Meeting in person is one of the best ways to make important connections that can help take your career to the next level. There are so many benefits, even if you work remotely. Once you see all the great things about meeting with colleagues and others in your career field, you won’t want to miss out!

But first, what is networking?

Networking is all about connections — it’s the process of building personal and professional relationships that can help you in your career. Networking usually involves meeting new people in your industry and getting together with those in your network to discuss your ideas and your professional goals.

Why is networking in person important?

In many professions, it’s not just about what you know — it’s about who you know. Networking is important to your career for several reasons.

If you can network in person, you get added points. This is because you get to meet people face to face and in person meetings are more memorable!

Strengthens business connections

It isn’t just about meeting someone once and hoping a job opportunity will come of it.

Instead, it’s all about building relationships. And the more time you invest in those relationships, the stronger they’ll become.

Networking is a long game — you’re building relationships that may help your career for years or decades.

Access to job opportunities

Meeting people in person is a great way to advance your career and access amazing job opportunities. Some companies may hire internally or rely on referrals. By networking, you’re opening yourself up to those jobs that aren’t public information.

Mentoring and support

It isn’t just about the job opportunities available to you. When you’re meeting with people who have been in your career field longer than you have, you can also learn a lot.

Networking is a great way to find a career mentor. That person can help show you the ropes in the industry and support you through career transitions and difficult situations.

Builds confidence

Believe it or not, meeting people in person can help you become more confident. When you’re just starting out in your career, pretty much everyone is above you on the totem pole. As a result, you might lack confidence when it comes to sharing ideas and connecting with your coworkers.

But networking helps take some of the pressure off. You can get to know people in your field outside of the workplace.

And when you get positive feedback from those in your network, you’ll feel even more confident bringing your ideas to the office. And consider trying out these confidence building exercises!

5 Benefits of meeting in person

Alright, so we’ve established that networking and meeting people is important to your career. But how else can it help you?

Here are 5 great benefits.

1. Career growth and development reasons

Networking in person will do wonders for your career.

First, it makes you more memorable when job opportunities come up. Look at it this way. Who are you more likely to think of for a job opening:

• The person who you emailed back and forth with a few times and who is qualified for the job? Or,
• The person you connected with at a bunch of networking events, who has a great sense of humor and a welcoming smile, and who is also qualified for the job?

Simply put, in-person networking makes you stand out from the crowd in a way that email and text simply can’t.

Another career benefit of networking in person is the honest and immediate feedback you can get. Imagine asking your mentor for feedback on a new idea you have. When you’re meeting in person, you can see their facial reaction, and they’re forced to respond quickly.

But what if you had sent the same idea via email? You’d have no idea what their first reaction was, and it might take days for them to get around to emailing you back.

2. Social benefits

Networking in person also has plenty of social benefits. There’s just something more reassuring about in-person conversations.

First, you can pick up physical cues and body language that aren’t present in an email conversation. A statistic from Fit Small Business, according to Review 42, explains that 55% of communication comes from your posture and the expressions on your face.

Being part of networking events also gives you time to meet new people. Not only will you increase your chances of talking with someone who can help you with your career, but you can make a lot of friends!

Additionally, one of the benefits of meeting in person is it reduces the risk of misunderstanding. When speaking face-to-face, you can pick up someone’s tone and facial expressions and understand if they’re telling a joke or using a hint of sarcasm. But with digital communication, one of you might take things the wrong way, damaging the relationship.

3. Relationship building

In-person networking is the most effective for building long-term connections. You really can’t tell how well you get along with someone when you’re talking via email.

And as much as we all love to hate small talk, it helps to build the rapport necessary for a deeper relationship.

Face-to-face meetings also allow you to show off more of your personality. Many traits just don’t translate over written communication.

Maybe one of your best traits is your sense of humor — but chances are you aren’t adding jokes to your emails. But when someone meets you in person, they have a chance to see that side of you.

4. Easier to discuss complex topics for work

An in person meeting can make it easier to discuss complex ideas for work, such as a new system or concept. Explaining something like this over email is possible, but it might be more difficult to understand. 

If you choose to have a meeting or a virtual meeting about new ideas instead, you can save some confusion, answer questions promptly, and help team members understand what you mean. I have found that having a quick meeting is usually best to avoid confusion when working on a big project or explaining a new idea.

5. Less distracting

Virtual meetings or meeting in person have fewer distractions than sending messages or communicating online.

If you’re in a meeting room, you will be engaged and focused on what the meeting participants are saying. But if you aren’t face to face, you may be caught up with spending time on your phone or other work projects, and it’s easy to lose focus.

Expert tip: Create a schedule for in-person meetings

Meeting in person may seem difficult if you haven’t focused on it before. I find that if I want to make anything a habit, I have to add it to my schedule, instead of just hoping I’ll find time for it eventually.

As you establish your network, remember to make time for it in your schedule. Scheduling meetings can be as easy as setting aside 20 minutes on Wednesdays to send out emails and see when others are free to meet up.

Or you may choose to go to networking events once a month or have dinner with people that work in your field. No matter what, setting aside a little time each week or month can make a difference for your career aspirations.

Can’t meet in person? Leverage technology!

Networking through in-person meetings might be more difficult if you do remote work but there are still ways to stay in touch and options for getting that face-to-face networking experience.

Check in often via email, phone, text message or video call

If you don’t have a way of meeting someone in person, checking in regularly is even more important. It’ll keep you on top of your career and help grow your relationships.

Sending an email or a text or making phone or video calls are simple and easy ways to check in.

Attend virtual and in-person conferences when you can

Conferences are a great way to get connected and meet new people. You can learn new things, improve your high income skills, and get a chance to interact with people in the same profession as you.

If you can’t make it to an in person conference, virtual conferences are also popular and still give you a chance to network.

Set up video meetups

Just because you can’t physically meet someone in person doesn’t mean you can’t meet face to face. Video platforms such as Zoom and Google allow you to chat with someone as if you’re sitting across the table at a coffee shop. 

Platforms like Zoom allow you to add virtual backgrounds to make the feeling even more real!

Remote meetings are here to stay, so it’s important to know how they work, how to host a meeting, and how to send invites to attendees.

Beware of video conferencing fatigue

Though virtual meetings are great, try not to schedule all your internet meetings for one day, or at least take frequent breaks. Videoconferencing fatigue, happens when you get tired or stressed from being on screen for too much time, depleting your resources, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

To avoid becoming exhausted from this, try not to do any meetings back to back, and ideally, not more than a couple in one day. I always like to schedule at least a five-minute break between meetings whenever I can.

