I heard a long time ago that one of the reasons some families remain wealthy is because of insurance. The father (or mother) makes sure there is adequate insurance to cover the funeral and the lose of their income. There is often multiple policies in place to make site the family never has to worry about money.

You are probably wondering why I am talking about insurance and death right? Its because my uncle passed away on Friday. He was a good man; kind, funny, and always smiling. But he had been sick for the last couple of years. This illness left him financially devastated and his family unprepared for his death.

There is no insurance to cover the funeral service and burial, so the family has to rely on the kindness of others to help cover the expenses. It’s good for people to help, but insurance usually covers all this. It takes the financial burden out of the equation so the family has time to mourn.

This scenario is an example for everyone, especially single moms. We are solely responsible for the welfare of our children so it is important to have life insurance to cover funeral expenses. The insurance should also cover the lose of yearly income three or four times over.

A friend of mine had already taken care of her funeral expenses so her family doesn’t have to worry about it. Making these decisions while you are still alive is an option that can save your family time and expense. It relieves them of the burden of planning.

I know all this may sound morbid but the reality is death is a part of life. We are born, we live, than we die. My uncle’s death just makes it very relevant for me right now.

I must get life insurance for myself as well as look into pre-planned funeral services. I’m sure there is a lot to think about and options to consider when choosing a service. I have had my will drawn up so that’s a step in the right direction. I also need to get short and long-term disability insurance. All this is important to good financial health for you and the children you may leave behind (God forbid).

Do you have life insurance? Is it enough to cover funeral expenses and provide 3-4 times your yearly income? Do you have disability insurance? Do you have a will?

My Own Handmade Jewelry! Order a Pair. Only $10

I’m sure you’ve seen the latest jewelry trends on the runway and in the stores. Did you know half of the trends you see started at someone’s kitchen table? Jewelry is no different. Visit any arts and crafts show or festival this year, and next year you will see the same designs being sold for retail. If you have any kind of creativity you can design and make handmade jewelry.

Materials for Handmade Jewelry Side Hustle

To get started you need basic tools including:

• Needle nose pliers or other multi-use tool
• Multi-gauge wires
• Chains
• Charms
• Beads
• Closures / Findings

How Much to Start this Side Hustle

If you are starting out making simple jewelry pieces your investment can be as little as $20. It will depend on the complexity of your pieces and the quality of your materials. There are jewelry kits for beginners that you can get on Amazon, at Michael’s, or other craft stores.

Level of Difficulty of this Side Hustle

The level of difficulty for making jewelry ranges from super easy to challenging. It will depend on what you are making. A simple pair of earrings can take less than a minute to make. If you are making your own crystals it could take weeks because you have to go through an intense process and a lot of heat to make them.

Where to Sell Handmade Jewelry

The number of places to sell your jewelry seems endless. You have the choice to see at arts and crafts shows, at yard sales, on consignment, hair salons, home parties or on your own website. You can also sell on numerous craft selling marketplaces such as:
Etsy
Yardsellr
Art Fire
Lily Shop
Bonanza
Jewelry Wonder

How Much Money Can You Make Selling Handmade Jewelry?

You can make as much or as little as you want selling handmade jewelry. It will depend on the uniqueness and quality of your pieces. For example, if you see a simple pair of dragonfly earrings for $10 each you could make $100 if you sell 10 pair. Depending on if you sell on your own website or through one of the online marketplaces listed above, you may or may not have to give up a small percentage of your sales. The faster you can make jewelry and the higher the demand for your pieces the better your chance of making a nice profit. Of course you have to let people know that you have amazing handmade jewelry for sale. Do this through social media, advertising, offering specials and discounts, and using a variety of marketing methods.

How to Make Handmade Jewelry

Additional Handmade Jewelry Resources

If you’re a single mother these days, then you probably don’t need anyone to tell you how hard it is to raise a child, or multiple children, and always make ends meet.  Often times, we rely on a combination of credit, extreme determination, and the grace of God to get us through.  Staying on top of your finances and following budgets can certainly be hard work among all the various other things you’ve got to worry about.  That’s why I’ve compiled this short list of tips that have helped me stay debt free, and on top of my financial obligations during times of serious struggle:

 Prepaid Cards

Prepaid debit or credit cards are some of the best options for those problem spenders out there that can’t seem to shake bad credit habits. Because you control how much goes into a prepaid card, there’s no risk of overspending or getting behind on payments.

