Here’s the thing with life insurance for single moms: Women often mistakenly believe that life insurance is not for them since they might not have an income today, or their income is too low to afford it.
If this is you, Mama, you’re not alone …
A Genworth survey found that 69% of single-parent families with kids at home are without life insurance, compared with 45% of married-parent families.
The reality is that most moms need life insurance until their kids graduate college.
Here are a few situations in which you should purchase a life insurance policy:
You should buy life insurance when you have a first or another baby.
You should buy life insurance when you get a divorce.
If you have a business, pet or philanthropic cause you want to leave money to, an investment in life insurance can benefit more than just a biological family.
In general, you need life insurance if other people depend on you:
You are a parent to minor children
Your spouse depends on you
Your aging parent or disabled sibling depends on you
Women need life insurance more than men do, yet they are less likely to be covered.
67% percent of women surveyed in 2019 by agency Haven Life said they had life insurance, compared to 79% of men.
Of those who had an individual life insurance policy, the women had an average coverage amount of $231,342, compared to $423,102 for men surveyed.
Why the difference? The survey also asked whose death would have the greatest impact on the family — the primary earner or the primary caregiver. Women, who were more likely to be caregivers to children, and more likely to earn less than men, agreed with their male counterparts in the survey: Both genders say the death of a family’s primary earner would have the greatest negative impact on the family.
So why should women and moms prioritize health insurance, no matter their family status, or earning? Read on!
You need life insurance for your family
I know, we all think we are invincible, but the fact is there is always a possibility of something happening at any time. I’ve seen first-hand how families have struggled because they were not prepared for the unexpected.
Chances are, your children are financially dependent on you. If something were to happen once Social Security kicks in, your family would still need more financial support. Life insurance provides that.
Women live longer than men
This is old news: Women outlive men. This is true in every country in the world. In the United States, male life expectancy was 73.4 years, and 80.1 years for females — a difference of 6.7 years.
Men — including those with young children living at home — die earlier than women. The reasons: more dangerous jobs, higher suicide rates (the reasons are many and complex), higher propensity for risk-taking, that leads to aggressive driving and traffic fatalities, violence, and homicide.
Biology means men are more susceptible to fatal disease, while also less likely than women to seek out medical care.
Women are more likely to be the primary caregiver to children
When fathers die, their wives, partners and exes are then left fully responsible for the care of any children or other dependents.
Because of divorce and separation, more than 25% of fathers live away from their children’s primary residence, according to recent U.S. Census data. In military families, fathers are more likely than mothers to be deployed. Fathers are more likely to be incarcerated than mothers.
In all of the scenarios, mothers are not only the primary caregiver to the children, statistically, they are also the primary financial provider, too.
Even in cases where child support is mandated by courts, less than 40% is actually received by the custodial parent, and the average sum last year was less than $400.
In other words, while we may be working on more equality between moms and dads (both in terms of financial and logistical care of kids), today the fact remains: If you are a mom, you are likely to be primarily, if not solely, responsible for your kids.
A full financial plan includes life insurance.
Women are more likely to be the caregiver to aging or sick loved ones
Historically, and around the world, women have taken on the role of caregiver of aging and ill adults in the family.
Many employers offer life insurance policies as part of a benefits package and may even cover some or all of the cost. However, most employee-sponsored life insurance plans are capped, typically at one to two times your annual salary.
If you had an employee-sponsored life insurance plan before you became a single parent, remember to switch out your beneficiary if you no longer want the money to go to your ex.
We'll discuss later why you shouldn't name your children as beneficiaries (and what to do instead).
Life insurance is less expensive for women
Because women statistically live longer and are less likely to die than men, life insurance coverage is cheaper for us because insurance companies can spread out payment over a longer period of time. That means fewer excuses not to buy it!
The truth is, life insurance is often very affordable. For example, if you are a 40-year-old, non-smoking female and in good health, you could obtain coverage for less than $20 per month. You can always increase your coverage later, but it’s best to lock in a rate while you are young because it does get more expensive as you age.
These are top offers – see what might work for your family:
Still not sure if you need life insurance?
You think your life insurance policy through work is enough
This is a common perception, and it may be true depending on your situation, but it’s important you understand the limitations of an employer life insurance policy:
They are contingent on your employment with the company (no job = no insurance!).
