good credit and a stable job, then your best bet is to talk to a bank you’ve had a relationship with about your loan options. It’s hard to get credit in this economy with the Great Recession still in full force, but loans are still possible if you meet the now strict requirements.

If you have bad credit and you want a mortgage loan, your best bet will probably the FHA Home Loan. You can check with LendingTree.com to see if you qualify.

If you are a single mother seriously looking at a mortgage, we suggest you read our full blown mortgage guide for single mothers.

Student Loans

The only loans I suggest single moms get are student loans. This is because you don’t have to have any sort of credit history to get a federal student loan (in both Canada and the US). A student loan is also an investment in your education – you get a degree which will help you qualify for a better job and better support your children. Federal student loans have the lowest interest rates out of any loan and have a flexible repayment schedule.

If you are an American, you can apply for federal student loans by filling out the FAFSA application. If you are a Canadian, you can visit the Canada Student Loan Program to apply. There are also a host of private student loans you can apply for such as Signature student loans and Chase student loans (both in the US). Keep in mind, if you want one of these loans, you generally either need to have good credit history or have a cosigner with good credit cosign for you. US Federal Student Loans (and the Canadian version of them) don’t require good credit.

If you have bad credit, then you can look at a private student loan lender who may lend to you despite your credit problems. You can use a service like PrivateStudentLoans.com to help you find such a student loan.

Work at Home Jobs

Another source of financial help for single moms is…the single mom herself. If you can supplement your income with a part time job of sorts, it can make a world of difference. Now, if you are working full time, you might not have time to get another part time job, but there are some work at home opportunities to bring in some extra coin. Here are some ideas:

• Web Content Writer — you write articles for websites. You can hire yourself out on places like RealWritingJobs.com. It’s easy to build up a part time income if you write articles for web sites. If you are a good writer, you can build up a good list of regular clients. It’s freelance work, but you can pay the bills. Keep in mind when you start out, you are going to have to hustle for some work.
• Work At Home Programs (Paid surveys, Online businesses etc)– there are plenty of work at home programs out there that you can try out. Most are complete crap and scams, but a few are legit. I personally recommend looking at the Paid Surveys program. This is basically a program where you are hired online to fill out surveys. Each survey you fil out nets you a certain amount of money — the more you fill out, the more money you make. It’s not a passive income, but if you spend the time, it’s money. Be leery of anything else — I haven’t seen too much out there that’s legit and doesn’t just take your money and offer nothing in return.
• Website Development — this takes some training, but it’s possible to learn how to develop websites and work part time on the side. If you can’t go back to school or do night classes at your local community college, then consider an online university which offers more schedule flexibly than an ordinary school. Websites like FindMyDegree.com are great for matching you with an online school that you can training for a new career (such as website development).
• Internet Marketing — this involves creating websites and marketing products of some sort on them. This is a growing field today with lots of information available online about the topic. It’s takes a lot of time and effort to generate an online income from websites, but it’s possible if you know what you are doing. Again, internet marketing requires some real work ethic and creativity on your part in many cases, but the payoff can be a new, lucrative career. There are a ton of such programs around, but frankly, most of them are crap and scams and you’ll never make a dime. One LEGIT program, if you are keen, is The Keyword Academy. You’ll pay 30 bucks a month to be a member, but it’s the only real online training program out there that actually teachings people how to make a legit living online.

So there we go, probably the web’s finest and most comprehensive article on getting financial assistance for single mothers! I hope you moms found it useful! If you have any more suggestions as to work at home programs of financial aid programs, let me know! Be sure to check out some of the other helpful pages, such as the single mother resources page.

When it comes to buying cars many would have to agree that men might have the edge. It has nothing to do with intelligence or ability. It’s only for the fact that men tend to have more experience and practice in this area. That isn’t to say that women can’t learn to be just as shrewd as men in this area. For the single mother, being able to negotiate the car buying process is quite essential. Every penny saved is money that can go back into other essentials for her family. In this article we will attempt to help with this fact as we offer some tips on buying cars for single mothers.

