Parenting with a partner is hard enough. Raising kids as a single parent goes a step beyond that. You have to teach and nurture your children, all while trying to keep yourself afloat and sane.
Parenting with a partner is hard enough. Raising kids as a single parent goes a step beyond that. You have to teach and nurture your children, all while trying to keep yourself afloat and sane.
If you’re a single parent, there’s so much responsibility on your shoulders, but you don’t have to carry all that burden alone. Whether you are divorced, widowed, or were never married, there are resources for single parents like yourself.
Let’s look at ways that raising kids as a single parent can be made easier. We’ll even look at how to get cheaper rates for car insurance as a single parent.
How to Make Raising Kids Easier
Raising children is no easy task. Below are some tips to help you. No matter what age your kids are, these four tips are sure to help make raising them just a little bit easier and more affordable.
#1 – Apply for Financial Assistance and Grants
There are many programs and grants you can enroll in for financial help. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a great way to get some short-term financial help. There’s also the food stamp program for those that need help with groceries.
If you are a woman and have infants or children up to 5 years old, you can apply for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) also helps low-income single parents pay for childcare.
There are also federal grants you can apply for. The Pell Grant offers free financial assistance to single parents that would like to go back to school.
Regardless of where you are financially and academically, help is available to support your family. You can also ask for help from relatives or friends.
#2 – Ask for Help From Relatives or Friends
It may feel uncomfortable, but don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends. As the old saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The more loved ones in your children’s lives the better they can expand their emotional intelligence, which can help them in their careers as adults.
You don’t have to do this alone. Your family and friends want to be there for you in your time of need. Let them help you. There’s so much they can do to help. You can have them bring food or babysit for a few hours while you work.
#3 – Find Time for Self-Care
Regardless of what you have friends and family do, take time to care for yourself. Take a nap or go to therapy. Just do something that helps you cope with being the sole provider for your kids. You deserve to rest when you can. You can’t take care of your children unless you take care of yourself.
When you choose self-care, you make things easier for yourself and your children. You will be less likely to snap at them, and you will be in the right headspace to guide them.
#4 – Hire a Nanny
If you don’t have family or friends that can help you, then consider hiring a nanny. There are many nanny services to choose from on sites like Care.com, and you can find reviews on sites like Yelp.com.
As stated above, you don’t have to do this alone. There are many resources at your disposal to help you raise your kids.
Ways to Get Cheaper Car Insurance
It can be troublesome to find cheap car insurance. Most insurance companies charge single parents more than they charge married couples. Below are some ways that you can get more affordable car insurance as a single parent.
#1 – Discover Which Discounts Your Insurance Provider Offers
There are many deals available for single parents like yourself. There are customer loyalty discounts, safe vehicle discounts, and responsible driver discounts, to name a few. Check with your insurance provider and see what you are eligible for.
And don’t feel like you have to accept the discounts from your provider if they don’t meet your needs. Feel free to compare car insurance companies and see which one is the right fit for you and your family.
#2 – Avoid Getting Points on Your License
Drive safely and defensively, making sure that you don’t get violations on your driving record. Remember that your license can get revoked or suspended if you accumulate 12 points over three years.
Obey the rules of the road and stay alert. Make sure you know the traffic laws in your area. Be mindful of your surroundings. Avoid reckless driving like tailgating. Insurance companies have canceled policies due to reckless driving charges on people’s records.
#3 – Bundle Insurances as Much as Possible
Insurance companies give massive discounts to those that bundle insurances. For example, you can save 16% or more when you bundle homeowners and car insurance with a single insurer.
It may be tricky to find a provider that bundles other types of insurance like health and life with home and auto. Do some research and see what your provider bundles. Remember that the more you bundle, the more discounts you will receive.
#4 – Reduce Coverage on Older Vehicles
Insurance rates don’t change no matter how well or how often you regularly service your car. The best way to get cheaper insurance with older cars is to reduce coverage on them. It’s more of a hassle to insure them than anything else because they are more likely to break down and require more repairs.
Of course, you can’t reduce coverage below the minimum standards set by your state, or remove coverage that is mandated. Check with your state’s regulations and your insurance agent to see what you need and what you can do without.
Single Parents Are Heroes
Single parents are heroes in their own right because they fill the roles of mom and dad for their kids. Kudos to you for not giving up, even though it might’ve been tempting to do so.
Use the resources listed above to help you take care of your family. You now have a game plan for raising your kids that will make the journey a little easier and more affordable. Share these resources with fellow single parents you know.
Peyton Leonard writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, AutoInsuranceEZ.com. Peyton cares deeply about single parents and enjoys helping them find resources to look after their families.