Harvard Business Review also suggests taking breaks and using plain backgrounds on zoom calls to help you feel less exhausted by screens.

How to have a successful in person meeting

As you work on greater collaboration, engagement, and team-building through networking, there are some etiquette rules to remember. These will help you succeed when meeting people in your line of work.

Take an interest in others

While meetings are often used to help people achieve their career goals, it’s best when everyone wins. Instead of making it all about what you want, such as finding a new job or a promotion, find out what you can do for others.

Consider what will help people succeed and discover how you can aid them professionally, and they may return the favor. Even if networking doesn’t help you get a higher salary or the job of your dreams, it does earn you a good reputation when you think of others.

Remember people’s names

When you use people’s names, it shows that you care. Make it a point to use names often. You never know, doing so may have a positive affect on your career!

Some tips to remember someone’s name include, repeating the name often especially after you first hear and writing it down!

Maintain your connections over time

Whether it’s with an in person meeting or an email, maintaining your connections matters. In the future, you may be able to help someone in their career or vice versa.

Staying in touch with people you meet on the job or in your line of work can be easily done. Reaching out, even just a few times a year, to say hello, wish someone a happy birthday, or pass along a great article you read can help maintain your working relationships.

Be mindful of first impressions

It’s important to remember impressions when you meet others for the first time. Be sure that you dress in a professional manner and offer a firm handshake when meeting people.

Always remember that you have great ideas and insights to share, and so do others. So be kind and confident, and make sure to listen as well as offer your own thoughts to a conversation.

Why is meeting in-person better than online?

Meeting someone in person rather than online help with engagement and leaves less room for error regarding communication. You will more easily understand body language, gestures, sarcasm, and humor when meeting someone in person instead of on a Zoom call or over email.

It also gives you the advantage of keeping things clear. Plus, it can be helpful if you have a meeting that requires you to explain many ideas in detail. Or if you need to understand your colleague’s perspective on something at work.

What are the benefits of face to face meetings?

The benefits of face to face meetings, whether online or in an office, are that they allow you to talk with others in real time, stay engaged with each other and get better explanations for ideas. When relying on email or messages, it can take too long to receive a response. Additionally, there can be communication errors with employees.

You’ll also be able to talk quickly, solve work issues faster, and use good time management by scheduling quick meetings.

Do people still interact better when in-person?

Yes, people certainly interact better when meeting in person. You can make actual eye contact, manage interruptions better, read body language better and keep each other better engaged.

That said, while some may interact better in-person, and others may prefer the convenience and flexibility of email or messaging and like to respond to questions in their own time. You may have co-workers who prefer to have Zoom calls or meet up for coffee to discuss ideas.

Both ways have their advantages, and the best idea is to be familiar with several ways of communicating, as this will make you a more versatile part of your work team and can help you communicate easily.

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Building in-person relationships is beneficial for everyone!

Meeting in person is one of the best things you can do for long-term career growth and creating a life you love. Some circumstances may make it difficult to get together with your professional network in person. Thanks to technology, there are now plenty of ways to stay in touch without being able to grab a cup of coffee with your mentor or attend a local networking event.

Utilize these ideas and remember the benefits of networking. It could help you get a new job or advance in your career.

The post 5 Benefits Of Meeting In Person And Why You Should Do It Often appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

A quick Google search of budgeting methods will show you that there’s no shortage of options out there. There is, however, one particular budgeting method that could work well if you are just getting started with budgeting and more so if you don’t like the idea of a monthly budget. The method we’ll talk about involves creating a paycheck budget.

Budgeting by paycheck can help take some of the overwhelm out of the conventional monthly budget. You’ll get a super clear understanding of the money coming and going from your bank account. You’ll also find out how to avoid overdraft fees once and for all due to more frequent planning.

What is a paycheck budget?

The paycheck budget is a strategy where, rather than budgeting just once a month, you budget each time you get paid.

Because most workers get paid either weekly or biweekly, according to Patriot Software, courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this budgeting approach can be a good way to stay involved with your finances. Especially since it requires you to think about your finances every time you stop by the check cashing place.

When you use the paycheck budget method, you assign each of your expenses to a specific paycheck.

For example, let’s say you get paid on the 1st and the 15th of each month.

If rent is due on the 1st, you can plan to use the paycheck from that pay period. If your cell phone bill is due on the 20th, you can then pay that bill with your second paycheck of the month. You can also leverage your budget to determine how much to save from each paycheck.

Benefits of a paycheck budget

Using a paycheck budget is a great way to get started with money management and begin embracing healthy financial habits.

You know where your money is going

First, paycheck budgeting gives you a clear understanding of where each dollar is going. You probably know roughly how much money you earn and how much you spend each month.

However, budgeting by paycheck really shows you where the money from each paycheck goes.

Overdraft and late fees can be avoided easily

Next, it helps avoid overdraft and late fees. It can also keep you from running out of money before you get paid again. If you know exactly which expenses will come out of each paycheck, you can make sure you aren’t spending more than is actually available to you before your next paycheck.

Many people put expenses on a credit card and then pay it off each month. Which can become problematic when you’re spending money you haven’t actually earned yet. It gets even worse when you spend more on your credit cards than you’ll earn to pay off.

From Generation X to Gen Zers, over half or nearly half have credit card debt with each generation, according to Bankrate. But when you budget by paycheck, you can better avoid the trap of credit card debt.

You can keep track of your money easily

Finally, this budgeting method forces you to check in with your finances on a regular basis. And when you check your budget regularly, it becomes easier to manage.

Keeping track of your money is key for staying on top of your spending and keeping pace with your financial goals.

As you can see, there are several advantages of budgeting by paycheck.

Who is this method right for?

Personal finance is just that: personal. As a result, there’s no single budgeting method that will work for everyone. The best strategy for any one person is the one that they’ll stick to.

That said, the paycheck budget method is ideal for people in a few specific financial situations.

People who are paid more than once per month

Budgeting is a little easier when you’re getting paid monthly. Monthly is simpler because you always know where the money for your bills will be coming from. But for those who are paid more often, there’s a little more legwork that goes into it.

You have to time your expenses just right to make sure you aren’t spending money that hasn’t hit your bank account yet. With the budget-by-paycheck method, you can divvy up all of your expenses to correspond with a specific paycheck.