Try to make a list of what you need before even stepping into a dealer’s showroom. Have a good idea of the type of car, features and above all price. Dealer will try to get you to purchase what they want, not what you need. Remember these people work on a commission so the more they sell the more they make.

Another tip on buying cars for single mothers is to do some research. Compare prices of various models and investigate features. www.cars.com is a fantastic resource to do some comparison shopping. Find out what people are actually paying for the cars you are interested in, don’t just go with the sticker price.

Even if you know the sales person well keep in mind that business is business. It doesn’t matter if they are your best friend, brother or sister; they are there to make money. That isn’t to say that all sales men are dishonest crooks but they are likely going to put their financial interests before yours. Do your research and negotiate hard.

Try to get your financing pre-approved through your own bank or credit union. This will serve two purposes. First, you are far more likely to get a better rate of interest through your own institution that through what the dealer offers. Second, you’ll have a piece of paper with a number on it with you when you walk through the door. This will reduce the chances of them trying to push more car then you can afford on you.

Consider all your maintenance costs. You may want to think long term on this as well. Remember what fuel prices were 5 years ago compared to what they are now? You also need to consider costs for repairs and insurance. These extras need to be budgeted in before you sign on the dotted line for that car.

Now if you are trying to get funding, there are a couple ways to go about this. Most people will need to take out a car loan of some sort. You can get one through the bank or through the dealership. Credit history is a big deal here — if you have bad credit, it will be difficult to secure a vehicle, though it’s possible if you put a large downpayment. If you can’t secure a car loan through one of these traditional mediums, you can look at some of the bad credit auto loans available online — these are specifically tailored for people who don’t have good credit.

Buying a car is a bit of an art form and over the years men tend to have gotten more practice with this than women. However, there is no reason that women cannot become just as savvy as men in this area. By following the tips for buying cars for single mothers you’ll be well on your way to securing your first good deal.

In recent years the number of home grants for single mothers has fallen. The amount of money and grants made available has stayed the same or even increased, the problem is that grant money is slowly being taken from the individual and given over to companies. To make things more complicated, different grants will alter from state to state. Most grants as well require a long qualification process but there are still several places that one can look. In this article, we will look at where one can possibly find home grants for single mothers and some of the criterion that apply.

HUD or the department of housing and urban development is one place to start looking. HUD specializes in the reselling of foreclosure properties in an effort to make housing available at a low cost. HUD does also make available some grant money however this money is given out only to companies and organizations that provide housing assistance to individuals. Before participating in the HUD program all applicants must register at www.grants.gov.  There is also a specific set of criterion depending on the company HUD grants the funding to.

The catalogue of federal domestic assistance is another excellent resource for finding home grants for single mothers. It is literally an online catalogue of the various grants that the government make available. They don’t just apply to single mothers or to homes so sifting through can be a rather tedious chore. Along with the specific grants that are available, the site also lists the criterion under which one must qualify. This again can be a tedious process to sift through but all the information one needs is right there on the site.

Both the Freddie Mac and Fannie May programs are excellent places to look for home grants for single mothers. Similar to HUD, they only make funds available to organizations not to individuals. They do however publish their list of grant recipients which may prove useful in where to locate the specific funding you might need. The amount is numerous so be prepared to do some heavy research.

Finally the Nehemiah program, which is privately funded, is one of the largest grant giving organizations in the country. The Nehemiah program works with primarily first time homebuyers but repeat buyers are not totally excluded from their program. To work with the Nehemiah program one has to go through an approved lender. If the entire criterion is met the program can gift up to 6% of the purchase price of the house. Although not specifically tailored to single mothers, they can certainly benefit from what they offer.

Unfortunately, the government is cutting back on the grant money given to individuals and slowly giving it over to organizations. Although the actual amount of grant money may have increased in recent years, this process can make searching out the right grant a very lengthy and tedious process. However, with some perseverance and a little luck it is still possible to find some good home grants for single mothers.

