7 budgeting tips for single parents (from a single parent)

When I first became a single parent, the scariest part wasn’t juggling school pick-ups, after-school activities, and work. It was staring at the bills, realizing there was no second income to lean on, and wondering how on earth I was going to make it work.

Over time, I’ve found a system that works for our family. It’s not perfect, but it keeps us steady and even leaves room for fun. Here are the budgeting tips that have helped me most, with a few ways I’ve worked Greenlight into the mix to make life easier.

1. Start with the essentials

I had to learn quickly that I couldn’t stretch money across everything on our wish list. I had to focus on the basics first: 

• Housing 

• Food 

• Kids’ needs (always changing!) 

• Transportation 

• Healthcare

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Once those were covered, I figured out which extras fit in. And we prioritized. Not everything could happen every month, so we had to make a plan.

Greenlight helps me show my kids how to budget their allowance and the money they earn from part-time jobs. If they set a savings goal in the app, they’re motivated to shift money over there every month to get closer to what they’re working toward. 

2. Create a buffer to cover surprises

A couple of years ago, we had one really rough (but memorable!) month. First, my son ripped his backpack on the way home from school. Then, not even a week later, my daughter needed a new outfit for Career Day. And, oh yeah, I forgot the car was due for new tires that same month. Sound familiar? 

Surprise expenses happen to everyone, but they can hit a little harder when you’re a single parent. I knew I needed to figure out a way to get ahead, so these surprises didn’t mean it was time to scramble. I started by setting aside a little bit every week (initially just $20) as a cushion. It’s not a lot, but it built up faster than I thought. 

I have my kids learning how to do this, too. In addition to setting up savings goals in Greenlight, my daughter also started a “Fun Day” savings goal so she has some extra money when she wants to splurge a little or just have a day out with friends. I even started matching a little of what my kids save with parent-paid interest, so they can start to see how compound interest works.

3. Track every dollar (yes, even the $3 coffee)

Those small charges, like coffee, can really add up quickly! So can those monthly subscriptions that you forgot you even signed up for six months ago. Tracking everything you’re spending is really important when you’re trying to get a realistic idea of your budget every month. And it doesn’t always end up with needing to tighten up your spending. Once I tracked everything, I realized that some months I had more room in the budget than I thought.

If you’re new to budgeting, check out the different types of budgets and pick one to try.

4. Involve your kids in the plan

As single parents, we know our kids may be going through a lot, so our natural instinct is usually to try to hide our stress from them, including money stress. But when I started including my kids in the monthly budgeting process and talking to them about what was set aside for each category, it actually helped. They understood why I said no to certain extras and started making smarter money choices on their own.

We even set up a family savings goal in Greenlight for a summer vacation a few years ago. Everyone added what they could (for my youngest, it was just a few dollars a week from his allowance). It made the trip feel like a team effort.

5. Automate what you can

Between juggling work and trying to be there when my kids need me, I don’t have the brain space to remember every single due date. When I started automating all of my bills and adding money to my savings account every month, it took a huge amount of pressure off. And things were less likely to fall through the cracks! 

I use Greenlight to automate even more. I have recurring chores and an automated allowance. So the kids do the thing, and then they get the money. It makes it so much easier for me. Plus, no nagging about when I'm going to pay them their allowance!  

6. Let your kids explore independence 

I’d like to think I have a combination parenting approach. It’s part Type-C parenting, part lighthouse parenting, part figuring it out on the fly. Like most parents, my goal is to raise kids who are confident going out in the world and able to make good decisions. Money decisions are a big part of this! 

Greenlight helped me introduce my kids to the concepts of budgeting and saving when they were really young. Now, as teenagers, it’s like second nature to them. One added perk is that Greenlight makes it possible to give them that independence without losing the ability to check in or teach them as they go. With spending alerts and flexible parental controls, they build confidence, but I can still make sure things are good from the background.

7. Give yourself grace

Some months, I feel like I’ve nailed budgeting. Other months, not so much. Things don’t always go smoothly, and sometimes I still have to scramble and shift things to make it work. And that’s okay. The goal shouldn’t be achieving the perfect budget, but creating a system that works for you and sticking with it.

At the end of the day, budgeting as a single parent is more about having a plan, being consistent, and teaching your kids as much as you can along the way. After all, you’re in it together!

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