Now that you've worked out a plan to pay down your debt, and you've created a budget, it's time to determine your needs moving forward.
Specifically, as a single parent, you need to ask yourself some questions, such as:
- Do you need to file for child support?
- Do you need to get a higher-paying job?
- Is it time to think about going back to school?
- Do you need to consider moving into a home/rental that would reduce your overall monthly payments?
- Are there alternatives, such as taking on another job or splitting expenses with another single parent family, that you need to consider at this point?
One of the things that I want you to know is that the ball is in your court. You determine where this goes from here on out. But unfortunately, you can't do that if you're ignoring your financial health, right?
So the fact that you've come this far in the process of getting a handle on your finances tells me that you're determined to make the changes you need to make in order to provide for your family's future.
So go ahead and ask yourself these questions. So much of single parenting is learning to roll with the punches and be creative in the face of adversity. If, indeed, you need to make some pretty major changes, now is the time to do it. Don't incur any more debt where you are. Be resourceful, follow through, and do what you need to do to turn your financial situation around.
