Debt Help for Single Moms

A single mom’s primary concern and main objective is to provide for her children. This is an even greater burden when she has no financial support from their father. It is an unfortunate fact that a majority of single mothers make significantly less income annually than men, single or married. Thankfully, there are many ways a single mom can obtain credit card debt help.

Credit Counseling Services

These services are available to assist in negotiating with creditors to reduce your debt. They also help you develop a budget according to your monthly bills and income, which is your roadmap to financial freedom. Even though credit counseling services are basically doing what most single moms no longer have the time to do, there are fees for these services.

Department of Social Services

Food stamps, medical and dental assistance are available through your local Department of Social Services. These services are free but you must apply and endure a qualification waiting period.

Public School Meals & After School Care Programs

These programs provide free breakfast and lunch for children and after school care for working single moms who can’t afford daycare.

Grants for Women/Single Moms
Though hard to obtain, there are grants available exclusively for women and single mothers. You must apply, qualify and be selected to receive a grant, but it doesn’t have to be repaid as a loan does. Loans may be necessary for your mortgage, vehicle, or college but they create additional debt so avoid applying for new ones. Since single moms seem to acquire more debt out of necessity, their credit scores are usually lower than the average married couple or single man. This is the main reason single moms have difficulty qualifying for loans, which is when the grants are so beneficial

Create a Budget

Several websites offer free budget forms and guidelines to make the process less painful. Budgets can be customized according to personal circumstances and special needs. Monthly budgets are developed according to an overview of all monthly outgoing income and debts owed. Weekly budgets are established based on payment due dates in accordance with paydays.

Utilizing the assistance offered through grants, public school programs, the Department of Social Services, and credit counseling services are just a few ways for single moms to get debt help. None of these options are overnight solutions but will definitely give single mothers an advantage over struggling alone with debt on a daily basis.