People who live paycheck to paycheck

If you are living paycheck to paycheck, which is over half of Americans, according to CNBC, the last few days before payday can be painful. You may be scraping by on your last few dollars.

Budgeting by paycheck can help you make a plan for your income to ensure you don’t run out before payday. It might also be what finally helps you to break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.

People who are new to budgeting

Traditional budgeting advice would have you plan out your expenses one month at a time. But this doesn’t take into account the fact that many people aren’t paid on the first of the month.

So, if you’re new to budgeting, following this traditional advice may result in spending money you don’t have yet.

A paycheck budget can help you get into the habit of noticing when money comes in and out of your bank account. This, in turn, can help you manage spending money only after you’ve earned it.

While paycheck budgeting is definitely ideal for some individuals, others would probably do better with a different strategy.

For example, if you have an irregular income, it may be a struggle to assign expenses to a specific paycheck when you don’t earn a regular paycheck.

How do you get started with budgeting by paycheck?

Ready to start budgeting by paycheck? Here are the steps to follow:

1. Grab a blank calendar

You can use a printable calendar, a monthly budget planner, or even a digital calendar. You can also use a spreadsheet. Learn how to create your budget calendar here.

Remember: The best budget planner is the one you’ll actually use. So, if you prefer things digital, skip out on buying the pretty-looking agenda and just use your Notes app since you know this is where you’ll look regularly.

Or, if you know you prefer pen and paper, don’t let yourself get distracted by flashy apps.

Instead, get a dedicated notebook to track your budget and keep it in a place that’s easily accessible.

2. Add your paychecks and bills to your calendar

Add all of your paychecks to the appropriate date on the calendar, along with the specific paycheck amount.

Next, add your regular monthly bills to their due date on the calendar. Regular monthly bills include your fixed expenses, such as rent or mortgage, insurance, debt payments, car payments, student loans, etc.

3. Tally up your total expenses

Calculate your monthly variable expenses, such as groceries, eating out, gas, and entertainment. If you aren’t sure how much you normally spend, go through your last few months of bank statements and find an average.

You can also divide your variable spending into multiple expenses. If you normally grocery shop once per week, you can add a grocery spending category to your cash calendar as a weekly expense rather than accounting for the whole month at once.

4. Include savings and sinking funds

Ideally, you’d be putting money aside each month to fund an emergency fund and sinking funds. These are some of the most important budget categories that you don’t want to miss!

While there’s no specific date that you have to fund these, choosing a consistent date can help you stick to your savings habit. You can even use an automatic transfer to make the commitment easier.

5. Assign each expense to a particular paycheck

You can use multiple highlighters to color code your calendar. Highlight each expense in the same color as the paycheck you’ll use to fund it. Keep in mind that you won’t necessarily pay every expense with your most recent paycheck.

Let’s say that you get paid equal amounts on the 1st and the 15th of each month, but most of your bills are due in the first half of the month.

In that case, you’d probably use some of your second paycheck each month to pay bills in the first half of the following month.

Expert tip: Use cash envelopes

Using a combination of the paycheck budget and the cash envelope system is a great way to help keep your spending in check. With the cash envelopes system, you put cash into different envelopes depending on how much you want to spend on each budget category.

For example, you may put $300 in an envelope for groceries and $150 in another for fun money. Note that the cash envelopes system doesn’t usually work for bigger expenses, like mortgage payments, car payments, or student loans. (Unless you pay these expenses in cash!)

Instead, you can keep track of these bigger expenses in a simple budget template.

How do you handle unexpected expenses?

The budget-by-paycheck method is a great way to get intentional about your spending and ensure that your spending aligns with your income.

However, regardless of the budgeting method you choose, there’s no avoiding the risk of coming across unexpected expenses.

Whether you’re paying for unplanned car repairs or a medical bill you didn’t know was coming, these emergencies are practically inevitable.

So, how do you handle these unexpected costs in the paycheck budget method? You can create two new budget categories: An emergency fund and sinking funds.

Protect yourself from unexpected expenses with an emergency fund

First, be sure to set aside money in an emergency fund. If you don’t already have one (preferably with 3-6 months of living expenses), then you can make room in your budget to start setting aside some money each month.

Then, when those small and large emergencies pop up, you can pull from your emergency fund.

Prepare for unexpected spending with sinking funds

Another way to avoid an unplanned expense throwing off your budget is by creating sinking funds. The basic premise of a sinking fund is that you take an expense that comes up irregularly and set aside money for it each month.

For example, think about Christmas on a budget. Rather than paying for all of Christmas with your December budget, you can set aside a small amount of money each month all year long.

You can use sinking funds to save for any expense that only comes around once in a while.

For instance, use it for annual expenses like Christmas, biannual expenses like car insurance, and irregular expenses such as car and home repairs.

Add a buffer to your budget

The final way you can handle unplanned expenses with this method is to include a buffer in your budget.

In other words, allocate a set amount of money as a buffer for each paycheck. If a small emergency pops up, you can use that money to cover the cost. If nothing comes up, you can put that money into your emergency fund.

Best tools for setting up a paycheck budget

There are tools available for just about every budgeting method you can imagine, and a paycheck budget is no exception. Let’s talk about a few tools that might be particularly useful for this type of budget:

A monthly calendar

The entire premise of this budgeting method is assigning expenses to a specific paycheck based on the date they come out of your bank account.

Because of that, a calendar lends itself particularly well to this type of budget. You can use color coding to make this method especially easy to keep track of.

Budget templates

There’s no shortage of the best budget templates and printables available these days. No matter what budgeting method you use, you’re sure to find several free and paid options on the market for your method of choice.

A budgeting app

If you prefer digital tools, a budgeting app might be the right choice for you. There are many apps that lend themselves especially well to the paycheck budgeting method.

You can find them by searching in your phone’s app store, filtered by best reviews. Some great ones include YNAB (You Need a Budget) and the Every Dollar app.

How much of your paycheck should you budget?

You should budget your entire paycheck.

In other words, every dollar of your paycheck should be accounted for! This means keeping track of how much you spend on fixed expenses (like rent), how much you spend on discretionary expenses (like restaurants), and how much you save. Using dedicated budget templates and tools can help you stay on track.

What is the 50-30-20 budget biweekly?