Welfare for single mothers does not solve the problem in the long term. When looking at the challenges many of these women face it seems that they have so many cards stacked against them that a small supply of state apportioned aid will make little difference. In a recent study conducted by the University of Michigan, it was shown that single mothers that receive welfare face far more barriers in society and returning to work that single women nationally.

Lack of education was cited as a common factor among single mothers that receive welfare. Out of a study of 750 women nearly 1/3 of them had not finished high school. This is quite staggering as the national average for women across the country is 18%. Little education makes entering the job force all the more difficult. Women without even a high school education will be far likely to only receive minimum wage or entry level positions, most of these paying less that what they would receive on welfare.

Carrying on from lack of education, many single mothers have few job skills, little or no work experience and many have limited knowledge of workplace norms or practices. Those that are lucky enough to find employment will likely find keeping their job a greater challenge due to these reasons.

Mental health issues also played a major role for single mothers receiving welfare. According to the study, nearly 25% had claimed to have suffered from a major depression during the past year. The national average for women is 13%. 29% met criterion for post traumatic stress while the national average for women is around 10%.

Physical health also played a key role. 20% of the women in the study reported as having health problems at least twice per week. They were also deemed 3-5 times more likely to be considered in poor health when compared to women nationally.

The study did reveal some positive aspects. Based on the sample of 750 women it was found that they were no more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs then women nationwide. Most of the women in this study did know workplace norms and had managed to gain some work experience.

Most would argue that providing welfare for single mothers is a positive thing. However, to make a real difference in society far more needs to be done in removing the barriers in their way.

The financial pressures that you have in your life will be massive and if you do not have enough money to pay for your child’s education then this can make you feel very guilty and worry even more than you normally do. However, always remember that there are a lot of ways that you can get your child into the education system. You will have to be ready to fight on their behalf but it is not impossible to do and they will eventually be very grateful for you putting in the effort.

This article will look at a few scholarship options that will be immediately available to you. Always remember that scholarships are very popular and you will need to be ready for a very long application process if you are going to get anywhere. Education can open the door to every thing else so be prepared and be ready to fight for your child’s future.

The first step you should always take is to go straight to the institution and see what scholarships they have available. This is a sensible option to take because they will tell you straight away if and how you can apply for them. Be advised that in some cases your child may have to take an intelligence test and you will probably be asked by most schools to prove that you cannot pay the education fees yourself.

The second step you should consider is going straight to the government. There are people who are in jobs to help you and a phone call can enlighten you to a number of scholarships. There are too many to list in a single article but if you spend the time on the phone talking to people, then you can gradually start to make a list of scholarships that you are legally entitled to apply for.

The third step is the medium of the internet. The internet is by far and away the biggest information based resource that you will have at your disposal and websites such as singleparents.about.com can tell you about a number of scholarship programs that you can possibly look in to. However, it is always better to talk to an actual human being who can crush your worries, but never ignore this resource.

The earliest form of education that your child receives will be the most important. Therefore, scholarships for children for single mothers is a topic that you should always stay on top of. Do not let yourself get down over financial worry and pressure and be ready to fight for your child’s education. They will eventually pay you back for your effort.

The worst possible scenario is finding yourself in a position where you have no job and no help and are being forced to try and raise your child effectively blind. But you must never give in because there are people working long hours every single day to get you the assistance you need. All you need to do is ask.

There are different kinds of assistance available. For example, you might need help with any number of the following:

• Cash Assistance
• Spiritual Assistance
• Rent Assistance
• Emotional Assistance
• School Assistance

There are many private organizations working to provide you with many programs that will ease your stress and worry by providing invaluable support. These organizations will also help you with applications for grants, loans and scholarships if you are thinking of furthering your education. These packages will put money in your hands to help you get things done and improve your life. It is important to remember that the only way you will qualify for these programs is if you are within a certain low income bracket.

The Federal Government also offers a wide variety of assistance for single mothers including, but not limited to, the welfare program which will help you with basic needs, scholarships and grants, and even low cost housing. There are over 900 programs available and they all can be found on the government websites. There are private websites that will charge a fee to disclose information to you. You should avoid these as all this information is freely available and no private company will have more information about government programs than the official websites themselves.