You can’t lock in a rate with these policies, so the price is going to go up as you age, so you may be paying more in the long-run.
Finally, they usually only cover 1-2x your salary. How long will that last for your family? Is it enough?
You don’t totally understand how life insurance works and who gets the money
Life insurance can be really confusing and there are a lot of misperceptions. While it can cover burial expenses, as a mom, this is only part of what you need to be thinking about.
You also need to consider how your family will survive without your income. I know it isn’t pleasant to think about, and that may be a reason why you have put it off, but you really shouldn’t.
You’re uncomfortable paying for life insurance you may never need
I’ve heard this one before as well, and although we never want to waste money, this is one time I hope you waste money (nothing ever happens to you).
However, on the off chance something does happen, you need to be prepared. The consequences can be disastrous financially if you’re not prepared.
You let your life insurance policy lapse
If you did, your coverage will be or has been canceled and you have to start the whole application process over — and prices are likely to jump.
Life insurance FAQs
New to life insurance? Here’s what else you need to know:
Just like most term life insurance policies, life insurance will help your family financially when you die. It is intended to provide help to your loved ones when they can’t rely on your salary or income any longer.
The payout can be used to pay for your kids’ child care, college, daily care, to pay off any of your debts (including mortgage), or support their lives financially.
How much life insurance should a single mom have?
Here is a quick-and-dirty formula: for most moms, multiply your income x3 to arrive at the amount of term life insurance you need.
For example, if you are a 40-year-old woman earning $50,000 per year at your job, buy a term policy with a $750,000 payout. Of course, there are many variables, including how much you have left on your mortgage, whether you want to fund your kids’ college, the age of your kids (the younger they are, the more insurance you may want to buy), whether you are responsible (or want to take responsibility for) an aged or disabled loved one.
A life insurance agent can help you find the right answer and the right policy. Use a life insurance calculator to understand how much life insurance you need, and qualify for. Items to consider:
Your income — you likely want your kids or other heirs to enjoy a certain lifestyle by way of your life insurance.
What do you want to pay for? If you want to make sure your kids' college tuition is paid in full, then consider that expense. If you want to pay for college and grad school and a down payment on a house and their wedding, then that is another sum.
Cost to pay off debt. This may include credit card and personal debt that will need to be settled before your estate pays out your beneficiaries. If your debt is significant, factor that in first.
How much can you afford? While you likely cannot afford not to buy life insurance, buying too much that you cannot afford only makes the life you are living today that much tougher.
As a general rule, you want to buy enough to pay off debt and support your dependents until they are through college.
One good measure is to multiply your current income by 10 (so if you earn $80,000 per year, you would need to buy $800,000 worth of life insurance). And, if you have debt, add what you owe to this number. Boom! You have your life insurance number.
For example:
$200,000 outstanding mortgage
+$800,000 ($80,000 salary x 10 years)
_____________________________
$1,000,0000
In the above family, a $1 million term life insurance policy is a good rule of thumb, but you might want to confirm this with life insurance companies you are considering.
Your plan should pay off your debts and replace your income for the years your children are still in school. It’s as easy as that.
How much does life insurance for single moms cost?
You may assume that you can’t afford life insurance, or that a policy is a line item that you can afford to slash from a tight budget.
A recent life insurance calculator input showed that a 33-year-old woman in average health can buy $500,000 worth of 20-year term insurance for $18 per month. That same woman qualifies for a $1 million term policy for $30 per month:
Keep in mind most people really only need life insurance for the years they have dependents, but that is a personal decision and may include adult children or siblings with disabilities, a spouse who is dependent on your income, and other scenarios. So, you may not need a full 30-year traditional term policy, but a shorter one.
Rest assured that life insurance for single moms is affordable.
What type of life insurance should a single mom get?
Life insurance comes in two main varieties—permanent life insurance and term life insurance.
Many people prefer term life insurance because it is simple, easy to understand, and serves a single purpose: protecting their loved ones should the policyholder die.
Term life policies also tend to be much more affordable compared to whole life policies.
Whole life insurance policies, on the other hand, are more complicated than term life policies.
