Single Parents Saving Money on Household Costs

Single parents have the extra worry of how they are going to pay for everything on one income. Not only are they responsible for taking care of the children but they also have to figure out ways to make ends meet, since there is not another income coming into the household. A few steps should be taken to insure that all monthly bills are paid and the children have the items they need.

Housing costs can quickly drain your finances. Do you need the size apartment or house you are living in? If possible move into a smaller home that allows you the space you need at a more affordable price. If you have the extra room look for a room mate to help paying the household bills. If you have an extra space in your garage, rent that out. Many people are looking for parking or storage space.

Save money on your utilities by lowering your thermostat in the winter. Have children wear socks, slippers and a sweatshirt to stay warm. Use heavy blankets on the beds and cover every window with plastic to keep the drafts out. Turning down the thermostat during the night and when you are not at home will lower the bill. Unplug every appliance that is not being used. Even when the computer is off having it plugged into an outlet will still cost you money.

Do you have a landline and a cell phone? Save yourself close to $40.00 or more a month by ditching the landline. Take all the bells and whistles off your cell phone. Internet, special ring tones and text messaging packages are not something you need when money is tight. These few things can add another $20.00 or more to your cell phone bill each month. When your contract is up do not renew, since this will hold you to the company for another two years. If you are in need of a new phone either buy it outright, even thought it will cost you more, it is still less than buying out a contract. Look for used phones on eBay or Craigslist. As long as the phone has a clear ESN number (which can be found behind the battery) you can have it turned on.

Save money when you wash clothes by skipping the dryer. Hang all your laundry to dry using dryer racks or hang them from the shower bar. This will save money on the utilities and also on buying new clothes. Dryers are hard on clothes and wear them out faster. Washing as much as you can in cold water and use less soap will also save you money. This works for going to a laundry mat also, just bring your wet clothes home to dry. The savings can be $20 or more a month.

These small changes will help you to have more money to make ends meet in your household. Most families will never even feel the changes. Take a small notebook and track these changes and watch your bills go down. Once you are use to doing these things start looking at how to lower other costs like clothing, groceries and medical needs. Single parents can make it on one income, a few small changes and a little planning will go a long way.