There are also certain programs that offer funding for single mothers to start up small businesses, including training and help with planning. Therefore if you feel you are up to taking on a new challenge, especially since you can base your business at home, then this might be the ideal option for you. Remember, though, that the majority of these programs come as loans, but generally with better afferent costs. Still, the independence a small business will offer you and your child is invaluable and worth a little difficulty in the beginning.

However, regardless of the assistance available to single mothers, the point is that unless you put the work in, you will not get anywhere. You need to search every single day and call in favors off of anyone that can help you out. Keeping this up will mean that sooner or later, something will come of it, and since pride comes before a fall, you shouldn’t let it stand in your way to guaranteeing a good life for your family.

Remember that cash assistance for single mothers is possible. You can pursue some type of loan program, look into getting grants, seek out scholarship, hunt down some welfare programs, or even visit local single mother shelters that offer tangible aid for moms in need.

Use these programs effectively and you may soon find that you have little to worry about. The secret is persistence, and you will have put the effort in and long hours of searching and filling out applications, even if some programs reject you, then you must try others. Don’t be discouraged after one rejection; try again as there will be the perfect program out there to suit your needs.

Ok, let’s talk about SOME of the options you can pursue if you need some cash assistance.

Loans as Cash Assistance

The easiest way to get some cash is to take out a loan. This could a personal loan from the bank, utilizing your bank overdraft for some extra money, taking out a payday loan, or even dipping into your credit card. Loans should ALWAYS be the last resource you look at. Please moms, before you consider taking out any sort of loan, remember that you are going to have to repay said loan and repay it with MORE money (called interest). Because of this, SingleMotherAssistance.net does not recommend single moms looking for emergency money seek out any sort of loan.

Note that loans are connected to your credit score. If you have bad credit, you won’t be able to get a loan (except a payday loan) or if you do manage to qualify, somehow, you are going to pay skyhigh interest. So please moms, don’t go applying for loans if your credit score is bad. And certainly, don’t go getting loans if your credit score is bad and your income situation is unstable. You should also find out what your credit score is, if you intent to get a loan of some sort in the future. You can get check your credit score for free online or simply write to the major credit agencies (there are three of them), and request your report — by the Fair Credit Act, you are entitled to a free report each year.

If you absolutely need some quick cash and you can be sure you can repay what you borrow QUICKLY, you can look at a payday loan. These loans have some of the highest fees on the market though and if you don’t repay them quickly, you can land yourself in an even worse financial situation than you start with. Payday loans should only ever be used for absolute emergencies (medical, dental, etc). Don’t take out a payday loan to buy that new Sony Playstation for your kid’s Christmas present! A better (cheaper) option would be to see if you can get a personal line of credit from your bank. This requires good credit on your part, but the interest rates are lower.

Nevertheless, here is a quick breakdown of the type of loans out there and some links to some recommended lenders:

Payday Loans

These are small cash loans (under $2000) that are ridiculously easy to qualify for. There is no credit check, so nearly anyone (within reason) can qualify. This also makes them very dangerous loans, especially if you have no reliable income or are already in a financial hole. SingleMotherAssistance.net strongly advises that you don’t take out one of these loans unless it’s an absolute emergency AND you can repay the loan within a couple weeks. Payday loans have some of the highest interest rates out there and you can easily get into a situation of owing MORE interest than the principal amount after a couple missed payments.  If you need a payday loan, then one reputable online payday lender is 60 Minute Payday.

Personal Loans

These are loans of varying amounts. The typical way to get a personal loan is to approach your bank. Personal loans can be used to fix up your house, buy a car, or meet some financial need that you need a large sum of money for. You can get these loans from your bank. Typically, you’ll have to pass a credit check to qualify for an unsecured personal loan. One recommended online personal loan lender is Lending Club.

