February 23, 2012

4 Ways for Single Moms to Afford Child Care

Many single moms struggle to afford everything they need to raise a child. If you are among them and want to find a way to afford child care, you should consider your options. There are more than you might think.

One option is getting state aid. You may be leery of applying in case you do not qualify, but most single mothers are eligible to get at least some form of help. You can usually get food stamps or at least WIC to help you pay for food, which would free up some money to pay for child care. Sometimes you can even get a voucher that offers you a certain amount of money every month to pay for daycare.

You can also try to find a job that offers child care. Admittedly, these are few and far between, but more companies are becoming parent-friendly and include free or cheap daycare to attract quality employees. If you go to school, you can look for this same feature since some schools now offer affordable or free child care.

Another option is finding cheap daycare, such as a mother who watches her own kids already and would just like to make a little extra money from home. You may have friends who offer this benefit for a much lower price than others would, so ask around. In fact, you may even be able to trade services, such as cleaning a house for free daycare.

If you prefer to rely only on yourself, you can always get a payday advance. This is best when you will have the money for daycare next week, but need it now to pay your share. This may be the only way to keep your child in daycare when you are low on funds, so consider it.

Interpreting Your Daughter’s Wish List

Your daughter’s wish list may include everything from the best dollhouses to the most elaborate children’s books. If she’s old enough to write, she might present her list in written form or simply call out what she wants while you’re driving in the car or tucking her into bed. Satisfying your child’s needs requires understanding her wishes and choosing the best toys and gifts for her development.

Understanding the Wish List

The first thing to do is interpret what your daughter really wants. She may see another child with a Barbie doll and want one just to fit in. This may be a passing wish or a desire that stays with her. When the desire is strong, she’ll likely state her wish repeatedly. Satisfying her wish on a special occasion by giving her a cherished doll and one of the best dollhouses will surely result in a gratitude-filled smile or hug.

Making Balanced Choices

When it comes to fulfilling children’s wishes, parents must often weigh a few factors. Giving a child everything she wants may not necessarily be good for her. For example, one slice of chocolate cake is harmless, but eating half a cake will likely cause a stomach-ache.

The act of discerning wishes and satisfying them can be useful for all involved. Children learn the art and joy of gift giving by receiving gifts. They feel overjoyed to receive their favorite items and learn to make others happy in the same way as they mature. Additionally, whether playing house or learning how to play a computer game, children can have a multitude of learning opportunities from these gifts.

21st Birthday Gift Ideas

wine glass

Image by monicaxrose via Flickr

Turning 21 is a very important milestone for many. It symbolizes a teenager turning into a true adult, moving on to the next stage in his or her life. So what do you get someone who is turning 21? Here are a few gift ideas to get you thinking.

Glasses

No, not the seeing kind, but the drinking kind! 21 marks the point in a person’s life when they can legally drink, so why not mark it with a lovely wine glass or beer stein? There are plenty of styles and designs available for all sorts of tastes, and there are plenty of party shops which will have a custom design put on to the glass for you. For a female try a pretty patter or her name. For a guy, try his name or a funny slogan.

21st Key

The 21st key is an oversized key, usually made out of thick cardboard or wood which is given to the birthday boy or girl as a memento of the occasion. If there is a big 21st birthday bash, then everyone at the party would sign the key and it would be presented to him or her as the key to their adult life. This is popular as it is a classic keepsake that can be looked upon at anytime with fond memories.

These are just a couple of ideas for 21st birthday presents. Think about the person who you are buying for. Would they like something to receive that will be a keepsake for the occasion?

 

Enhanced by Zemanta