With the 50-30-20 rule or budget, you divide your after-tax income into three categories: 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for saving. You can combine the 50-30-20 budget AND the paycheck budget by following the 50-30-20 budget biweekly. You’ll divide up your after-tax income every time you get a paycheck.

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• How To Make A Budget Calendar Work For You
• Always Running Out Of Money Before Your Next Paycheck? Do This!

Creating a budget by paycheck may work for you!

The paycheck budgeting method is an easy system to start with. It is also an effective way to be intentional about where your money is going so you can make more progress towards your financial goals.

For anyone who lives paycheck to paycheck or struggles with spending money before you’ve earned it, this is a great strategy to help you get back on track. Be sure to check out our top budget quotes to keep you inspired as you work on your budget!

The post How To Budget By Paycheck: 5 Key Tips For Success appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

The credit card industry is definitely a lucrative one. And that doesn’t come as much of a surprise, considering most of us are walking around with a credit card in our wallets. But how do credit card companies make money?

Credit card companies make the most profit from interest charges and other fees. In fact, In 2022 alone, U.S. credit card companies made $130 billion off of consumers. But if you use credit cards wisely, you can often avoid paying these at all!

It all starts with learning the specifics of how credit card companies make money. We’ll be answering that question in this article, as well as sharing a few tips on how you can save money on credit cards.

Types of credit card companies and how they work

Before we dive into how credit card companies make money, let’s talk quickly about what they are and how they operate.

How a credit card company works depends on what kind of company it is. There are two main types of credit card companies: issuers and networks. Let’s learn about each type:

Credit card issuing bank

A credit card issuer is generally a financial institution that issues your credit card and who you pay your bill to each month. Examples of big credit card issuing banks include Capital One, Chase, and Wells Fargo. Smaller credit card issuers are out there too—for instance, even your local credit union.

Credit card network

A credit card network processes the credit card transactions. Major credit card payment networks include Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. And in the case of Discover and American Express, the companies act as both the card issuer and card network.

Both of these company types are involved with all the credit card purchases you make. When you use your credit card, you’re borrowing money from the credit card issuer. The card network acts as the middle person to process the transaction.

How do credit card companies make money? 3 ways

Credit card companies make money in more than one way. So what are at least two ways credit card companies make money?

There are actually three main ways when it comes to how credit card companies make money. They include:

1. Interest charges

When you use your credit card, you’re borrowing money from a financial institution. If you don’t pay off your balance in full at the end of the statement period, your balance begins to accrue interest.

Credit card companies make the most profit from interest, particularly when the interest grows and compounds. Remember that $130 billion figure we mentioned in the beginning—the amount credit card companies charged consumers in 2022? Well, $105 billion of that came from interest alone.  

Unfortunately, this doesn’t come as much of a surprise. According to Experian, the average credit card balance rose to $5,910 in 2022. 

Furthermore, the average annual percentage rate (aka APR, or interest rate) on credit cards has recently reached record levels of over 24%. You can keep tabs on the latest figures through Investopedia.

That means the average American is carrying a relatively high balance, and paying a high APR on it.

2. Card user fees

Beyond interest charges, credit card companies also make money on the fees they charge cardholders. Here are a few of the common fees they charge:

Annual fees

Many credit cards don’t require an annual fee at all. However, companies often charge these on cards that come with significant sign-up bonuses or user perks such as cash-back and miles. 

The average credit annual fee is about $94. But keep in mind that high-fee premium cards bring this average up.

Balance transfer fees

A balance transfer is when you transfer the balance of one credit card to another card, usually to get a lower interest rate. When you transfer the money, you often pay a balance transfer fee. These fees often range between about 2-5% of the amount you’re transferring.

Cash advance fees

A cash advance is when you withdraw cash from your credit card account. It’s similar to taking out a loan, but you’re simply borrowing against your credit card balance. In addition to the interest you pay on these advances, many companies also charge a fee. 

These costs can quickly mount, since the average cash advance fee is 5% of the amount you withdraw. 

Late payment fees

How do credit card companies make money from late payments? Well, when you don’t pay your credit card bill by the due date (or at least the minimum payment), you’ll usually be hit with a late fee. In 2022, the average fee for late payments was roughly $32, and U.S. consumers paid a total of $14.5 billion in late payment fees. 

While credit card companies make the most profit from interest by far, late fees take second place on the consumer side of things.

Foreign transaction fees

Foreign transaction fees may be charged on transactions made in a foreign currency or through a foreign bank. This fee is meant to cover the costs associated with currency conversion and processing payments through global networks. 

If you’re a frequent traveler, it’s worth looking for a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

3. Merchant processing fees

In addition to the fees they collect from consumers, credit card companies also collect money from the merchant or retailer who accepts credit cards. These fees, known as interchange fees, cover the cost of processing the transaction. Often, the profits are split between credit card issuers and networks.

In 2022, the nation’s six biggest credit card companies collected a combined $31.9 billion in interchange fees.

Sometimes, small businesses charge an extra fee to use credit cards, and this is why. It costs them more to accept credit cards, so they have to weigh whether they can afford it without passing on the costs. 

Expert tip: Always read the fine print for your credit card

When you get a credit card, it can feel easier to just throw away that huge terms and conditions sheet that comes in the envelope. But the last thing you want is to be blindsided by unexpected fees. So take the time to understand the terms you’re agreeing to!

For instance, research what late payment fees and interest charges you may face if you miss a credit card payment. Before you travel, make sure you’re aware of any foreign transaction fees.

If you’re trying to use your credit card to get money at an ATM, understand what cash advance fees you’ll face for the privilege. And if the card is subject to an annual fee, keep track of when it will renew.

Knowledge is power, so knowing the terms of your credit cards will help you maximize the value you receive from them.

How to reduce credit card costs

There’s no doubt that credit card companies make a lot of money from consumers. But there are plenty of ways to reduce the amount you’re paying to credit card companies.

In fact, if you use your credit cards responsibly, none of your money has to go to credit card companies at all.

Pay your balance in full every month

The best way to save money on your credit cards is to pay your balance in full every month. When you do this, you don’t have to worry about paying interest. You’re only paying back the amount you actually borrowed. 

As an added bonus, paying off your balance doesn’t just help you save money on interest. It also reduces your credit card utilization, which can boost your credit score.

It’s all about using credit cards wisely.

Pay your bill on time each month

Another way to avoid giving your money to credit card companies is to pay your credit card bill on time each month. Doing so can help you to avoid late fees and maintain good credit.