Student Loans

If you want to go back to college and you can’t foot the bill yourself (common these days), your best option is a federal student loan. The nice thing about these is they are student friendly — you typically don’t have to start repaying them until you finish your schooling. And often, you are given a grace period before having to make your first payment. Of course, this depends on the type of student loan you get. The main federal student loan is the Perkins student loan and the Stafford student loan. Go here for more info.

If you need more money (and it’s possible federal student loans won’t provide you with enough money to pay for school), you can pursue private student loans. Look at privatestudentloans.com to match yourself up with a private student loan lender.

Mortgage Loans

A loan given out by the bank to help fund your home purchase. You can see our whole mortgage assistance section for more info about these type of loans. In terms of mortgage loans for financial assistance, there are a type of loan. These are called reverse mortgages and are basically a loan where you take a loan out against the equity of your home. If you have a home and equity (and these days, after the housing crash, most of you likely Won’t), you can take out money on your home to fund other purchases. While you can do so, we don’t recommend it as if the equity drops, you are in serious trouble. If you want to get a mortgage, consider the FHA home loan — one of the easier to qualify for mortgage loans these days. You can check with LendingTree.com to see if you qualify for the FHA.

Business Loans

Loans that you can start a business with. For the average single mom looking for some cash assistance, these loans are not applicable to your situation. If you need cash assistance for a business start up though, you might look into these kind of loans. You can read more about them here.

Verdict: Avoid loans for cash assistance unless you can pay them back quickly

Grants for Moms as Cash Assistance

First off, let me  get this out of the way. If you’ve been reading about “grants for single moms”, “Obama grants for moms” or any sort of special financial assistance grant given to needy people, you’ve been reading non-sense information. I’m going to be straight with you: the US government is not going to hand you a wad of cash to bail you out of your financial problems, especially with the whole financial problems the entire US is experiencing. Sorry, there is not enough money for that right now. That’s not to say there are NOT programs backed by the federal government where you can’t get some money, but these programs are very specific.

In general, government grants (especially those found on places like grants.gov) are only given out to organizations that are involved with something like education, public welfare, or science. You as an individual won’t qualify, sorry.

The government does make available grant money for individuals in one specific circumstance: school. You can qualify for these grants (the biggest being the Pell Grant which can run up to a few thousand dollars every school semester), but you must be

1. Attending an accredited school (college or university)

2. Be an American Citizen

3. Have Financial Need

4. Fill out the FAFSA application (financial aid form that gives you access to federal student loans and federal financial aid programs).

Getting grants for education like the Pell grant will take time — you need to go through the application process.

Verdict: If you are a single mom that doesn’t go to school, then government grants are not a solution for emergency cash!

Private Grants for Assistance

There are SOME programs that you can find that will offer private grants. Again, most private grants (i.e. non government grants) are given for things like education or business. Most organizations are not going to toss you a few thousand dollars just because you are needy — it doesn’t work that way. So what are private grants? Well, you may find Corporations offer charity organizations that may hand out money. Or if you are an employee of some large corporation, you may find there are daycare grants or scholarship grants given out for employees to attend school.

Verdict: Unless you are seeking education assistance, private grants are not a likely source of cash for moms

Web Giveaway Sweepstakes

There are quite a few websites online that offer giveaways of some sort. These websites offer giveaways to either promote themselves in some way or are paid to by companies looking to advertise. Most of these giveaways function as sweepstakes. Some websites will even give you something free for signing up.

These are too numerous to really list them all, but I’ll list a few programs that relate to moms:

• Fill out the form to apply for the 10k Scholarships for Working Adults
• Sign up for a free Familyplanning.com membership and get grocery coupons and access to free baby samples
• Complete a brief survey out for a chance to win a $3500 shopping spree
• Fill out a survey and get a chance to win a $1500 gas card
• Win a $3500 dollar nursery makeover for you baby by filling out a survey
• Get a Free $250 Gift Card to your Favorite Baby Store
• Get ready for school with $1,500 shopping spree — short survey
• Do You Have a CuteKid? Submit photo for a chance to win 25k if you’re kid is the cutest!
• And here’s one where you fill out survey and get a ton of grocery coupons for online savings

Verdict: Worth filling out for the chance of winning some money or getting some free stuff for signing up

State Assistance

The federal government is usually not the best source for financial assistance. It’s true that there are a few federal programs like the HUD and housing choice voucher programs that do offer some assistance, but from what we’ve found, most of the assistance programs that single mothers can easily apply for are offered at the state level. We call these state assistance programs.

