Any single parents (now or previously) who survived financially?!

anna_1977

Hi GNF, I am also a single mum of 2 girls aged 18 & 20. My ex left nearly 5 years ago. I was working part time and the tax credits available were huge (approx £900 per mth). I kept up a good lifestyle, we had fab holidays etc. Problem was when eldest turned 18 and went to Uni, I carried on spending as if I still had the child maintenance and TC
I have racked up an extraordinary amount of debt - all self inflicted.
I wish I had found this site 3 years ago and budgeted. I've just entered a DMP with Stepchange hoping to work my way through the debt.

It's bloody hard being a single parent without the added worry of money troubles but I just keep reminding myself that I have my girls (although one is in China!!)...

going_nowhere_fast

You will get rid of the the debt in time and although living to a budget has its downsides I also find it empowering to be in control.

Simply_Saving

Hi all


Another single parent here. I have a 9 year old daughter and we've been on our own since before she was born. Her "dad" left one day when I was about 7 months pregnant and I haven't seen him since.


I work part-time which has been a financial sacrifice but for me it was important that as she only had one parent that I was around as much as possible. It has allowed me to be there for the school runs and school events etc.


Financially we get by and we certainly don't do without although but every month is a serious juggling act to make the budget balance. Something always seems to come up but somehow things work out even it if means I have to put off a bill for a week or two or go a few months between haircuts.


I have decided that when she is a bit older I want to go back to Uni and re-train. I'll only be in my early 40s when she is 18 so plenty of work life ahead of me.


N x

anna_1977

Simply_Saving wrote: »

Hi all


Another single parent here. I have a 9 year old daughter and we've been on our own since before she was born. Her "dad" left one day when I was about 7 months pregnant and I haven't seen him since.


I work part-time which has been a financial sacrifice but for me it was important that as she only had one parent that I was around as much as possible. It has allowed me to be there for the school runs and school events etc.


Financially we get by and we certainly don't do without although but every month is a serious juggling act to make the budget balance. Something always seems to come up but somehow things work out even it if means I have to put off a bill for a week or two or go a few months between haircuts.


I have decided that when she is a bit older I want to go back to Uni and re-train. I'll only be in my early 40s when she is 18 so plenty of work life ahead of me.


N x

hi Simply_saving

I'm 38 and my girls are 18 & 20 - I had planned to go to uni and retrain too but I have to say the cost implication of not working for 3 years is/was far too much as a single parents.
I did start an Open University degree when they were younger (11 & 13 i think) and I would seriously recommend you look at that now, it's a much more flexible way of re-training if the career you want is offered by them !

Simply_Saving

Absolutely! There is no way I could afford not to work for that length of time. I've had a quick look at the OU a few weeks ago and I think that is definitely the route I will end up taking when I'm ready. I like how it's possible to apply credits for previous study towards your degree. I was studying at Birmingham when my daughter was very young but I had to withdraw for financial reasons. I can't wait to go back at some point. While my job of managing a local charitable organisation pays well and is perfect for school hours it's certainly not what I want to do forever.


N x