And if you’re having a difficult time remembering to pay your bill, you can set up an automatic payment, so you never have to worry about it. (Although even if you set up autopay, make sure to review your history periodically to make sure your purchases look right.)

Negotiate your interest rate

Credit card interest rates aren’t set in stone. If you find that a lot of your monthly payment is going toward interest, call your credit card company and negotiate a lower rate.

It won’t always work, but it’s worth a shot. Here’s a script that you can use on your phone call.

Search for cards with no balance transfer fees

If you’re transferring your balance to help avoid paying interest, shop around for a card with no balance transfer fees. Depending on the size of your balance, this could save you a considerable amount of money.

Negotiate your annual fees

If you have a credit card that charges an annual fee, you may be able to negotiate with them to waive or reduce your annual fee. Never hurts to ask!

It’s smart to always weigh the annual fee against the rewards you’re getting from the card. If the fee amounts to more than the value of your annual rewards, it might be best to downgrade the card to a fee-free version, or close it.

Have an emergency fund to avoid cash advances

A cash advance is typically only used in the case of an emergency where you need cash immediately and don’t have another way to get it. And while these situations are often inevitable, having an emergency fund in place in a traditional bank account can help you save money. 

Rather than paying a cash advance fee and interest, you can earn interest on your emergency fund while it sits in a savings account, and then it’s there to protect you when you need it. 

Ask for a late fee waiver

If you lost track of time and got slammed with your first late fee, don’t despair! Many credit card companies will gladly waive them as a one-time courtesy. It helps if you have a history of on-time payments and a good relationship with the issuing bank.

Check your credit card statement regularly

Many of us have had a situation where we check our credit card statement, only to find something that shouldn’t be there. Sometimes it’s an honest mistake, and the credit card company fixes it, but sometimes it’s a fee that we weren’t expecting.

And in the worst-case scenario, it’s a case of identity theft where someone has used your credit card number. Checking your statement regularly can help ensure you aren’t paying for any fees or purchases that you shouldn’t be.

How do credit card companies make their biggest profits?

Credit card companies make the most profit from the interest charges they levy on cardholders. Even though credit card companies have a variety of revenue streams, this one stands out above the rest.

Thanks to sky-high annual percentage rates, credit card companies can earn a lot of money from users who don’t pay off their balances. But you can hack the system and pay zero interest charges by paying your statement balance in full each month!

Why are credit cards so profitable to banks?

Thanks to the triple-whammy interest stream of interest, consumer fees, and retailer fees, credit cards can be quite profitable and lucrative for an issuing bank. Even when you factor in the credit card rewards they pay as user incentives, the banks still come out ahead in profits.

Do credit card companies make money if you pay in full?

Yes, credit card companies can still make money even if cardholders pay their full balances each month. So how do credit card companies make money if their customers are all financially savvy?

While they won’t earn interest or late payment fees from those who clear their balances on time, credit card companies still have other revenue streams. These include the transaction fees they charge to merchants, annual cardholder fees, balance transfer and foreign transaction fees, etc.

What are at least two ways credit card companies make money?

Credit card companies use various strategies to generate revenue. But when you look only at their main sources, how do credit card companies make money?

The top two ways credit card companies make money are:

1. Interest charges
2. Merchant fees

This means that the biggest sources of credit card company income are split between consumer and retailer charges.

Now you know how credit card companies make money

Credit card companies make billions of dollars each year, primarily from their customers. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize just how much of their hard-earned money is going to their credit card company.

If you use a credit card, it’s important that you understand the advantages and disadvantages. It’s also important that you plan your finances and budget accordingly so you can pay off your credit card balances as soon as you can.

Luckily, following the tips above can help you to avoid unnecessary interest and fees and keep more of your money for other financial goals.

The post How Do Credit Card Companies Make Money? 3 Ways appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

Do you ever feel like your life isn’t quite as put together as you thought it would be? Don’t worry; you aren’t alone. And while there’s some comfort to be had in knowing that you aren’t behind your peers in getting your life together, it can still feel disheartening. Well, it’s not too late to achieve that vision you had in mind!

Most of us had a vision of what adulthood would look like. We would have a stable job, plenty of disposable income, a beautiful home, and maybe a somewhat glamorous champagne lifestyle.

Well it’s still possible and you can start making the changes you want by telling yourself, “I’m getting my life together,” and then by following this “get your life together” checklist to make it happen!

Getting your life together in 18 steps

If you’re ready to get your act together starting today, here are 18 simple steps to get started!

1. Make a list of your current circumstances

To decide what you want your future life to look like, it’s important to first acknowledge the present.

If your life isn’t exactly where you hoped it would be, then it might feel easier to ignore your current circumstances. But you can’t make meaningful change without taking a hard look at where you are today.

First, make a list of your current circumstances in each area of your life. Areas you might make a note of include:

• Your current job
• Home
• Finances
• Love life
• Friendships
• Hobbies
• Health and fitness
• Your religion or spirituality

Your list should include everything you want to improve on!

2. Decide which parts of your life you’re happy with (and which you aren’t)

The next step in getting your life together is deciding which of your current circumstances are exactly where you want them to be and which aren’t.

First, go through the list of your current circumstances and indicate which ones you’re happy with. This part is easy since you don’t need to make any meaningful changes there.

The harder part is going through your list and highlighting the circumstances you aren’t happy with.

Sure, it might be hard to see just how many parts of your life aren’t where you want them to be. But now that you’ve identified them, you can create a simpler life by making a plan to change them and get your act together.

Also, know that acceptance of where you are now is a huge step towards your personal growth.

3. Set specific goals

Once you know what areas of your life you’d like to change, you can start setting goals to improve them.

When you’re setting goals for yourself, especially financial goal setting, try to be as specific as possible. It’s not enough to just decide you’re going to get your finances in order.

Instead, you should set specific financial goals such as starting a budget, saving $1,000, or paying off your credit card debt.

Set one or two specific goals for each area of your life. Try to have short-term and long-term goals for each aspect that you’d like to improve.

Some areas might seem more difficult than others. After all, how do you set specific and quantifiable short-term goals for your relationships? Well, in that case, you could aim to have a coffee date or phone call with one friend each week.

Once you decide on your goals, make sure to write them down. A study by Dr. Gail Matthews shows that you’re 42% more likely to reach the goals you set if you write them down, according to Inc.com.

For an extra boost of motivation, write them down and place them somewhere you’ll see them every day.