You may decide that instead of a whole life policy, you prefer to have the flexibility of a money market account for your cash, or that you can earn a higher interest rate in a CD or in an index fund. While many people enjoy the lifetime duration of a whole life policy, that feature also makes it more expensive than a term life policy.
Permanent life insurance
Permanent life insurance is any policy that lasts for your whole life, while term life insurance only lasts for a specific period of time (the term). As long as you make your monthly payments, a permanent life insurance policy is permanent, meaning that whenever you die, your death benefit will be paid to your beneficiary.
Permanent life insurance typically comes with a cash value that grows as you pay your monthly premiums, earning interest, and creating a savings account you can tap while you are still alive.
Because of these added benefits, permanent life insurance is often much more expensive compared to a term life policy with a similar payout.
Permanent life insurance can come in a number of varieties: whole life, universal life, variable life, and variable-universal life:
Whole life is another name for permanent life insurance.
Universal life consists of a death benefit which is paid out upon your death, as well as a cash component that you can tap while you’re alive
Variable life carries a cash value that can be invested in a fund managed by the life insurance company
Variable-universal life insurance allows you to both invest the cash balance of your policy, and adjust the death benefit over time.
Term life insurance
Quick order of business: We advocate for term life insurance — which is the quickest life insurance to buy online, easiest to understand, and addresses most people’s needs to protect their loved ones in the event they die.
Term life insurance has two elements:
The term — or amount of time — that you will be covered. For example, if you buy a 15-year policy, you are covered from the time of signing, and for the next 15 years (assuming you pay your premiums on time). Terms are typically 5, 10, or 30 years.
Amount — or sum of money your loved ones will be paid should you pass. Typical sums are $100,000, $500,000 and $1 million.
A big benefit of term life insurance is that you can buy it easily, quickly and affordably online.
By contrast, whole life insurance has a cash value component, which grows at a low, but tax-deferred rate — and which you can borrow money against. Whole life insurance can be a good option, but can be complicated and more difficult to get a whole life insurance quote or policy online.
Is life insurance taxed?
No. This is a common question, and the answer is that life insurance is not taxable. What your beneficiaries receive is what they receive!
Is it worth paying for life insurance?
Statistically, you are unlikely to need life insurance, especially while your kids are young, before they graduate college. The value of life insurance really comes in the peace of mind it offers. For a few dollars each month, you can buy a basic term life insurance policy so you can sleep better and be less stressed about what would happen to your kids if you die.
Can you have multiple life insurance policies?
You can buy as many life insurance policies as you like. It is legal and possible to buy your own life insurance policy in addition to one you have through your work, or buy additional life insurance once you have a baby or go through divorce, for example.
Can you get life insurance on anyone?
You can also buy life insurance policies on other people — your kids’ dad, your ex-husband, your parents, etc. However, this process is trickier — you need to get the other person’s permission to buy life insurance on them, and you must be able to show proof that you will be impacted financially if they die.
Who should you put as a beneficiary for life insurance?
In purchasing a life insurance policy, you must name a beneficiary, the person who will receive your death benefit in the event that you die.
Most often, married individuals choose their spouse as the beneficiary of their life insurance policy. This isn’t your only option, though: Anyone can be listed as a beneficiary.
Instead, create and name an estate, trust, and guardianship plan, which will receive the death benefit and use the proceeds to care for your child. This estate should designate guardians who will raise your child in the event of your death, and a conservator, who will manage the finances of your estate — including ongoing care of your child.
If you name your children as beneficiaries directly, your estate will wind up in probate court. Life insurance companies can't pay a death benefit directly to anyone under 18. In Alabama, that age is 19, and in Nebraska, it’s 21.
If you establish a trust, you can name the trust as your primary beneficiary, and the insurance company will deposit the money into the trust. You’ll appoint someone as a trustee to ensure the money in the trust is used according to your directions.
