Tips Series: Saving Tips for Single Parents

Here is our latest article on Savings Tips

Article by Harvey Mcewan

Being a single parent can be hard and it’s often difficult to make ends meet, let alone save. Putting money away needn’t be difficult however if you employ the following savings tips.

Main: Bringing up kids alone can be tricky, especially if you’re trying to juggle home, work and play in equal measure. Many single parents find themselves working two, even three, different jobs in a bid to provide adequately for their offspring. With the cost of living adding up it’s understandable that many parents find it difficult to save for the future. Help is on hand however, as the following tips and tricks provide a means to save without impacting too heavily on your lifestyle.

Growing kids are a messy bunch which means there’s more often than not an overflowing washing basket or growing pile of ironing to get through. When it comes to fabric softeners and big name detergents, items such as these can add a good couple of pounds to your weekly shop that could easily be saved or spent on something else. When attempting to save, why not opt for a supermarket own laundry powder as well as keeping an eye out for what’s on offer. Furthermore, it could be even cheaper to buy everyday household goods like laundry detergents from your local pound store where many items are reduced even further.

With school, sports and friends all putting a strain on the travel costs of getting your little ones from A to B, many single parents will opt for a car when it comes to taxiing their kids around. For parents with just one or two children however, public transport could be a much more affordable option as the cost of road tax, insurance and petrol quickly adds up. For older children, travelling on public transport also develops valuable life skills such as time management and social etiquette, both of which are priceless in later life.

Sadly when parents part ways, many families can end up living many miles apart. In situations such as this, it’s important to keep in touch although doing so can be an expensive process. Emails and letters are relatively cheap ways of communicating with family members. It’s also possible to source cheap calls from providers that let you dial numbers right across the globe at discount rates all year round rather than racking up sky high phone bills.

Saving money can be tough as a single parent. Thankfully, making slight changes doesn’t have to have a big impact on your lifestyle but can allow you to save for a much deserved holiday or family outing everyone can enjoy.