Also, don’t forget how powerful positive morning affirmations can be. So, telling yourself, “I’m getting my life together” or “I have my life together” can have a huge impact on accomplishing your goals!

4. Start small when trying to get your act together

You can’t get your act together all in one day.

Rather, you have to start small. As you decide what changes you want to make in your life, break them down into small, bite-sized pieces.

Sure, knowing how to save $10,000 is a great goal. But it’s not one that most people can achieve in just a few months.

Instead, set a goal for how much you want to save each week, month, or paycheck.

Similarly, start small when it comes to changing your habits. Let’s say one of your goals is to get in better shape. If you currently don’t exercise at all, then it’s not sustainable to set the goal of working out six days per week. You’ll burn out pretty quickly that way.

Instead, start with one or two days. When you’re consistently sticking with that, then you can add another day or two. Getting your life together can be accomplished by getting 1% better every day!

5. Organize your physical space

A huge part of getting your life together is getting organized. Often, a disorganized physical space can make you feel disorganized in other areas of your life. Imagine waking up in the morning and having a hard time finding your keys because your kitchen is cluttered.

Suddenly, you’re late for work and have higher stress the rest of the day. And not only is your stress higher at work, but you might even be dreading going home, knowing that you’ll have to deal with the clutter.

Decluttering your life might not seem like it will make a difference when it comes to your finances, your health, or your relationships.

But you’d be surprised just how much you carry that stress and disorganization into other parts of your life. So, make sure you don’t skip this step. Try reading organizational blogs to help you.

6. Find the right tools to help with getting your life together

A big part of getting your life together is finding the right tools to use along the way. No matter what goal you’re trying to reach, there’s probably a tool designed to help you get there. Here are a few examples:

Habit trackers

A habit tracker is an app that helps to create new positive habits. You set up the habits you want to work on and schedule how often you want to do each one. Then, the app reminds you of your habits and allows you to track them.

Budget apps

There are plenty of budget apps designed to help you reach your financial goals. You can find different apps based on your budgeting style, the goals you’re trying to reach, and more.

Or try the best budget templates! Budgeting your money is a big part of self-care and getting your life together!

Fitness trackers

For someone with health and fitness goals, a fitness tracker is a perfect tool.

First, fitness watches can help you track your steps and workouts. Next, fitness tracking apps allow you to track calories in and out.

Project management tool

For anyone starting a business or working on another big project, a project management tool like Trello or Asana can help you get your act together. It allows you to create specific tasks, assign them to different people, and create checklists of items to do along the way.

Journal

If your mind is what’s holding you back from reaching your goals, then journaling self care might be just the tool you need.

Studies have shown that journaling can have significant impacts on both your physical and mental health. It can decrease stress, decrease your chances of getting sick, and more.

7. Make a plan for your money as an essential part of getting your life together

One of the most important steps on the get your life together checklist is making a plan for your money!

Money is the number one source of stress for a large majority of people. It beats out politics, work, and family as a source of stress and has even more significant impacts on younger generations.

Whether or not your goals are financial in nature, knowing how to make a financial plan is crucial to your well-being. Hence, getting your finances in order can go a long way toward helping you get your act together.

8. Get your act together by minimizing stressors

If there’s something in your life that’s stressing you out, it can have a negative impact on many different parts of your life. Let’s say you have work stress.

Like many people, you might bring that stress home with you at night. It can then affect not only your work life but also your relationships, health habits, and more.

To start reducing stress in your life, make a list of everything in your life that causes you stress. Are there any on the list you can eliminate entirely?

You may find this is the case for expensive subscriptions or social obligations that add more stress than they’re worth. It could also mean planning ahead for major life events.

Other stressors you simply won’t be able to eliminate. Examples of these include toxic people at work and family members. And while you can’t eliminate these stressors altogether, you can identify changes you can make to reduce the stress.

9. Find a mentor

If you have big career goals that you haven’t reached, then a mentor might be the perfect way to take your life to the next level. A mentor can give you career tips or advise you on business goals, introduce you to people in the industry, and work as a sounding board as you come up against career stressors.

Wondering how to find a mentor? Think of people in your network who have offered you advice in the past. Mentorship can be a formal arrangement — at times, even a paid one. But it can also be an informal friendship with a friend in your industry.

10. Create routines for getting your life together

Routines are the backbone of success. When you have routines in place, you no longer have to rely on willpower to stick to your positive habits and reach your goals.

Think about a habit that comes naturally to you, like getting dressed in the morning or brushing your teeth. You don’t have to remind yourself to do those things. They’re a part of your daily routine schedule.

You can use those same systems to create other healthy habits and take better care of yourself. Want to commit to going for a walk each day?

Find the time when you can do it at the same time each day. It will become a part of your routine, and you’ll eventually find that it just comes naturally to you.

11. Identify bad habits

Being a human being makes you a creature of habit, even if those habits don’t really serve you. A key step on the get your life together checklist is identifying your bad habits. If we’re being honest, we can all admit that we have some bad habits in our lives that are holding us back.

Whether it’s staying up late at night watching television, overspending on things you don’t need, or something else, it’s likely affecting other parts of your life.

As a first step, sit down and make a list of bad habits that might be holding you back in certain areas of your life. Then, come up with strategies to reduce or eliminate them.

For example, set boundaries for yourself on how late you stay up at night. If you tend to overspend on home decor regularly, then pamper yourself and add it as a line on your budget so it’s accounted for.

12. Implement the one-minute rule

Do you ever have those tasks that are on your to-do list for days, weeks, or months, and yet you never seem to get to them? We’ve probably all experienced something similar in the past.

One simple strategy coined by Gretchen Rubin is called the one-minute rule. This rule states that if something can be done in one minute or less, you do it immediately.

Setting this rule for yourself helps clear up your to-do list from all of those small tasks that create a mental burden. This can be a great step to help you with getting your life together!

13. Change your mindset

You might be surprised to hear that if you aren’t reaching your goals, your mindset might be one of the most important things holding you back.

If you find yourself regularly talking down to yourself or telling yourself that you won’t reach your goals, then there’s a good chance that you won’t.

But if you adopt a positive mindset and truly believe you can reach your goals, then you might find it easier to do so.

14. Create a gratitude journal

It’s easy to spend your time focusing on the things that are going wrong in your life. And when you’re working on getting your life together and making big changes, it’s natural to focus on the negative things.

Unfortunately, this can also drag you down emotionally and induce anxiety. It can cause you to feel like everything is going wrong.

