How I Manage To Save as a Single Mother

I am here to brag about the Best Money Saving App for Single Mothers.

Saving as a Single Mother can be challenging.

Maintaining the household, car note, car insurance, medical insurance, life insurance, food and hygiene products to name a few are the start to a monthly budget.

I know for me I only buy what is needed. I use to splurge and confuse my wants versus my needs. When children come into the picture it causes a mindset shift. Well at least it did for me. I had to start making conscious decisions and understand that every dollar spent should be accounted for.

I remember attending an MLM (Multi-level marketing) conference in Texas last year and a woman introduced me to an app called Digits. She told me how it had helped her set aside a savings plan for emergency funds. I immediately signed up and linked my checking account to start saving right away.

Fast forward to today I have managed to save a little over $500 in the last year. That might not seem like a lot to most but to a single mother that is a lot. I can admit sometimes I struggle to put up $25 a week. I am a work in progress and I can admit that.

Why Digits?

Reasons why I chose to download digits versus the many other savings apps.

Save money without thinking about it
Create your goals
Pay down debt
Save for anything
Protect your bank account from overdrafts
Unlimited withdraw, no account minimum
Automatic 1.00% Savings Bonus

This app has literally changed my life for the better. I wish I would have known about it sooner but it came in perfect timing.

Not to mention this app analyzes your spending and moves money from your bank account to digit based on that data.

I think we all can agree data is POWERFUL!!

Cost

Digit is completely free to try. After your trial period, a monthly subscription costs $2.99 and can be canceled anytime.

Important Factors

Digits is bank-level SSL 128-bit encryption which securely protects your funds and sensitive information.
Your digits savings are held at FDIC_insured banks and insured up to a balance of $250,000.

I was so excited to share this amazing savings app with you all that I hope you enjoyed this information and decide to test out the app for yourself.

How I Survived My First Day Working at a Childcare Center?

Well Moms want to know how I survived my first day working at a Childcare Center?

I hope so.

My two youngest attend the Childcare Center.

Yikes right?

So before clocking in on my first day I didn’t know what to expect. By that, I mean not having experience working in a childcare center I didn’t know if I would totally like being around the children, as though, I am a mother of three and I struggle to find time for self.

Boy was I wrong?

I love it! Even though I only work two days a week. Interacting with the children is definitely a joy.

As a working mother being physically present in the childcare center where your children attend is so different from just dropping/picking your child up from school. I found that being physically present you spend time to know more about your child in an educational setting while interacting with other children in their classroom. Most importantly, you get to know the staff in the childcare center and understand more about functionally of the center.

My middle child was so happy when he seen that I was assisting in his class that he automatically assumed he would get special treatment because I’m his mother. I had to cut that off real quick. He got treated just like the other’s.

P.S. This was the two year old class that I was in and let me just say moms talking to about 14 two year old’s is a never ending battle. They stay hungry. They stay thirsty. If they could eat and drink all day they would. Now I understand why the concept of assigned breakfast/lunch/afternoon snack exist. Most children are use to getting food/drinks when they feel like it but at school it’s more like a reward. It takes time for most children to get use to the assigned time schedule but they grow to like the idea of it because they really don’t have a choice.

As a parent, my son can eat all day and so having assigned blocks for food/drink cuts down on any opportunities to ask for it and it controls his body intake of food/drinks. We all know that the more they consume the more waste comes out which means more diapers or pull ups or bathroom trips. Any parent that buys pampers/pull-ups that’s an expense I’m sure we all can’t wait to do away with.

As I arrived to the childcare center I watched over the children as they took their nap and were to wake up shortly. After waking up they put up their cots and blankets. Snack is at three o’clock everyday so once they awake from their nap they are anticipating their snack. From snack they have circle/learning time and at about four fifteen they go outside until all the children are gone.

Because I come in the later part of the afternoon I am not present for most of their mornings which consist of educational material that is planned by the lead teacher. The afternoons are more relaxed but still educational.

I really believe now that parents (mothers/fathers) should spend at least 2-4 hours a month in their children’s class or as a floater at their school.

