When tax time rolls around, many people are worried about whether they will have to pay even more of their hard-earned money. Single moms who need a financial boost shouldn’t have to worry about that, because if they fall in a lower income bracket, there are many things they can take advantage of that will not only give them a tax return, but will increase the amount of money they get back. Before you file taxes, keep in mind these tax breaks:

File as the Head of Household. If you were single on the last day of the year, if your children lived with you for the majority of the year, and if you contributed 50% or more to the household expenses and children’s needs, then you qualify as head of household. This allows you to take a higher standard deduction, and also means you pay slightly less in taxes than someone who is not the head of household.

Each qualifying child is an exemption, but keep in mind that only one parent can claim a child. Therefore, if you have joint custody, one would claim the child during the first year, then the other during the second year. In 2009 the basic exemption was 3500, which means the first 3500 dollars of your income would not be taxed. The more dependents you have, the more money you can potentially get back in a refund.

Each child under the age of 18 allows you to earn a child tax credit of 1,000 dollars, which is taken away from the amount of taxes you owe. The child tax credit is now standard on most tax-reporting forms, and the only thing you need to claim it is to declare your dependents.

The earned income tax credit was designed to give working families a break at tax time by giving a refund on a sliding scale, based on how much money a person makes. If you made too much money, you won’t qualify — but even if you made too little to owe taxes, you might still qualify for the earned income credit. The only way to know for sure is to check the IRS website or talk to a tax professional.

The child care credit is for those who have paid someone else to watch their children while they worked throughout the year. It applies to children who are under the age of 13, and you must have made some income during the year to qualify for it.

If you think you might qualify for any of these — and virtually all single moms do — then talk to your tax professional about what your next steps should be.

Every single mother has “the talk” at some point. You will have to explain why they don’t have a daddy living at home like other kids do. Whether you are single by choice, whether he is in the picture or not, the question will be a tough one to answer in a way that a young child can understand. But when your kids begin to ask about why you and their father got a divorce, you are in for an even bigger can of worms.

The question of why you and their father chose to live apart is not one that can be answered in one easy conversation. It will become an ongoing dialogue that will continue until your child is old enough to understand, or perhaps even until they are parents themselves. The best way to discuss the situation is to never lay blame, and never give specifics.

Begin by answering in very general terms. Perhaps compare your relationship with your former spouse to one of your child’s friends, one they no longer get along with, for whatever reason. Make it clear that what happened between the two of you had nothing at all to do with your child, and make it clear that they are always loved, no matter what problems you might have had with their father. It is important to make the distinction between adult relationships and the one a mother has with her child — and point out that though sometimes adult relationships don’t last, you will always be their for them, because a mother’s love never changes.

Older children might press for reasons, or might tell you that their father told them certain reasons about why you broke up. Don’t give specifics, and if your child’s father does, simply tell your child that you think it is unfortunate that their father chose to talk about that. Remind them that sometimes adults get angry at each other and stay angry for a long time, and that can cause them to say hurtful things. Don’t place blame, but simply tell you child the way things can be when adults get emotional.

Above all, stay honest. Never tell your child a lie, because even decades later, they might remember it and be hurt when they realize what you did. Keep it all above board and take the questions as they come. Your child will thank you for your tact when they are old enough to understand the situation.

That need for a new car is something every single mother dreads. Eventually, your vehicle will get to a point where even the most simple repairs cost more than the car itself is worth, and you will have to make some tough decisions. Here are a few ways to get that new car without being taken to the cleaners on the way:

Avoid “buy here, pay here.” The buy here, pay here dealerships offer great deals and might have some very nice cars to choose from. The price seems incredibly low — but that’s often the thing that snares you into the deal. The cars are not always in the best mechanical shape, and choosing one of them could set you back with even more repairs in six months or so. But the kicker is in the cost – by the time you are done paying for the vehicle, you have paid much more than you would have if you purchased it from a traditional car lot. If you absolutely must use one of these establishments, try to have half of the money up front, and make payments of much more than the minimum.

Don’t take the hard press. To the car salesman on a deadline to hit a quota, you’re not a single mother — you’re someone who needs to be separated from her wallet in the most efficient way possible. It is simply what they do, and the problem is, they do it very well. A slick salesman can have you signing on the dotted line within hours, but when the first car payment comes, you realize it’s for much more than you expected, and now you’re in even more serious financial trouble than you were before. No matter where you go car shopping, remedy this problem by vowing not to buy that day. No matter how nice the vehicle, no matter how “limited” the offer might be, walk away. There is always another vehicle.