Bottom line: Best life insurance and life insurance company for single moms
If you are a single mom without life insurance, term life insurance is the best option to protect your children in the event that you die. That's because term life insurance:
Provides coverage only for as long as you need it — until your children can financially support themselves (approximately after they graduate from college)
Costs less than a whole life insurance policy
Is a less complicated form of coverage that maintains the same premium throughout the life of the policy
When it comes to choosing an insurance provider, the best companies — in our opinion — have:
Affordable term life insurance policies
Quick online quotes
No medical exams
Solid reputations with positive consumer reviews
We recommend comparison shopping some companies in this space, including some we've reviewed:
Here is a quick-and-dirty formula: for most moms, multiply your income x3 to arrive at the amount of term life insurance you need.
Dating can feel like a full-time job. It takes a lot of time and energy to swipe through countless matches and attempt to form connections with strangers.
And if you have a string of awful (or even mediocre) first dates, it’s hard to find the motivation to keep putting yourself out there. If you're suffering from dating burnout, it could be time to call in some reinforcements — like a professional matchmaking service.
This is why Tawkify intrigues me. It’s a matchmaking dating service that does all the searching and matching for you — without the very steep investment of traditional matchmaking services. All you have to do is show up on the first date.
Bottom line: Is Tawkify worth it?
To assess whether Tawkify is worthwhile, we scoured third-party and user reviews, and I interviewed three people who used Tawkify to see if it’s worth the hype. The definitive answer: No.
Our Tawkify ratings:
Member's experience
Matches
Cost
Customer service
2.8
Given the low success rates and high cost, we recommend those seeking serious relationships go to eharmony, one of the oldest dating sites/apps, and the only one that studies have found has a high rate of relationships and marriages.
Yes, Tawkify is legitimate. The company has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau website (though it's not accredited) and has 4.4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on more than 6,810 reviews — higher than most other dating services.
The matchmaking service was co-founded in 2012 by E. Jean Carroll, a former longtime advice columnist for Elle magazine, and Kenneth Shaw, a 27-year-old Microsoft employee.
What is Tawkify, and how does it work?
Tawkify bills itself as a “personal dating concierge” — which is a hybrid between a dating app and a professional matchmaking service for people looking for serious relationships. While most dating apps rely on an algorithm to scour matches, Tawkify puts your dating life in the hands of its matchmakers, who will set you up on blind dates with other users.
Tawkify is not for hookups.
Here’s how to get started on Tawkify:
Go to Tawkify.com and create a profile by filling out a lengthy (but essential) questionnaire that asks you all the basics (name, gender, sexual preference, and relationship status), plus personal questions about religion, physical appearance, income, and occupation.
There are also “free writes” where you can expand on your interests or anything else you'd like your matchmaker to know. You’ll definitely want to take advantage of this — it’ll help your matchmaker help you!
Next, you’ll share details on your ideal match. You can mention specifics such as age and ethnicity and fill out the top qualities you’d like in another person.
Lastly, you’ll upload at least two photos of yourself and confirm your phone number.
When your information is in the system, your profile is set up.
You can engage with Tawkify in two ways:
Rolodex members join free and are only called when a matchmaker has you in mind for a client.
Paying clients are assigned a personal matchmaker who will find you dates.
When I tried to sign up for Tawkify, it only gave me the option of joining as a Rolodex member — I assume because they have too many clients to serve.
The Phone Screening
Once you’re in the system, a matchmaker will call you for a 10- to 15-minute screening.
Your call with the matchmaker takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Most matchmakers will ask to Zoom for face-to-face interaction, but some might just call you up.
Your assigned matchmaker will review your questionnaire and ask you to expand on your answers. For example, Sarah E., 34, a former Tawkify user from Orlando, Fla., indicated that she wanted children, and her matchmaker asked for details about how many and her timeline for having them.
For Rolodex members: If the matchmaker thinks you’re a good fit for their client, they will tell you more information about them, such as their interests, hobbies, type of work, location, age, and why they think you might be a good match, Sarah says. If you agree, they will run your info by their client, and if they approve, you’ll be set up.
For clients: After the screening, your matchmaker takes a few days to review your information and decide whether they'll take you on as a client. While your matchmaker reviews your materials, you’ll be asked to purchase a package to hold your spot. If you get rejected, you’ll get a refund. If you’re selected, your matchmaker will line up matches for you and plan first dates.
The Date
If the client agrees with the matchmaker’s pick, the matchmaker will set up the first date. According to Sarah, dates typically are between two to three hours long — just enough time to get to know the person you’re meeting. It’s also a blind date, so you won’t know anything about this person (not even a name or physical attributes). The dates usually start with a drink or brunch, followed by a fun activity like indoor skydiving or mini golf.
