Blog of the Week-SOLO dot MOM

Thanks for visiting the Mom-Stuff Blog Tour sponsored by http://www.mom-stuff.com/. We are so excited by your response to our tour and we have just gotten started. We are having so much fun and making so many new friends. We still have some open weeks if you would like us to tour your blog. This week as you probably know, our Featured Blog is one of our favorite single mom blogs, Solo dot mom. Katherine has been such fun to work with.

The post we have chosen to share with you today, is on a very popular subject these days. Katherine has some really good advise for all of us. In today’s recession we can all use some help tighten our budget.

Setting A BUDGET – Part One
Budgets: They aren’t fun, but they are a necessity. As a single mom on a mediocre income and little child support, I have found there are two choices:
1.To sit around in self-pity and moan and groan about what you don’t have, wishing away life and running up credit card debt; or
2.To embrace your current financial status and work toward appreciating what you already have attained at this stage of life and create a strategy that works for you when it comes to “how” you are going to use that income and “how” you plan to get out of debt.
My hope is that you will choose the latter.

Embrace where you are.
– Examine your current income, and be grateful that you have a job. (If you are unemployed continue working towards the goal of getting a job. Be willing to accept something – even if it is not your dream job right at first. Getting a job somewhere will be better than no job and no income). Always be grateful for where you are and what you have in life. Focus on the positive aspects of your current circumstances and remember the glass is half full. Count your blessings which include more than just your income.

Appreciate what you own and enjoy those things for the here and now.
– You have a roof over your head. You have food to eat and provide for your family. Pull out the things you already own; put them to use and enjoy them. These might include books, music, instruments, games, etc. that are collecting dust in your closet. Make use of the things you already own instead of mulling over a wish list of the ‘other’ things you want.

Don’t compare yourself or your possessions with others.
– A writer once said of her younger growing up years that she didn’t know how poor she was till she befriended a rich girl. If we stop comparing ourselves to others and what they have, we might find we don’t even miss those extra things. Things are not as fulfilling as the media makes them out to be. If you own “this must have item” it still won’t bring you true happiness.

Keep life simple so you can save – every penny counts.
– Even the smallest of luxuries can be cut back and give way for you to use that money for getting out of debt or saving for a rainy day. Small luxuries include specialized coffee drinks, soft drinks with lunch ( get ice water), or vending machine items for snacks. Making even the smallest sacrifices, will allow you to put money left over after needs are met – toward reducing your debt.

Once you can embrace your current financial position, appreciating what you have and being content with the here and now; it will be easier to stick to a budget and make it work. And staying on a budget will eliminate additional credit card debt, because you won’t need to use them.

Find yourself… keeping it real.

Katherine

Stop by Solo dot mom and tell Kathy thanks for sharing her blog with us. The mom-team will be giving away gifts to the person who makes the most comments. You can make comments here, on the Katherine’s Blog, Tweeter, Facebook or other social sites. Thanks for being a part of http://www.mom-stuff.com/ your moms resource site.

See you again tomorrow.

dianne@mom-stuff.com