Single Parent A little planning could save you money!

It is possible to create a budget and, if you involve your children, they may even learn good spending habits in the process! Using a debt settlement savings account can be a good way for single parents to educate their children early and establish good spending habits and the process of saving money.


Child Care.

Consider the help of relatives, friends or other parents. Discuss if they would be willing to watch your children and try to come to an agreement about what you can afford to pay. If your child is a student, some schools offer inexpensive after-school programs.

Think about a new career.

Do you feel you need to update your job skills or foster new ones? Think about what you might like to do and contact an individual in that career field. Perhaps he/she would be willing to meet with you, discuss their career and serve as a mentor. You may also want to research online sites such as elearners.com/projectworkingmom which may offer help for single moms and dads.

Review financial documents.

If having life insurance is affordable for you, it could benefit your children during a time of need. Perhaps you could create a will, review your retirement accounts and update all beneficiary information where applicable in order to secure their future and give you peace of mind.

Don't give up.

Continue your efforts to have an amicable relationship with your former spouse or partner. Being on good terms might make decisions easier and provide a good example to the children you share.

Frugal Food Ideas For Single Parents


Shop with cash.
This may take some planning but consider if it would work for you. Try taking a calculator along with you on grocery trips and add the cost of each item as you put it in your cart This may help you eliminate unnecessary items.

Cook in larger quantities.
Think about investing in a large crock pot or pressure cooker. Try to purchase one at a thrift shop or garage sale. Crock pots allow you to cook larger batches of food at once and pressure cookers can cook delicious meals quickly, leaving you more time for your kids and yourself!

Consider shopping once a week.
If you shop less, you may be less likely to impulse buy, and you might save gas and time as well. Make a list of seven dinners and create your list from these menus. You could also plan your shopping list around sale ads in the weekly papers.

Plant a garden.
If you have absolutely no space available in your back yard for a garden, consider planting various veggies in containers which can be placed on your porch or in other small spaces.

Save Money On Pet Care

When it comes to pet care, keep in mind that an ounce of prevention may be equal to a pound of cure. Here are a few suggestions to help you save somey to put to your debt settlement negotation.


Spay and Neuter

Animals that are not spayed or neutered may be more likely to suffer health and behavioral problems. Contact your local Humane Society or shelter, explain your financial situation and see if they can offer resources. Many municipally-operated animal shelters in the U.S. offer free or low-cost spay/neuter and vaccination programs.

Keep Pets Restrained

When pets are controlled and out of harm's way, they are less likely to suffer injuries or contract diseases that could harm their overall health.

Consider keeping your cat indoors. If you own a dog, make sure it is always on a leash, in a fenced area or under responsible supervision.

Groom Pets At Home

Be prepared to ask your vet or other professional about proper ways to trim your pet's nails at home to save money. Consider giving your pet a bath at home. Brush your dog or cat's fur regularly to avoid hairballs, and consider brushing your pet's teeth at home as well. According to Parade Magazine, brushing your pet's fur and teeth yourself may prolong time between visits to the groomer.

Dental chews are available that are formulated to control buildup on your pet's teeth. Ask for these at your local pet retailer. It might also be a good idea to check that the treats are accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC).

Your local library could be a great resource for grooming guides or check for tips on the Internet.

Shop Smart

Eliminating extras like pricey carriers, expensive treats or fashionable 'doggie' couture can really make a difference.

Toys are important for pet exercise and activity, but they don't necessarily have to cost a lot of money. Someone with a little creativity and basic sewing skills can make accessories or soft toys such as a simple catnip pouch.

Information Overload

Technology is everywhere and our options are endless. It is possible to enjoy the benefits of technology without spending a lot of money. When you see an interesting electronic product or fun gadget, you may want to take time to think about how necessary that item would be in your daily life.

Cell Phones

Some current cell phone plans offer extras like texting, ringtones, games, video and camera capability.

These extras can be enjoyable, but ask yourself if you really need them. Texting, ringtones, and games can add up to $10 per month or more to your phone bill according to Womansday.com.

Consider choosing a plan that fits your basic needs. Woman's Day also suggests looking for free games and ringtones on the Internet. Websites such as Phonezoo.com and Myxer.com might be a good place to start.

If you already have an iPhone, you may have access to free software that will help you manage your budget and save money. According to The Wall Street Journal, Yowza!! combines a Global Positioning System (GPS) with coupons for nearby retailers.

If you need a cell phone but don't want to sign a lengthy contract with one service provider, prepaid cell phones might be an option.

Free Software Ideas

Here are a just a few other software suggestions from PCMag.com. The site releases a yearly review of over 100 free software options which may be worth your time to check out.


Open Office (www.OpenOffice.org) includes a word processing and spreadsheet software, HTML document generation and PDF document generation.

Google Docs (docs.google.com) offers free browser-based document and spreadsheet software.

Gimp (www.gimp.org) is an Image Manipulation Program featuring photo retouching, image composition and image authoring capabilities.

Know Your Stuff (www.knowyourstuff.org) is an online site where you can inventory everything you own. You can even include digital photos of your possessions or scanned purchase receipts.

Geni (www.Geni.com) allows genealogists to plug in their family tree. This web application makes it easy for everyone in the family to view information and share stories, photos and facts of their own.

Office Web, a free version of Microsoft Office suite, will include the Office word processing application, Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint presentation software and OneNote message pad when it becomes available soon.

Class Action Filed Against Extended Car Warranty Schemers

If you recently received information in the mail regarding extended warranty information for your vehicle, make sure that you read the fine print. A class action complaint was recently filed in the U.S. District Court by an Illinois consumer, individually and on behalf of other customers nationwide who have purchased so-called "extended warranty" vehicle service contracts.

According to www.bankrate.com, the complaint details the ongoing, wrongful scheme of the company in question to obtain hidden interest charges and penalties from consumers who cancel their service contracts before the term of coverage expires. The complaint charges that the defendants make a practice of heavily penalizing car owners with large interest charges and marketing fees that are not spelled out in their contracts. This practice is in violation of the Federal Truth in Lending Act and the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act. If you receive an extended warranty offer, you may want to do some research before making a commitment to that company.

Credit Answers specializes in debt management, credit card debt settlement, debt negotiation and bankruptcy alternatives. Credit Answers team of experts work to enable a new and fresh financial start for individuals with debt problems. We realize the importance of money in people's lives and also the accompanied strain that debt can cause. Our team has helped thousands of clients across the nation.

Credit Card Companies May Raise Annual Fee

Some credit card companies may also begin resetting annual fee policies for cardholders prior to the CARD Act law going into effect. According to creditcards.com, the Credit CARD Act bill does not include any direct comment on annual fee setting.

Annual fees first emerged from certain credit issuers under the term "membership fees." Initially, these fees were justified and were used by companies to profit since holders of some cards pay balances in full each month and carry no interest.

As explained by some financial industry professionals, creditors are scrambling before the deadline because consumer credit scores have decreased and the cost of providing credit has increased.

According to creditcards.com, Mail Monitor, a mail tracking service, reported that in the first quarter of 2009, Americans received 372.4 million card offers. According to the report, approximately 27 percent of those offers carried a fee.

At Credit Answers we strive to educate our clients on what is happening in the industry and ways to help save money in these trying financial times.