After the Date
While most first dates end with a number exchange, with Tawkify, you’re not supposed to exchange them. Instead, you and your date are emailed a survey that allows you to share what you liked and didn’t like about the other person, including any red flags, and whether or not you’d like to see them again, Sarah explains.
If you and your match both agree to see each other again, the matchmaker then swaps your personal information. If it’s not a match and you’re a Rolodex member, you probably won’t hear from a matchmaker again unless they have another client in mind. If you’re a paid client, you simply move on to the next match.
What cities is Tawkify in?
Tawkify is available in major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Minneapolis, and Denver.
How many members does Tawkify have?
The site claims that more than 1 million people use Tawkify to find love — they’ve dubbed themselves the “Romance Rolodex.”
What is the success rate of Tawkify?
According to the Tawkify website, the service has an 80% success rate of creating successful relationships within 6-12 matches. Usually it takes that many matches for your matchmaker to really get a feel for your interests, what you’re looking for and match you with the right person.
While this rate doesn’t factor in how long these matches last, there is a love stories page dedicated to Tawkify success stories, proving that some are endgame.
How much does Tawkify cost? Is Tawkify expensive?
Because of its premium service, Tawkify costs more than other dating services on the market. There are two packages for paying members (again, Rolodex members are free): Matchmaker Client and Matchable Member — the latter of which is very expensive. Below are the costs and what each offers:
No set number of matches is guaranteed. You’ll only be contacted if a matchmaker has a paid client in mind.
What you get for signing up as a Matchmaker Client (packages may range between $2,000 to $40,000):
One date each month curated to you and your match's interest
Your own personal matchmaker
Matches carefully selected based on your profile
There is no information on Tawkify’s website regarding monthly packaging (they only give a range between $2,000 and $40,000, so you have to call for more details).
When I tried to call Tawkify, one woman put me through to the sales team, but no one got back to me. Jamie T., 36, from Los Angeles, who joined Tawkify as a client, paid $1,600 for four dates, and Robyn M., 68, from Chicago, paid nearly $9,000 for five dates.
These prices are similar to competitor It's Just Lunch — which only offers the high client rate.
If you're a wealthy single looking for love, check out our review of Millionaire Match.
Pros and cons: Is Tawkify worth it?
Pros
All the work is done for you.
With Tawkify, the matchmakers are doing all the legwork, from picking out your matches to setting up the dates. All you have to do is show up. If you’re feeling burnt out by dating, I can see why the idea of having a matchmaker sounds appealing.
You get to rate your dates when you’re finished.
As mentioned, you don’t exchange numbers at the end of the first date — a plus for those who don’t want random people who haven't had a background check to have their number. Being able to rate your dates also gives the matchmaker insight on what works and what didn’t.
Dates are curated based on you and your date’s interests.
You’re practically guaranteed a first date that you’ll actually look forward to. Matchmakers will take into account what you and your date like to do when planning the first date. Sarah for example, went on dates that including indoor skydiving.
Cons
You might not always work with the same matchmaker.
For Jamie, the most disappointing part of her Tawkify experience was how often she was paired with a different matchmaker.
“I had four different matchmakers,” she says. “By the time they passed me on to the third person, I told them just to read the notes from the previous two because [the phone calls] were a waste of my time.” Ultimately, the constant change of matchmakers was a factor in Jamie not getting quality matches.
You can’t see other members’ profiles.
Because your dating life is in the hands of the matchmaker, you don’t really know anything about your matches until the first date — not even what they look like. “What [the sales reps] don’t tell you before you pay them is that they are all blind dates,” Jamie says. “ You don't get to see any photos or even know the guy's name before you meet them. I never agreed to that and definitely got tricked [by the company].”
Expensive compared to dating apps.
Tawkify is not a dating app or site, but a personalized matchmaking service — which are expensive. By comparison, sites like Bumble or eharmony cost around $30 to $50 per month.
The matches are not as personalized as they claim.
Tawkify claims that their matchmakers are skilled at pairing up their clients, but all three women I interviewed for this article agreed that while their dates have mostly been “nice,” most of them were not a good fit.