A gratitude journal is an excellent way to focus on the positive and appreciate the little things in your life. Each day, sit down and write down three things in your life that you’re grateful for.

Aim to pick out three different things each day. They can be as big as your family and friends or as specific as a delicious meal you enjoyed that day.

As you write down what you’re grateful for each day, you’ll find that you naturally become more optimistic and start looking for things to be positive about. Try these journal prompts for self discovery if you don’t know where to start.

15. Take action towards getting your life together

It’s easy to say, “I’m getting my life together,” set goals and write down steps you can take to reach them, but it’s a totally different thing to take action and actually complete those steps.

Starting working toward a new goal is often the hardest step. When you want to save $1,000, those first few dollars are the hardest because you’re not in the habit of saving. When you decide to start working out, those first few workouts are the hardest because you’re not used to working out.

The sooner you take action after setting your goals, the quicker you can get past that first difficult step. Once you’ve started, you’ll find that your momentum helps you keep going. A great way to do this is to focus on challenging yourself to get just a little bit better every day.

16. Track your progress

Once you decide what changes you want to make in your life, it’s important that you track your progress.

Otherwise, you might never realize whether you’re on the right track. As a result, you might find that you never get closer to your goals.

Tracking your progress helps to ensure that you’re on track with your goals. It also helps to motivate you as you see yourself progress. There are plenty of tools out there designed to help you track your progress and stick to your goals and habits.

17. Practice mindfulness to know how to get your life together

Balancing a career with family and other obligations can get so busy. If every day is pure chaos from the moment you open your eyes, make sure to add practicing mindfulness to your list.

Mindfulness has many benefits that include getting rid of negative thoughts, improving your overall well-being, and boosting your enjoyment of life. Luckily, there are many resources to help you get started with practices like meditation and deep breathing.

Check out apps like Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer for guided sessions and tools to help you incorporate mindfulness into your schedule.

18. Ask for help if necessary

Sometimes, all you need is a little help. Whether you’re looking for advice or emotional support, talk to someone you can trust. They could be a friend, family member, colleague, therapist, or mentor.

Seek professional advice or consider therapy if you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or any other mental health issues. You don’t have to go through this alone. That’s why asking for help is also an important step on the checklist.

Expert tip: Take it one step at a time

As you set out to make changes in your life, remember to focus on small changes. Whether you have a small hill or a steep mountain to climb, small steps can get you there.

It is easier to reach your goals with incremental, sustainable actions than grandiose moves that will leave you burnt out and back to where you started. Working through the steps on your checklist will most likely take months or years.

So, be patient with yourself, check back often, and celebrate every progress you make along the way.

What does it mean to get your life together?

To get your life together means to take back control of your life so you’re not derailed by every stressor that comes your way.

It’s a beautiful place to be – to have organization and stability over most areas of your life. It doesn’t mean life is perfect. But that you are prepared and you can deal with life as it happens.

What is the best way to get your life together?

The best way is to follow lay out the series of steps you need to take and begin finding strength to face the challenge head on.

Start with your list of current circumstances, what you’d like to achieve to make you happy, and then break out your specific and actionable goals. You already know there are aspects of your life you want to change.

Decide you will do it and start today. Set a schedule to sit down and make a list of the areas of your life you want to improve on and go from there.

What do I need to get my life together?

The good news is you don’t need to purchase anything to get your life together, you only need to want to change your life. You may need a pen and paper to start and some free apps along the way, but nothing expensive.

As you work through determining what will truly make you happy, laying out your goals and taking intentional action, be open to possibilities and use the power of mindset to stay positive. Stay committed to your goals and ask for help when you need it.

Articles related to getting your life together

If you learned a lot from reading about how to get your life together, check out these posts next!

• Daily Habits To Improve Life: A Good Habits List To Work On Now!
• 12 Steps For Creating The Life You Love
• Starting A New Life Of Improving Your Finances
• How To Rebuild Your Life After A Financial Downturn

Getting your life together is possible!

Getting your life together feels impossible at times, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of steps and self improvement ideas you can take to make small changes and bring you a bit closer to your dream life.

You may not be able to control everything in life, but this get your life together checklist will help you focus on the things you can control.

Take action today by enrolling in our completely free financial courses to work towards your new goals!

The post 18 Steps For Getting Your Life Together Starting Now appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

As a single mother, you aren’t just the sole caretaker for your children. You’re also the sole earner for your household. As a result, it can be hard to meet all your financial needs. The challenging economic times can cause housing problems for many families, especially single mothers, so rent assistance for single moms is crucial.

Of course, any changes to your finances can make it hard to find affordable housing, even in a great economy. That being said, we’ve put together a list of options when it comes to rent assistance for single moms.

Programs offering rent assistance for single moms

Below is a list of some programs offering rent assistance for single mothers. Most require proof that your income is below a certain level as well as other circumstances that mean you qualify for these resources. 

Public housing agencies (PHAs)

The public housing agencies, or PHAs, in your area are a good resource to begin searching for rent assistance for single moms. They manage programs like the public housing program and the housing voucher program.

The public housing program

The Department of Housing and Urban Development offers the public housing program. This program helps provide safe rental housing for low-income families. In order to qualify for this program, you must be a low-income family, elderly person, or have a disability.

Income limits apply, and those limits vary by location, so you may qualify for public housing in some areas but not in all areas.

Nearly one million households across the U.S. live in public housing units , managed by about 3,300 different public housing authorities. To apply, start by visiting the HUD’s website to find your local public housing agency (PHA).

Housing choice voucher program (Section 8)

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is another HUD program for low-income families. This program doesn’t provide actual housing as the public housing program does. Instead, it gives out vouchers to help low-income families rent units in private housing.

Locally, housing choice vouchers are administered by public housing agencies (PHAs). The PHAs receive federal money from HUD to provide this rent assistance for single moms and other low-income renters.

The family is responsible for finding housing where the owner agrees to the rent under the program. The landlord’s payments come directly from the public housing agency on the renter’s behalf; then, the family pays the difference between the rent charged and the program’s reduced amount. Contact your nearest HUD office to apply. This process may have a long wait time, however.

Subsidized housing

The federal government has a HUD program for subsidized housing. This program gives property owners money to motivate them to offer low-rent apartments. This program allows renters to apply directly with the landlord or property manager. The property manager will then disclose income limits for each unit.