Consider “for sale by owner” options. Many owners will choose to sell their cars themselves to save on commissions. Because they save money by selling themselves, they can pass that savings on to you with a lower price than what you would get on the dealer’s lot. If you don’t have the cash to pay for the vehicle up-front, ask about handling a lien through the local courthouse. The paperwork is legal and binding, which protects both of you as you make small monthly payments.

Don’t forget insurance! Many single moms will purchase a car for a great price, be fully able to make every payment on time and in full, but then get shafted on the insurance premium. Before you upgrade to a nicer car or even choose a car of a different color than your current one, run the insurance numbers with your agent. The extra money owed could be significant, so make certain of what you are truly getting into before you make that leap.

Single moms deserve to have good, healthy relationships just as much as anyone else. And as a single mother, you know how important it is to be happy — your children see your happiness and mirror it themselves. There really is truth to the saying that if Momma is happy, everybody is happy!

Dating is one of those things that single moms begin to think about at some point, usually after the pain of their last breakup has faded and they are ready to move forward and see what’s out there. But dating as a single mother is very different than dating as a woman who doesn’t have children. There is more than just your happiness to think about — now you are a package deal, and whoever falls in love with you had better understand that he’s bound to fall in love with your kid, too.

So what are the ground rules? How do you learn to navigate that world of single mom dating? These tips can help ease your dating jitters:

Be completely honest. You’re a single mother. Times are tough. Sometimes you’re scared, but you always know that you have to do the best for your kids. If a man wants you, he must want your children as well. Be up-front and honest about the fact that you are a doting mother. Focus your attention on your date, but do mention that you have kids. That puts the ball in his court, and if he wants to date you — knowing you have children — he will ask for that second date. If he doesn’t, congratulate yourself on narrowing down the field and having a chance to find someone who really does want a woman with kids.

Don’t bring him home. No matter how quickly you hit it off, wait a while before you introduce him to your children. The last thing you need to do is introduce someone who might become a father figure to them, and then walk away at the first hint of relationship trouble. Give it several months before you invite him to spend time with your children, and even then, make it casual — meet him at a park, or “run into him” at the laundromat. Give your kids time to adjust to the idea of this new man.

Let your kids decide. If your children are younger, let them tell you when it’s time to invite that nice man to the movies with you. The more comfortable they are with inviting him to come along themselves, the more comfortable they will be when things move into something more permanent. If your children are older and know “what’s up” when it comes to this new guy, keep the lines of communication open, and make sure your kids see how happy you are. Make sure to tell them, every single day, that you want them to be happy, too.

As a single mother, you know how important health insurance can be. The last thing you want to happen is a medical emergency, and then have no money to pay the bills when they come due. Beyond the financial factor is the practical one — who will take care or your children and provide for their needs if an injury or illness sidelines you? It’s important to have insurance to cover any eventuality.

Having life insurance is very important, and most single mothers will opt for life insurance as soon as they are eligible for it through their workplace. Life insurance is much less expensive, however, then health insurance or disability coverage. Many parents will have life insurance but forgo the other, because they simply can’t afford to have that much taken out of their checks.

But can you really afford not to do so?

You can save on health insurance and disability by following these tips. They will bring your insurance rates down significantly:

Stop smoking. After at least one year of not smoking, your premiums begin to go down. The longer you go without smoking, the less you will have to pay in health insurance premiums. Besides that, the better your health will be, and the less likely you will be to get sick.

Stay healthy. Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight under control. Exercise regularly and eat plenty of fresh veggies. Take all medications as prescribed, and don’t miss your doctor’s appointments. The healthier you are, the lower your insurance rates will be, and you will be less likely to have to visit the doctor in the first place.

Get a group rate. Get your health insurance through a group rate, usually through your employer. The more people who opt for the group rate, the cheaper the rates are across the board. Don’t be afraid to look into other alternatives if your workplace seems to be stuck with a plan that costs an outrageous amount of money.

Make some lifestyle changes. Did you know extreme sports can send your insurance rates skyrocketing? Some insurance companies will even pull things like your driving record, and if you are a regular speeder, you are an insurance risk — and that means your rates go up. Keep up with reasonable lifestyle changes in order to bring those rates down.

Combine your insurance. Most states require insurance before you can drive your vehicle. Why not combine your insurance policies with one company and take advantage of the loyalty discounts? The more business you can offer the company, the less your insurance premiums will be.

Invest in supplemental insurance. Companies like AFLAC offer supplemental insurance that takes care of bills your regular insurance might not cover. If you have a mortgage, ensure that your insurance will kick in to pay the bills if you are sidelined by an illness. The more you plan for every eventuality, the better off you and your children will be.