They also offer the benefit of making you more away of how much you’ve got in your account and how much you’re spending on a day-to-day basis; checking your balance is usually as easy as logging in online via a computer or smart phone and makes for some very easy monitoring.

Getting a prepaid card is also extremely easy.  Just hop online and apply for a Green Dot credit card or a similarly helpful card that’s right for your needs.  In my personal finance journey I’ve found that these cards can truly help keep you out of debt and get you on the path to better spending habits in no time.

 Budgeting

I know it’s often hard to stay on track with budgets, but if you can create one and really stay adamant about following it, you’ll be saving more money than you realize.  Take the time to write down all of your expenditures over a two or three-week period, and then go back and look at that list.  You’ll probably be   appalled by the amount you’re spending on unnecessary items or items that you could do with less of.

Once you’ve got that information, you can start planning a monthly or weekly budget that only allows for the essentials, plus a small stipend for unexpected costs that pop up here and there.  This will save you tons in the long run if done properly, and is a great way to even start saving some money on the side for the future.

Credit Use

If you absolutely have to use credit cards, there are some important rules to follow for staying out of debt.  The biggest one is don’t use your card unless you absolutely have to.  I know it’s easy to pull out that little piece of plastic whenever you see a cute dress or something you feel like you really want, but in the end, it’s these impulse purchases that can kill your credit.  Also, try to keep your credit card count to one card if possible.

By opening multiple lines of credit you increase your risk of forgetting about payments or being late on others, which can be detrimental to your credit score.  This also brings us to the next point, which is make your payments on time and in full at all costs.  Missed or late payments not only damage your credit score, they will ultimately increase the amount you owe in accrued interest.  One or two late payments can lead to three or four, which can in turn snowball into a whole mess of debt.  Staying smart with your credit card(s) is probably the biggest tip to staying debt free in this harsh economy.

In using these three tips personally, I’ve gotten myself into much better spending habits and reduced my risk for debt substantially.

Although I still struggle in the day-to-day grind that is single motherhood, it’s nice to know there are others out there dealing with the same things and trying to improve all the while.  Hopefully these tips help you and your family through the times, and can potentially save you some extra cash in the end.

If you live in the Atlanta area you know the festival season is getting into full swing. Well the arts centers are getting in on the act as well. On June 3, the Woodruff Arts Center will have a Free Community Day. Here are the details:

A few months ago, maybe a year ago I started getting daily emails from Daily Worth. The are very informative and helps me as I continue my quest for financial freedom. Each day I get emails on a different financial topic. They are quick tips to help me with budgeting, savings, and spending. They spotlight real women who are having problems or who are successfully implementing new financial habits.

In their own words, “DailyWorth is a free daily personal finance email for women. It delivers practical tips, empowering ideas, and the occasional kick in the pants. DailyWorth tips cover self worth, net worth, saving, spending, earning, investing, taxes, entrepreneurship, financial feminism, and much more. More than ever, money matters to women. Women need to recognize their own self-worth and build their own wealth. Now women can take control of their finances by signing up for DailyWorth.”

I recommend signing up for the newsletters for a daily dose of financial inspiration. Get your Daily Worth here –>> Daily Worth Newsletter sign-up

Want to live better on the money you already make? Visit TheDollarStretcher.com to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar! Copyright 2012 Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Homemade Wrinkle Releaser

To make wrinkle releaser, use one part fabric softener to 15 parts water. Put this into a bottle with a spray nozzle for misting. Clothes smell great, and it works for pennies on the dollar!
Lee

Free Mulch

Be sure to find out if your town offers free mulch. We’ve made at least four trips to fill two garbage cans at a time, but it’s worth it. My gardens and bushes look nicer, and the mulch helps the soil.
Margie

Natural Facial Mask

The cheapest and best facial mask I have ever come up with is oatmeal processed to a powder in the blender mixed with either skim milk or, if you are trying to fade spots, lemon juice. It really works well for me, and I have dry skin.
Jan

Emergency Preparedness Kits

Here’s something to think about for your emergency preparedness kit. Please be sure to rotate medications regularly to ensure the medications are not expired. Perhaps every time you refill the prescription, you could replace the emergency kit ones and use up the previously set-aside pills.
KT

Before You Close On That Home…

Here’s something that just caught my parents by surprise after purchasing their new home. If the house has a septic tank/field, have the seller of the home empty the tank. This can save you hundreds of dollars in removal of the waste and in landscaping fees if the previous owners didn’t take care of the tank properly.
Dawn N.