For example, Robyn specifically told her matchmaker that she was not interested in dating a Christian man and wanted someone who loves dogs. Her first date was with a man who regularly went to church and couldn’t handle dog ownership. Her next three dates were also a poor match.
Tawkify reviews on Reddit
There are plenty of Reddit threads discussing the matchmaking service. Overall, it’s a mixed crowd. On one Reddit thread, many people felt that their dates weren’t bad, but no different than what they’d find on a dating app. Others expressed frustration with their matchmakers, saying they were being dishonest and not taking their preferences into account.
Other reviewers complained about how hard it was to get a refund when they tried to cancel their membership. There are also reviews on the BBB that echo this sentiment.
One Reddit reviewer found that Tawkify worked for her. Her biggest advice?
“Be open and honest and once you've completed your questionnaire, return to it often to continue adding details as you think of them. Also, be honest about any ‘deal breakers’ with your matchmaker.”
No, Tawkify is not worth the thousands of dollars it charges for matchmaking. As Sarah put it: “I just don't see the point in paying someone to send me on bad dates.” I agree. If your matchmaker isn’t going to bother taking your profile and interests into account, you’re better off joining a reputable dating site like eharmony. You’ll save a ton of money doing so.
Yes, Tawkify is legitimate. The matchmaking service was founded in 2012 by E. Jean Carroll, a former longtime advice columnist for Elle magazine, and Kenneth Shaw, a 27-year-old Microsoft employee. The company has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau website (though it's not accredited) and has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on more than 6,775 reviews.
What cities is Tawkify in?
Tawkify is available in major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Minneapolis, and Denver.
How many members does Tawkify have?
The site claims that more than 1 million people use Tawkify to find love.
What is the success rate of Tawkify?
According to the Tawkify website, the service has an 80% success rate of creating successful relationships within 6-12 matches.
Is Tawkify worth it?
No, Tawkify is not worth the thousands of dollars it charges for matchmaking.
In a lot of ways, “bookkeeping” is exactly what it sounds like it would be: keeping track of financial transactions for a business, individual or organization. These jobs can pay $75 or more and is considered a growth industry.
Good news is there are fast and affordable online certifications to help you get started and finding a job.
Or, if you’re ready to get started, check out our No. 1 recommendation for learning how to become a bookkeeper, as well as launch a profitable bookkeeping business, is Bookkeepers.com (formerly Bookkeeper Launch), an A+ BBB business founded by a CPA and taken by more than 12,000 people.
1) How to become a bookkeeper: Find an online training course
Online bookkeeping courses allow you to learn the business on your own timeline. Even if you have no formal education, you can get a bookkeeping certification online to present to future clients and employers.
Here are some options for online bookkeeper training:
Bookkeepers.com
Bookkeepers.com is the first course specifically designed to help you:
Learn bookkeeping skills
Start your own virtual bookkeeping business
Grow your client list through marketing efforts
Scale your business to serve more clients efficiently
Maximize opportunities to offer additional services through e-learning
Add value beyond financial statements and transaction support, such as offering financial advisory services or tax preparation.
Bookkeeper Launch is still the flagship product, but Bookkeepers.com also offers a number of paid online courses. The topics range from basic to more advanced topics:
Cybersecurity for Bookkeepers
Marketing Machine
Build a 6-Figure Bookkeeping Business
Outstanding Processes & People (OPP)
Pricing & Packaging
New Client Onboarding
Advisory Services
Price:
Paid courses range from $97 to $2,995. You can get started with Bookkeeper Launch for as low as $249 per month for one year with unlimited access and updates.
Coursera is an online learning platform that hosts courses about a range of subjects, including bookkeeping, such as Intuit’s Bookkeeping Basics, which is designed to teach you the ropes as a beginner. It has a score of 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 6,253 reviews.
Bookkeeping Basics is an introductory course, but it’s not enough to get started in bookkeeping as a career. For that, you’ll want to go for the Intuit Bookkeeping Professional Certificate which prepares you to take the Intuit Academy Bookkeeping exam and get certified to demonstrate your competence to future clients.