By now you have plenty of tips on how to save money, and you might have already started counting those pennies and stockpiling that extra cash. But if you still need a little push in the right savings direction, these additional tips will help. Remember: Start out with one or two of them, get comfortable with the way it feels, and then strive to do more. Saving money can be a major lifestyle change, and as with any big change, it takes time to grow accustomed to it.

• Get inspired! Wander around the web and find instances of families cutting corners, saving pennies, and making a savings out of what seems to be nothing. Look for sites that offer cheap recipes, homemade solutions, and inspirational tidbits to start counting your dimes!
• Team up with friends. Don’t hit that bistro for lunch and then worry about the prices. Pack sack lunches and go on a bike ride instead. Plan on a leisurely walk around the neighborhood, and don’t bring along the checkbook — there’s too much temptation afoot! When museums or zoos have freebie days, get together with your kids and take them. Have a blast for free and save the money you would have spent.
• Use direct deposit. Out of sight, out of mind. Have a small amount of cash taken out of your paycheck and sent to your savings account before the money ever touches your hand. That way, you know you will be saving money, and you will work with what you have.
• Rid your home of temptation. Magazines, shopping on the television or the internet, and other money-grabbers have to go. Throw the magazines in the trash, block the television channels that try to sell you something, and avoid sites on the internet that suck your time and money.
• Got a raise? An extra check here or there? Save it. The smallest amounts really do add up over time. That five dollar rebate check or that tiny refund you weren’t expecting will look nice in your savings account.
• Actually get that savings account. Many people will decide that getting a savings account is a hassle, or they worry about bad credit, and so avoid the savings account altogether. But this makes it very easy to spend the money you do save. If you absolutely cannot open up a savings account, spring for a safe deposit box or some other option that will keep the money safe, but out of your immediate reach. This will alleviate those tempting “gotta have it now” moments of impulsive purchasing.

Many single moms fall victim to investment scams every year. They are targeted because they really do often need the money, and they hope to provide a better life for their children. Investment scams prey on the hopes and dreams of those who have been handed a tough hand in life, and single moms seem to be a prime target for those who just want to take the money and run.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid investment scams:

Demand proven results. Start-up ventures, investing in something such as cattle or crops, or investment firms that don’t pony up information when you ask for it should all be avoided. If they can’t give you firm numbers and people outside their own little circle to contact, don’t give them a dime.

Too good to be true? Even if the investment banker does give you a list of names to contact, and even if those contacts say it’s the greatest thing ever, stay alert for those moments that just don’t add up. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is — and it’s probably been quite effective in luring people in, unfortuantely. That’s what happened to many celebrities when Bernie Madoff wound up losing all of their money while running a Ponzi scheme.

Keep it in confidence? No way. If any investment requires that you keep the plan in the utmost confidence, or requests confidentiality in any form or fashion, run far and fast. If you’ve ever noticed the spam emails that offer a great deal of money but ask you to keep it hush-hush, you know how this works. The fewer people you tell, the more people they can hit with the scam. Besides that, the aura of secrecy is alluring to some who want to believe they have hit the big jackpot, and don’t want to let anyone else in on the plan.

Never give out your account numbers. No investment company will ask for your pin numbers, so never give them out. If anyone asks for that, simply hang up the phone or close out the email. Reputable investment corporations will invite you into their office and handle everything in an above-board manner.

Do your research. A young, start-up company can be here today, gone tomorrow. Check into the company you are thinking about investing with. Do they have a track record that spans several decades? Have they weathered ups and downs in the investment business? You’ve found yourself a winner. But if the paint is still wet on their shingle, wait and see what others do before you throw your hard-earned money into it.

How did they contact you? Here’s the biggest red flag of all. Did they contact you out of the blue for this opportunity? Reputable investment corporations will let you come to them, not the other way around. If your name was purchased from a list or somehow found at random, it’s not coming from a legitimate business, so steer clear!

When money is very tight, sometimes even the simplest things are hard to come by — and then what do you do? Creative repurposing of items around the home is a great way to extend the life of the things you own, keep the materials from filling up your landfills, and best of all, you save money by not buying something new.

With a little creative thinking, just about anything in the home can be repurposed. Here are a few things that have worked for me — see if they might work for you, too.