Also, property owners can force other requirements. Use the HUD affordable housing locator to find privately-owned subsidized rentals near you.

USDA rental assistance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers various programs to help families find affordable homes in rural areas. A rural area is housing that is located outside of urban areas. These programs help low-income tenants who can’t pay their full rent. They help by providing payments to the property owners on the renter’s behalf.

To be eligible for these programs, you must be a low or very-low-income tenant in a rural area. This is a great option for single moms looking for a home in the country. You can use the USDA website to find affordable rural rentals in your area.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Another federal program that may provide housing assistance is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF. States receive grant money for low-income families with children, and with flexibility around how it’s used, it could go towards helping single moms afford rent, among other household costs.

Find out about TANF in your state to see whether you qualify for monthly cash assistance. 

State agency programs offering rent assistance for single moms

Just like the federal government, each state has a housing agency. Many states have rental assistance programs to help low-income families with housing costs. For more information, contact your state’s housing agency or authority.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army provides a variety of programs to help individuals in need. Their services include:

• Homeless shelters for those without a place to stay
• Transitional housing for those recently evicted
• Housing for those dealing with a domestic breakup, or any other housing crisis
• Permanent supportive housing for elderly and low-income individuals

For more information, visit the Salvation Army website.

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities USA offers affordable housing programs to vulnerable residents. They do this by providing emergency shelter or transitional housing, as well as long-term help to those in need. This includes rent assistance for single moms.

CCUSA currently has more than 35,000 permanent housing units around the country. 1,200 new units are being built to help aid more families. To find Catholic Charities services near you, visit the CCUSA website.

CoAbode

CoAbode is an organization designed to help single mothers connect and create a community. Their mission is to help two single mothers share a home and raise their children together. As a result, both mothers benefit from a reduction in housing expenses of about 40%.

Just imagine the additional benefits of having another mom around to share the load and possibly even connect on a personal level. Mothers also carpool to increase social interaction in the community. You can visit CoAbode’s website to learn more about their programs.

Local non-profit organizations offer rent assistance to single moms

Nationwide, non-profit organizations work to help people improve their lives in their communities. These organizations provide housing solutions such as transitional housing or financial assistance to help low-income individuals. Simply search for non-profit organizations in your city, county, or state to learn more. Area churches may also be a good place to begin.

Expert tip: Look into support from local and government organizations

Housing for single moms represents one of your largest expenses, and it can be scary as you worry about your children’s safety. Don’t be afraid to look into all of the government and local organizations offering resources to help you navigate single parenthood.

As a single mom, there’s likely nothing you wouldn’t do to provide a healthy environment for your kids. Use the resources available to you to make it easier to find rent assistance for single moms or other housing assistance. 

Other resources to leverage as a single mom

In addition to programs that specifically provide housing for single moms, you can also utilize programs that help in other areas. Affording nutritious food and safe childcare can be difficult on one income, so check if you qualify for assistance programs like WIC and SNAP. 

Women, Infants, and Children’s Program (WIC)

Women, Infants, and Children’s Program, or WIC, provides food assistance and guidance. While pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum, as well as up until age five for your children, you may qualify for WIC. Get food and health care referrals as well as nutritional counseling and education through this program.  

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

You might know this federally funded program as food stamps, but it’s officially the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If you’re a single mom on a low income, you may qualify for SNAP benefits, which are funds loaded onto an EBT card for grocery shopping. Income limits and money in the bank are factors in whether you’re eligible. 

Human Services Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

Not only is housing for single moms often a financial struggle, child care costs can absorb a huge chunk of your monthly income. Applying for the Child Care Assistance Program within your state may help cover much of the cost of daycare and supplemental childcare. 

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

On top of housing for single moms, you’ve got to pay bills for utilities. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers federal funds to help families afford energy bills. Stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter by accessing these resources. 

Learn more about money as a single mom

Being a single mom might not leave you with much free time as the breadwinner for your household, but there are ways to improve your financial literacy. If you don’t feel quite prepared financially, you are capable of learning and becoming more savvy about money. 

Take financial courses

Did you know that Clever Girl Finance offers over a dozen free online financial courses? Learn about organizing your finances, budgeting, building your credit, investing, and more with our resources. And of course, you can also browse hundreds of blog articles to help you optimize your financial life.

Read financial books

You can find a number of other ways of gaining financial knowledge. Your local library may hold free educational events on topics like budgeting and debt, for example. While we’re on that subject, if you haven’t used your public library, it’s a wealth of resources like financial literacy books. 

Find ways to increase your income

While you’re in the trenches of trying to find housing for single moms, as well as feed and care for your kids, it may be easy to ignore your future. But even if your income isn’t where you want it to be, it doesn’t need to stay that way. 

Acquire new skills

Try ways of boosting your income, like taking online courses to train for a new career, or starting a profitable side hustle. These skills can provide you with the tools to successfully earn additional income.

Find side jobs

There are several jobs for moms without a degree and jobs for stay-at-home moms to consider.

If you can’t find a ton of time to pursue extra income, see if you can swap childcare with a mom friend. That might gain you a few hours for a weekend side job if you can find someone you trust with your kids. 

How can I afford to live on my own as a single mom?

Signing up for public housing or rent assistance for single moms through governmental and local organizations can make your ability to afford living on your own feasible as a single mom. In addition to housing assistance, you may be eligible for resources that help single moms afford childcare and nutritious food. 

What is the best place for single moms to live?

The question of where to live as a single mom depends on a lot of different factors. You’ll need to do some research on the resources and programs available to you based on your income, assets, family size, and other qualifications. Inquire with both government and non-profit organizations to find out what options you have, of course keeping your children’s safety top of mind.

Related articles for single moms

If you have found this article on rent assistance for single moms helpful, check out this other related content:

• Where To Find Rent Assistance For Single Moms
• Key Resources And Money Tips For Low-Income Families
• How To Live Without A Job Until You Get A New One: 5 Tips
• 8 Ways To Create A Winning Single Mom Budget
• How To Afford Being A Stay At Home Mom

Leveraging rent assistance for single mothers can help ease financial troubles

Raising children on your own brings its own unique financial challenges, among other single mom struggles. Luckily, there are plenty of organizations offering rent assistance for single moms, which can make it easier to survive financially. 

If you are currently facing housing concerns, start exploring these programs to find an affordable housing solution. Above all, keeping your family safe is most important. P.S. Here are some tips on how to create a single mom budget.

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