In this generation, as parents it’s important to be active in our children’s education because it let’s them know at an early age that it’s important. Consistency is key when setting an example around your child/children.

Mom’s do you volunteer at your children’s school? If so, what do you do?

Mom’s have you ever worked at a childcare center? If so, when and are you still there? If not, what made you leave?

I’m glad I could share this experience with you all and I look forward to many more stories similar.

Leave any comments below!!

Are You Seeking Breastfeeding Support?

Well I can definitely help you with that.

Or are you someone that looks down upon breastfeeding?

Have you turned your face up at a mother breastfeeding her baby before?

Why does the boob bother people so much when it’s being used to give a small one nutrients?

Well It Looks Like Our Government Has Agreed On A Breastfeeding Resolution.

Yes or No.

Well being a breastfeeding mother I guess. I need answers about what was the issue before the passing of the new law to make breastfeeding in public legal.

To some this may be the best news ever but for me it’s no biggie.

Thought #1: I Can’t Feed My Hungry Baby!!

I would assume this statement was for or from someone who can’t or couldn’t afford to buy formula for their little ones. Being a breastfeeding mother I have yet to say I can’t feed my hungry baby!

You want to know why?

To be honest, if I am out and about and baby girl is hungry I will definitely whip out my boob in a polite manner and feed baby girl because that’s what a breastfeeding mother would do. As long as I can produce milk my baby will eat from my boobs until stated otherwise.

A few places where I have fed baby girl with no cover up:

*restaurant

*in line at a place of business

*in my car

*at the mall

*on the airplane

*on the beach

*in a public bathroom

Have You Heard About The New Law Regarding Breastfeeding?

I promise I never knew it was illegal to do such a thing. It amazes me to think that feeding my baby from my boob makes other’s uncomfortable. Call me insensitive if you want but really some people just need to grow up. For example, men if you seen a woman in public feeding her baby how would you react? I am hoping that you would respect the mother but I know that some men would get disrespectful because they would take it as the woman is seeking attention. Not sure how feeding a baby is attention seeking but some will try to argue the point.

Reasons Why I Breastfeed?

For those that don’t know I am a mother of three and my breastfeeding story with all three of my children are completely different. After learning the importance of breastfeeding I made sure to educate myself of the benefits for myself and my children. The benefits are amazing and I wouldn’t have it no other way. For example, my 8 month old baby girl has yet to get sick or anything which is one of the benefits of being breastfed. Not one ear infection, cold, etc. I say all this to say mother’s sometimes when we educate ourselves on certain topics you become knowledgeable which sometimes changes your way of thinking. I am not trying to offend anyone so if you are a mother who feeds your baby formula this is not to shade you but to also encourage you to try something new as well. I will say breastfeeding is time consuming but tell me anything that’s good for you that is NOT time consuming!

I promise not to rant on and on about this but I wanted to throw my two cents in about the passing of breastfeeding in public now being legal because the government said so.

Mother’s I would love your input on this topic. Let’s talk!!

Continue reading Are You Seeking Breastfeeding Support?

I AM STRUGGLING… Please help!

Being a mother how do you handle time management?

Not in a million years did I think being a mother was EASY!

I knew it came with challenges, sad days and good days.

Now being a mother of three children I have experienced the challenges, sad days and good days of being a MOTHER.

Some days I have to put what I want to accomplish on the back burner to care for my children. Most days I say bump this and get to work on what I need to do. Is it hard? Yes most definitely. UPDATE: Now having a six month old whose schedule is very unpredictable is my first challenge. She still sleeps a lot and if she is not sleep she is up talking baby talk or eating. I am currently breastfeeding so she eats every three hours. My second challenge is my day to day with my one year old. UPDATE: He is two weeks away from being two years old. He is into everything. He likes electronics so he thinks he can use my cell phone, iPad or computer at any time. He has the weirdest eating habits. He likes o walk around the house with no diaper. I started potty training him but I must say it’s HARD. Remember my oldest is a five years old and I promise I potty trained her within a week. He don’t like to sit on his potty. We have had some boo boos. My oldest is in school during the day but when she comes home it’s another story. She is my big helper. Despite being a kid herself she has her ways but what kid doesn’t. It’s a daily struggle but I wouldn’t change it.

