how do i budget my money with a low income and a child.?

Answer 1

One of the things I did, back when I was really broke and earning minimum wage was get out some envelopes. Label them according to your bills (rent, electricity, water, food, laundry, etc.) Then figure out, based on how you got paid (weekly, twice a month, etc.) how much needs to go into each envelop on each payday when you cash the check (be sure to get some small change).

To do this, you have to cut back EVERYTHING.
A simple apartment (nice and cheap are hard to find, but worth the looking for). Simple furnishings (bed, chair, table, couple of chairs, lamp, refrigerator, stove, sink, bathroom). Try to get it close to where you work, close to the child's school, close to the park, close to the library--the geography may be a bit different but look for things close to you.

Simple clothes (in my case the army taught me how to dress simply, you just don't need to wear olive drab or khaki everywhere). Have two, no more than three work outfits that you have to buy yourself. Simple, plain dresses. One outfit for special (job interviews, church, weddings, funerals, etc.). And two utility outfits for everyday work like going to the grocery store, taking the kid to a park, and such. Change out of work clothes immediately (to reduce wear and tear). Unless they get messed up, wash them only once a week, wearing them twice and the cleanest one on Friday. You should have one good pair of shoes for work, that goes with your work clothes. One good, but still inexpensive, pair for the special occasions, and no more than two other pair for the rest of the time, one almost dressy (grocerty store) and one for the rougher stuff like the park, exercise or when picking up empty cans or whatever you might do outdoors. Maybe some flipflops for around the house. All as nice and as cheap as you can get both for. Your makeup should be the basics, foundation, simple color lipstick, a little special color for blush and eyes on special occassion, but mostly be you as best a well-rested body acquainted with soap and water can be. Clear, bright eyes and a smile can make up for a lot of missed make up. Figure on quarterly visits to the beauty shop for a trim after you get a simple, low maintenance style.

If you are paying for the electricity, don't run the air conditioner continuously, just a little before you go to bed and maybe a little when you get up if its still hot and you've got to stop sweating in order to get ready. Keep no light, except a reassuring nightlight you bought on sale, on when you do not need it. That goes for the closet when you aren't in it, the bathroom when you aren't in it, the bedroom when you aren't in it, etc. If you have a TV, just watch a few shows, no more than two a night and then shut it off. You can listen to a radio all day for less electricity than an hour's TV. Visit the library often (it will be cool in summer and warm in winter and you can get books for you and find books to read to your child).

If you hae selected your clothes well, you might get a weeks' laundry done in two or at most three loads at the laundromat. Bring a book (if its from the library, don't lose it, it will be expensive to replace) and your own water or snacks. The only money you might spend there is for the washer and maybe the drier, period.

For food, it is basics. Basic bread from the day-old, half-price shelf. Lots of vegetables, a fair amount of fruit, and very, very little meat. If you must have sweetened drinks, besides orange juice and milk, use koolaid or brew some simple tea.lipton or lucerne tea, nothing fancy. For milk, consider mixing low fat with instant powdered milk to keep in your fridge. Learn to love potatoes, rice, beans, and cabbage, carrots, onions, radishes, and lettuce (don't forget iceberg, but don't use it exclusively, its good and cheap but some of the leaf lettuce is more nutritious and at only a little more cost). Peanut butter, jelly, canned corn and peas, maybe pineapple are about the only thing you don't want to get fresh and spend the time cleaning and cooking yourself. Cornflakes and other simple and generic cereals, jello and pudding for desserts are cheap.

Then have three more envelopes. One for splurging, you've got to pay yourself for a treat now and then, something fun like ice cream or a matinee movie. Another envelop for savings, which you will have to rob often, but try to go to it as if you were about to have a tooth pulled, you REALLY have to need it. When you get a couple hundred dollars in savings, put half in a savings account at a bank. Open a checking account, with a minimum but don't use it unless you are mailing a payment somewhere and would otherwise have to get a money order (NEVER mail cash). You will save money with check cashing fees and money order charges, so if you can do it just to get these services. Finally, you need an envelope for giving. This would be offerings at church or simply a gift when you see someone on the street that truly is worse off than you (don't give the whole thing, spread it out) but look for those in truly difficult situations. You might buy a little milk or a box of diapers for some other mother who is struggling. Even when you are poor, you can't become selfish.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Well if you don't make that much than just buy what you really need. Don't go shopping at exspensive stores. Go to Ross, it's cheap and you cand find adult clothes and kids clothes. They also haev some designer names. But only buy what you really need. Also try to put away 10 dollars here and 20 dollars here. Start saving. It's good to save.

Answer 3

you just do. You have to make things stretch, decide what you have to have and what you can do without. There are payment plans for your heating and eletric needs through the provider. which helps a lot.

There are also stores for groceries that will save you money. save a lot, or aldi.

Answer 4

I recommend going to the following mircosoft website and downloading the family budget template. It's very organized and should help anyone needing organization in their finances. I hope that helps! Good luck!!

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010233421033.aspx?CategoryID=CT011815531033

Answer 5

carefully, put some aside for energencies, remember that its what you REALLY spend that matters, day after day. If you have to count out some every day for you and some for your child. Even its 5 and 2 dollars oer day.

Answer 6

You just do it. I was a single mom with 4 kids for 10 years and I did it. It CAN happen. Best wishes =)

Answer 7

buy only what you need. don't spend things on a want. when you go grocery shopping for example. Plan your meals ahead of time and try not to buy double of something you already have at home.

Answer 8

first get assistance with light gas and ex. and then child support and if you didn't finish school do it because you wouldn' t like to struggle like this for long ok hope everything turns out right

Answer 9

very carefully