• Hang on to those bread bags! The bags are well-sealed to protect the bread, and once you remove the bread, why throw away a good bag? Use it for small, soft items, just as you would use a ziploc sandwich bag. When I make a loaf of bread and have some left over, I cut it into slices and store them in the bread bag. Why not? That’s what it was for in the first place!
• Don’t throw away any containers. When you use up that cottage cheese, sour cream, or something else that comes in a container with a tight-sealing lid, wash it well and save it. The same goes for glass jars with screw-on lids. You can use them for storing leftovers or to hold the odds-and-ends of crafting. If you have some old labels lying around, you can use them to denote the new use, or you can simply write on most containers with a black marker.
• Do you have socks that have permanently lost their mates? Don’t throw them out! Use them as dust rags — just slip one over your hand, spray it lightly with water, and go to town on those dusty surfaces! You can also use them as bathtub soakers — fill them with oatmeal and a variety of spices or herbs that are good for your skin, tie them at the top, and drop them into the bathwater for a fragrant treat.
• Use the plastic cases from new bedding, sheets, pillowcases, and the like to use as clothing storage. My daughter received a large comforter for her birthday, and it came in a huge plastic zippered bag. The bag now holds her summer clothes, and slides neatly underneath her bed. When warm weather hits, her storage is right there at her fingertips.
• Save your old laundry containers and fill them with homemade laundry soap. You could also use the pails that kitty litter comes in to hold items around the house. I took one of those pails, painted over it with a few coats of deep blue exterior paint, and now it serves nicely as an attractive mop bucket.

What can you repurpose around the home? Get creative with things you might not have considered as reusable, like those toilet paper rolls that can double as seedling starters, or the old t-shirt that would make a great cleaning rag. The options will save a lot of money in the long run!

With everything else single moms have to worry about, dressing for a job interview might be the last thing on their mind. In fact, you might consider the best dress you’ve had in your closet for years the only interview attire you have.

Proper business attire gives a first impression to your potential employers, and the sharper you look, the more like you are to get the job. If they see you looking professional, they are more likely to picture you in that professional role. But how can you possibly afford a nice suit or a business dress when you’re doing your best to put food on the table?

Organizations like Dress for Success are the answer. Dress for Success offers a woman a nice suit for an interview, free of charge. When she gets the job, she can return to Dress for Success to receive a few more pieces of clothing, and those can start the basis of a new professional wardrobe. Dress for Success also offers career services that can help you succeed in your new job.

But it isn’t just Dress for Success that offers this kind of help. Many domestic abuse shelters give their residents a bit of help with clothing. It stands to reason that many victims of abuse got out when they saw the opportunity, and left with only their children and the clothes they were wearing. They need clothing to start fresh and new. If you are a resident in a domestic violence shelter or are working closely with one to get your life back together, ask about professional clothing for your next job interview.

Church clothing closets often have a special section for those who need professional attire. You might also find this same section at thrift stores. Places like the Salvation Army sometimes offer a deep discount or a certain dollar amount of clothing for free, as long as it is being used for a specific purpose, such as that job interview. Stop in at your local Salvation Army or Goodwill store and find out more about what they offer.

When you do have that interview, dress as neatly and cleanly as possible. Even if the suit you wear is older, or even if you don’t have a suit to wear, your personal grooming habits can make you look professional. Style your hair appropriately, keep your nails clean and trimmed, and wear only very simple jewelry.

Most importantly, project an air of “can-do” confidence. You can do this job, and you deserve to have it! Carry yourself with confidence, no matter what you are wearing, and your first impression is bound to be a good one.

Single moms often have to deal with financial hardships. Sometimes you might see that gorgeous dress or that perfect item you know your kids need, but you simply can’t afford the price on the tag. That’s when you make a decision: Do you walk away from it? Or do you learn to haggle the price?

Not everyone feels comfortable with haggling the price. But everything is for sale, as the old saying goes, and everything does have its price — but does it have to be that high? You might be surprised at what you can haggle down. It’s expected at yard sales and flea markets, and you might be good at doing it there, so why not expand your creativity to include things you might not expect?

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Shop around. Don’t jump at the first thing you see, no matter how badly you want it right then. Go home and look online. See if you can find anything similar to the item on eBay or other online stores. Look for discounts and coupons. You might find something much cheaper than you expected.

If you do find something similar but it costs about the same, then you have room to haggle. Go back to the first place and tell them where you found it – can they offer a discount to earn your business? You might be surprised at how well that works, especially with clothing stores in competition with each other.

Stay true to your word. If you offered them your business for a discount and then you get it, go back and patronize that store as often as you can. The more they see you, the more they will realize your loyalty, and the better your chances of haggling something down in the future.

Comparison shop. If you need to have something done to your home, for instance, talk to the professionals and get quotes. The more quotes you get, the more likely you can haggle the price down. Call your first choice and tell them how much lower their competition bid — can they match the price?

Pay cash. Always pay cash when you haggle the price down, and be prepared to pay it right then. When a seller sees cash in your hand, they are much more likely to bring the price down, because they know you are serious — and they will get their money right away instead of waiting for your bank or credit card company to come through.