Time management is currently something I am working on. We all know that little ones have their own schedules. No matter how much you plan there will be breaks in between. I am a very detailed and organized person but sometimes I can get ahead of myself and try to do too much at once. i know I’m not the only person that does that.

I find myself stuck because I am trying to figure out what is most important and should be done first.

I believe in taking charge of every single minute you can. My daily to do list has every minute accounted for. When I create my to do list I anticipate I can follow it from start to finish. Boy do I trick myself. Most days I forget I am one person. I promise having a clone would help me out so much. So much for wishful thinking. Despite it all us mothers get it all done.

I say all this to say if you are a mother who is struggling to manage your children and work hang in there. You are not alone.

30 Day Challenge – Moms Get Fit Too

Being a work from home mother I am all over the place most days.

Tired? Yes.

Don’t feel like cooking. Most days. I wish I had a personal chef.

Completing work and caring after my two youngest ones can be difficult. Majority of my days consist of caring for everyone else and sometimes not doing one thing for myself. I’m lucky if I can use the bathroom alone. Moms I am sure you can understand where I am coming from.

I had some goals that I wrote down for myself at the beginning of the year and the most important one was to get a routine down so I can get back to working out. After having three children I must say that my body needs some tender loving (LOL). Pictured below is me.

(Picture taken 2.28.18)

This is me 12 weeks postpartum. Most probably wouldn’t show themselves like this but I like to keep it real. Don’t get me wrong I love my body but I just want to tone my stomach, buttocks, arms and overall get back in shape.

Which is why I created this 30 day Challenge.

This 30 day Challenge is to help moms who are busy at home or working a 9-5 with little ones that can’t seem to fit a workout into their schedule.

Want in this challenge?

Feeling overwhelmed?

Feeling overworked?

Need 15-30 minutes to yourself daily?

Want to get back in shape?

Join Me Now!

Breastfeeding Month: Guest Post #3

{Disclosure: My posts may contain affiliate links. If you use them I will receive commissions, at no extra cost to you.}

We hope you all enjoyed our first guest post on breastfeeding. Here I will be introducing our third guest post of the month.

Guest Blogger: Rachel Scott

3 facts about Guest: She has a 9 month old little girl, started her own blog to become a work at home mother and she is a wife of a veteran.

When I was growing up, and even when I was pregnant, all I heard was how important breastfeeding was for your child. Breast is best. That’s what they always told me. Breastfeeding was also the cheaper option (which was great for a family of one income and an Army Retirement). I expected that everyone would be open to me breastfeeding my daughter, but I was wrong.

I will never forget the day I was talking with my coworkers about being pregnant and everything that I needed before maternity leave. My boss, who is a women, looked at me and said, “You’re not planning on breastfeeding, are you?” She said this like it was a bad thing, like it would inconvenience the office if I did. I smiled and said that I was, but I was confused since this was supposed to be the best option. Our HR department still found a place for me to pump and I planned out when I would pump through out the day.

Once my daughter was born, she had no problem latching. In fact, she was a cluster feeder. This meant that she would nurse every 30 to 45 minutes day and night. I thought for sure that I wasn’t making enough milk, but then I ended up with mastitis because I was producing too much. I expected this to mean I would be pumping enough at work for my daughters 4oz per bottle. I was wrong.

Turns out, you pump less than your child would eat. By the time I stopped nursing, my daughter was eating 30oz a day and I was only pumping 6oz to 8oz. We were having to supplement so much anyway that I just decided to stop breastfeeding. My healthy 9 month old is doing just fine on formula and weighing almost 21 pounds. It’s not that breast is best, fed is best.

Thank you for sharing your story with us Rachel!
Check out Rachel’s blog: www.tryingnottogocrazy.com