It’s challenging to run a household single-handedly. You have children to take care of, a full-time job to attend to, and monthly bills to pay. Indeed, going through motherhood alone is a gruelling assignment. Luckily, there are strategies you can employ to help you overcome the struggles of solo parenting:
Create a Financial Plan
If you want to make smarter financial decisions as a single mom, map out a budget plan for your family. You have to have a clear picture of your monthly financial obligations, such as rent, utilities, food, and miscellaneous expenses. That way, you can put a lid on non-essential household expenditures. You wouldn’t want to make the mistake of shelling out more money than what you’re raking in. You have to make sure your family’s primary needs are met, but at the same time, you must know how to curb the family’s spending habits. If you are independently running a household, you wouldn’t want to reach a point where you’re living paycheck to paycheck. So, it’s best to be financially literate.
Set Scheduled Payments
When you’re juggling being a full-time employee and a solo mom, it’s not easy to keep track of all your financial obligations. If you have a hard time keeping tabs on your monthly dues, putting your bills on auto-pay will make your life more convenient. Your payments will be automatically deducted on your credit card every month. So, you won’t have to stress about late costs and overdue penalties anymore. Putting your bills on auto-pay also saves you a lot of time. You no longer have to spend an hour or so processing your payments. You’ll have more time to prepare your kids some breakfast or to finish up your paperwork.
Squeeze in Family Time
While you like to think of yourself as Wonder Woman, you have to set boundaries for yourself. You have to know what your limits are. You wouldn’t want to give up quality time with your kids for another extended shift at the office, right? If you already set plans with your children, learn how to say no to other things that may happen on that special day. Once in a while, you have to adjust your schedule to accommodate the needs of your family. As a solo parent, they must see you as an active and present figure in their lives. So, make sure to strike a healthy balance between work and family life.
Ask the Kids to Pitch In
One way to minimize your load at home is by assigning household chores to your children. If there are tasks that they can perform on their own, then make it part of their everyday routine. You are not only taking the heavy load off your shoulders, but you are also teaching your kids responsibility. As a solo parent, you also have to encourage them to contribute in whatever way they can, whether it’s fixing their beds or raking the leaves in the yard. Reward them for reinforcing their positive behaviour, either by giving them more screen time or just an extra allowance.
Come Up With a Meal System
Create a meal plan for the entire week. It’s difficult to whip up dinner right after your gruelling shift at work. But you can make your life easier by coming up with the meal system. Make a list of meals you can prepare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and rotate between them. That way, you won’t have to waste two hours of life racking your brain for the perfect recipe now and then. That also makes grocery shopping more convenient because you already know what you’re going to need for an entire week.
Request for External Help
If you’re a solo parent, don’t be ashamed to ask for outside assistance. Every once in a while, you can ask your family members to help you out in taking care of the kids. You have to be honest with them, and they’ll surely understand your situation. If you know you can’t possibly fulfil your motherhood duties because of your work commitments, you can ask your mom or aunt who lives a few blocks away to babysit the children for you. You can drop them off on your way to work and pick them up on your way home. You can do this at least twice a week to ease up your busy schedule.
Reward Yourself
Don’t feel guilty for wanting to have a few days to yourself. Dedicate certain days of each month for your me-time. You can sign up for a relaxing spa, go on a hiking trip, and attend yoga classes. You can also indulge in a few days of travel to reward yourself after all the hustling. There are plenty of hostels with private rooms that will provide you with an atmosphere of comfort and relaxation while you’re out and about the big city. As a single mother, you also need to take a break from your stressful routines. Allowing yourself some time to rest every once in a while will provide you with the renewed energy you need in taking on this Herculean task.
So, if you want to manage a household successfully, these seven hacks will surely come in handy. This way, you can handle being a single mom with ease.
