Managing on One Income as a Single Parent

Dealing with your finances as a single parent can be one of the most stressful parts of starting over. You’re already emotionally drained from the breakup, you’re running on empty, trying to keep yourself together while managing the kids, the house, and everything else. Then on top of all that, you’ve got to figure out your finances. It’s hard. It’s exhausting. And it can completely break you down if you let it.

Financial stress doesn’t just affect your bank account, it affects everything, how you parent, how you show up for work, how you treat yourself, and even how you connect with others. You’re constantly worried: “Can I pay my bills?” “Can I put food on the table?” “Can I even afford petrol to get to work?”

I get it, I’ve been there. I’ve been in the position where I couldn’t leave the house because I couldn’t afford petrol. I’ve slept on a blow-up mattress. I’ve lived off bread because I couldn’t afford anything else. So I know the pressure you’re feeling, and I know how extremely overwhelming and hard it can all get.

But here’s the truth: as hard as it feels right now, there are ways to make it work. If you stay stuck focusing on what’s not working, you’ll never move forward. But when you start looking for small steps you can take to improve your situation, even tiny ones, things slowly start to shift.

There’s help out there. Government agencies offer food hampers and emergency vouchers. Utility companies will work with you if you let them know what’s going on, they’re not going to just cut you off without a conversation. But you have to reach out. They can’t help if they don’t know your situation.

And the same goes for your rent or mortgage. If you’re struggling with house payments, reach out to your bank or real estate agent and let them know what’s going on. You’d be surprised at how understanding and supportive people can be when they know your situation. It’s just about remembering that people can’t help you if they don’t know that you need help.

I’m not saying that they’re going to give you everything for free or wipe your slate clean (wouldn't that be nice), but quite often in these situations they’ll waive late fees, pause or reduce interest, extend payment periods, or set up smaller instalments to help you get back on track. Some might even offer temporary hardship programs or reduced payment plans. They are usually quite flexible, but again, it’s about knowing how to ask for that help. And just remember, people can’t help you if they don’t know that you need it.

There are also so many loyalty programs that give you discounts and points you can use towards groceries. This all adds up. You can sell things on Marketplace, do some delivery driving, mow lawns, clean houses, start a side business, little things that bring in extra income add up more than you think.

It’s also about reassessing your expenses. Quite often, there’s a lot of money going out that you don’t even realise you could cut back on, and those small changes can save you a lot over time. Things like unused subscriptions, brand-name products, or even sticking with the same utility or phone provider out of habit can all add up. Take some time to shop around, compare plans, and look for cheaper alternatives. You don’t have to sacrifice quality; it’s just about being smarter with your money and finding what works for your situation. A few small adjustments can make a big difference to your overall budget.

Because It’s not about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about shifting your mindset from “I can’t do this” to “What can I do today to move myself a little bit forward?”

Yes, it’s scary. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. But it’s also temporary. You can get through this but it starts with you finding the drive to actually want to get through it, instead of staying stuck where you are.

And as hard as it is, try to stay positive. I know it’s not easy, especially when everything around you feels like it’s falling apart and nothing seems to be going right. But try to remind yourself of the things you do have. You’re still here. You’ve got your kids. You’ve got a roof over your head. Those are things worth being grateful for. Start there. Focus on the small positives and on the things that are working, instead of the things that aren’t. Because slowly, with time, those small steps and small wins add up, and that’s how you start to rebuild your life.

And that’s also how you slowly start to rebuild your financial situation. It’s hard right to see when you're in the early days of it all. Once you get into the momentum of making it work, working out what you can cut back on, where you can save, and how you can shop smarter, it gets easier. You start finding little tricks that make your money stretch further. You learn how to make your finances work better for you, not against you.

There’s also free financial support out there, a lot of government agencies and community groups offer financial counselling and budgeting advice specifically for single parents. It’s worth reaching out and seeing what’s available to you, because there’s always help if you know where to look.

And that’s also how you slowly start to rebuild your financial situation. It’s hard right now, but that’s because you’re at the start of it. Once you get into the momentum of making it work, working out what you can cut back on, where you can save, and how you can shop smarter, it gets easier. You start finding little tricks that make your money stretch further. You learn how to make your finances work better for you, not against you.

There’s also free financial support out there, a lot of government agencies and community groups offer financial counselling and budgeting advice specifically for single parents. It’s worth reaching out and seeing what’s available to you, because there’s always help if you know where to look.

So don’t give up. Don’t let your current situation make you believe this is it or that life is impossible. It’s not. There’s always a way forward, and you can get through this. So please don’t give up hope. Don’t let your current situation make you believe this is it or that life is impossible. It’s not.

There’s always a way forward, and you can get through this.

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