We’ve spent a good deal of time compiling a state by state list of the state assistance programs (if any) that might be of interest to single parents.

Verdict: State assistance programs are a single mom’s best bet for getting REAL financial help from the government

Charity/Non-Profit/Religious Organization Assistance

Another great resource for assistance comes from non-profit organizations. The assistance offered is usually not financial, but often material. You may be able to get free food, clothing, emotional counsel, job training/help and even a place to stay as a single parent in need. We suggest you look at our resources for single mothers section for a huge list of links and phone numbers to organizations that CAN offer you some direct assistance of some sort.

Verdict: Non-Profit Organizations are one of the best ways for single mothers to get some direct assistance in the form of shelter, food, clothing, emotional support, and career advice.

Need More Information About Financial Assistance? We’ve written extensively about financial assistance for single parents elsewhere:

• If you are looking for a list of money resources, we suggest you read our money for single mothers post.
• For a list of general resources (including money resources), you should also check out our Single Mother Resources section with a list of direct links to financial assistance programs
• Be sure and check out our Financial Help Section and our Financial Assistance Post
• Look at our State Assistance for Moms section
• If you are Canadian, then read our Canadian Assistance section.

This video below gives one example of many of the legit single mom organizations out there that can lend that helping hand. Not all organizations will give out loans, grants, or scholarships to moms — but there are many other resources that they can share like education, counseling, and strategic guidance.

If you are a single mother, you need to decide what sort of help you are looking for. Do you need some quick finanical help to pay off some emergency bills? Are you aiming to go to college or start a business but find yourself unable to because you simply don’t have the money to do so? Or maybe you simply are unable to pay your bills and are living from month to month without knowing how you are going to keep a roof over your head and food on the table for your children.

There are some things you can do to get some single mother aid. Keep in mind that there is NO sure-fire solution out there for you, but you can get some help that might make life easier or make it possible for you to accomplish something to help get you out of your finanical problems.
If you need to get some quick money, consider getting some sort of loan for single moms. Single mother loans are basically payday loans that you can give you some quick money. These are useful to pay some quick bills — maybe fix a car that just broke or cover some emergency bills. However, remember that loans much be repaid. Never take out a loan if you won’t be able to repay it and certainly don’t take out a payday loan if you can’t repay it within a month!

If you want to accomplish something that could change your life — say going to college or starting  business, consider looking at getting some sort of single mother grant. You can get grants for college, grants for business, etc. Grants are offered by the government or by non-profit organizations. You can spend some time looking online for single mother grants — check out any offer you see. It may take a while before you find grants you qualify for, but there certainly may be some out there for you.

You can look at getting some federal welfare aid as well. Welfare can help you make ends meet, if you don’t have enough money to pay some of the bills. Keep in mind there are specific sets of criteria that you will have to meet if you want welfare assistance. Welfare is only temporary help as well, so don’t bank on it as being a long term solution to your finanical woes.

There may also be some charity programs you can look at. Charities may offer single mothers in need things like toys, food, clothing, and even shelter in some cases. It can be difficult to swallow your pride and seek help from a charity, but that’s what these programs are for. It’s more important that you give your children comfort and clothing than keep pride.

You might want to consider getting some part time job. There are different job opportunities out there. While you may already be working full time, you can look at getting into some sort of work at home job opportunities. The internet does have jobs for moms that you might be able to find, if you do some searching online. Remember, if you feel like there is no single mother assistance available, don’t give up!
Single mom assistance is there for moms in need, you just have to search. Whatever you do, don’t ever give up!