Natural Flea Prevention

My father has always added a half of a teaspoon of brewer’s yeast to the wet food fed to our cats as a “treat” once a day. We’ve had seven outdoor cats over 25 years and have never had fleas on them or in the house. My father says it’s because the brewer’s yeast makes their skin unattractive to the fleas’ sense of taste. It’s inexpensive, too!
Joanna

Caring for Leather Boots

I have had a lot of luck caring for boots by carefully brushing dirt from the area where the sole meets the upper and then applying leather cream generously. I then stuff the toes with crumpled newsprint. I recently read that a great way to store winter socks is to jam them into the toes of boots/winter shoes. The boots or shoes keep their shape and you don’t need another place to store the socks. If the calves of the boots are long enough to need support, I roll a piece of cardboard to the shape needed and insert it into the leg of the boot. I store them lying down; if stored with soles on the floor, wrinkles can develop in the leg/ankle of the boots as gravity pulls the leather down.
Marcie

Kitchen Water Waste

We don’t have a dishwasher and find it is all too easy to let the water run constantly as we wash and rinse the dishes. Several years ago, I was replacing our bathroom showerhead and realized that the on/off flow restrictor attached to that showerhead might also work in the kitchen. I removed the aerator from the kitchen faucet, added the on/off valve, and then replaced the aerator. It worked brilliantly! With a quick push of the button, I can now turn the water off without having to reach for the faucet handle with wet, dripping hands.
Bev C.

Eye Makeup Removal

I can’t bear paying good money for oily eye makeup remover pads when they’re so easy to make. I use an old t-shirt, which is soft and lint free naturally, cut it up into squares, trim the edges if I’m feeling energetic, put these into a small container, and soak them in baby oil. I get hundreds of pads for virtually nothing. If I’m travelling, I just pop a few into a small zipper bag. It warms my frugal heart and keeps my eyes in good condition.
D.

Why I Buy Bulk Wheat

For a good, healthy, and cheap hot breakfast cereal, buy wheat in bulk. Some sources are feed and farming stores, survival stores, or grocery stores that have a good bulk food section. You’re looking for the dry wheat berries that are then ground into flour.

Boil the wheat berries just as you would rice and then add honey and/or butter (or whatever you like) to taste. It’s a good hot cereal with plenty of fiber and nutrients, including both carbs and vegetable protein. Moreover, it helps you wake up in the morning because it is chewy, and chewing action helps to perk a body up.

Boil a large batch and use what you don’t eat for breakfast as a rice substitute in casseroles or soups. To make a good veggie casserole, mix boiled wheat with lemon slices and chopped celery.

Wheat berries are also good for making inexpensive sprouts. Eat them before they green, or they’ll become bitter. If they have barely sprouted, you can bake them and grind them into a malt-flavored powder to use instead of store-bought malt powder. Wheat sprouts go very well in salads for a bit of extra flavor or to add some hearty bulk to soups. They have a light, sweet taste with a bit of nuttiness to it.
Michelle Y.

I am a big fan of Dove Moisturizing Body Wash so I’m on their mailing list for coupons. I got an email about a month ago inviting me to be a part of their Show Me Your Skin Campaign. I would be a part of the living ad. I followed the link to their website where I could upload my photo. It was pretty easy. I just had to tell what product I loved and why then enter my first name and last initial. They would let me know when my picture was on the website.

My picture would also be shown on the Dove big screen in Times Square. This was going to be interesting and exciting. They said they’d send a snapshot when my picture was displayed on the screen. It took two or three weeks for the email to arrive telling me I was seen in Times Square. I clicked the link and sure enough there I was. I was famous! I finally got my 15 min…er, 15 seconds of fame, LOL! It doesn’t matter because my beautiful skin was on display for all the world to see.

I love this campaign because it features “normal” women from all walks of life. I’m a happy camper and will continue to support Dove by buying their products. They make the ordinary woman feel extraordinary through their campaigns. The message they are sending is every woman is perfect the way they are. There is no need to feel you have to be a skinny model to be acceptable.

Two thumbs up to Dove!