According to the US Census Bureau, there were about 14 million single parents in the United States in 2006. These parents are raising 21.6 million children. 83% of single parents are mothers, and 30.3% of all single parents get help from the government.
Subsidies for child care and public health insurance can help close the gap between what people with low incomes can afford and what they need to get by. Families with low incomes don't always get the benefits they are eligible for. Families that get help with work from more than one source can lose help before they become self-sufficient. Single parents often have trouble buying the things they need and paying their bills, and they often live from paycheck to paycheck. Most single parents have no savings and owe money. Here are 10 simple ways for single parents to save money:
- Buy clothes you can wash Buy clothes that don't need to be cleaned in a dry cleaner. This will save you between $50 and $150 a month, on average.
- Gas If your car's manual doesn't tell you otherwise, buy regular gas. Find out where you can buy the cheapest gas in your area. This will save you $.05 to $.20 per gallon on average.
- Get an old car You should buy a used car with a lower note or trade in your current car for one. This will either get rid of your car payment or save you between $50 and $200 a month on it.
- Buy Generic Buy everything generic: household items, clothes, prescriptions, toiletries, dry goods, canned goods, paper products, etc. This will save you $5 to $50 a month on average.
- Buy food at supermarkets You can buy your groceries at superstores or wholesale stores like Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Costco, etc. Buy nuts, grains, spices, and legumes at health food stores or stores that sell in bulk. This will save you anywhere from $30 to $200 a month in processing fees that regular grocery stores charge.
- Use Coupons Buy things that are on sale or that you have coupons for. You could save $50 to $300 a month by doing this. There have been times when a customer's total bill was $200, but they only paid $5 because they used coupons and bought items that were on sale.
- Shop at stores with sales. Buy paper products and cleaning supplies in bulk at discount stores like Target, Wal-Mart, Costco, etc. This will save you $5 to $50 a month on average.
- Reduce expenses Cut back on or get rid of your cable, cell phone, or Internet service, or switch to the cheapest plan available. You could save $20 to $100 a month by doing this.
- Image Do you have your own hair and nails, and do you buy your makeup at a drugstore like CVS or Rite Aid? This will save you between $40 and $100 a month, on average.
Visit www.stretcher.com or www.budgetdial.com for more ways to save money.