You’ll learn:
The basics of bookkeeping, from accounting tasks and responsibilities to ensuring the integrity and security of financial data
How to understand common assets among businesses, depreciation, financial control and transaction recording
How to identify liabilities and equity types, understand payroll functions, and analyze the financial position of a business
How to reconcile cash and help clients make decision based on financial data
Unlike Bookkeepers.com, there is no help to launch a virtual bookkeeping business, but you can take advantage of free resume help, interview preparation, and use Coursera’s job search if you prefer to work for a company.
Price:
Free 7-day trial. Then, $59 per month until you cancel or pay $399 for one year. 14-day money-back guarantee. Financial aid available.
Time required:
Bookkeeping Basics takes about 16 hours to complete, and the Intuit Bookkeeping Professional Certificate takes two months to complete at the suggested pace of ten hours per week.
Udemy is another online educational platform that offers thousands of courses on hundreds of subjects, including bookkeeping. These courses are typically inexpensive, between $50 and $200 on average. This makes them ideal for those who are on a budget, or who are perhaps interested in learning the basics before paying for a more advanced course.
This is an introductory course to bookkeeping. It’s approved by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and offers a continuing professional education (CPE) credit of 7.0. At least 40 CPE credits are required by certified public accountants (CPAs) each year to achieve compliance.
The course includes practical, hands-on assignments
Price:
$149.99 (Udemy often offers steep discounts) or you can sign up for a monthly plan starting at $20 after a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money back guarantee.
Time required:
The course above takes 4.5 hours to complete and introduces the basics of bookkeeping. There are two follow-up courses in this series that take 3.5 hours and 5 hours each. You could spend as little as a few hours or weeks taking Udemy’s various bookkeeping courses.
Since these courses are fairly short, they may not be enough to help you launch a career right away, but you can get your feet wet and see if bookkeeping is a potential fit.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is an online education platform run by the social media company LinkedIn. It used to be known as Lynda.com. LinkedIn Learning offers thousands of online courses and certifications which, once complete, you can display on your LinkedIn profile. This makes them a great option for professionals who actively use LinkedIn to network and job hunt.
LinkedIn Learning offers Accounting Foundations: Bookkeeping, which can be a good option for anyone who is just getting started or a professional who needs to sharpen skills or gain NASBA CPE credits (this course offers 2.8 CPE credits).
The course is self-paced and features video instruction.
You’ll learn:
How to analyze transactions
How to record the effects of the transactions
How to summarize the impact of those transactions
How to prepare a financial report
Completing this course can improve your understanding of bookkeeping, but you’ll need more training to get started with bookkeeping as a career. To help you, LinkedIn Learning offers a bookkeeping learning path to help you learn the craft and earn a certificate of completion that you can use to market your skills.
These courses deal strictly with education but do not offer business launch, marketing, or scaling support like Bookkeepers.com.
Price:
You can buy this course for $34.99. Or, subscribe to LinkedIn Learning and get a one-month free trial and pay $39.99 per month or $19.99 per month with an annual subscription. You’ll have access to all courses as a part of your subscription. 30-day money-back guarantee. Access courses via computer, tablet, or mobile phone.
Time required:
This course takes just over 1.5 hours to complete.
NACPB
The National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) is a professional organization that caters to bookkeepers. The organization offers a number of different training programs for bookkeepers, including:
Accounting Fundamentals
Payroll Fundamentals
QuickBooks Online Fundamentals
Accounting Principles
You can access these courses through the NACPB Education Pathway. These courses offer CPE credits and are for those who want to learn the skill of bookkeeping as well as professionals pursuing continuing education. NACPB is known in the field, so completing their training can be beneficial to get started in your bookkeeping career NACPB also offers a Bookkeeping Certification to obtain the Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) license.
Completing a course can increase your knowledge of bookkeeping, but to prepare for a career, go for the certification so you can obtain the license. You’ll have the CPB credential to add to your credibility as you pursue jobs or start your own virtual bookkeeping business.
Price:
Certifications and courses start at $100. NACPB members get 20% off. An annual NACPB membership starts at $200 (there is a pro membership for $250). 14-day money back guarantee.
Time required:
Most courses range in length from seven to 14 weeks (if you take one session per week). However, all NACPB courses are self-guided, so you could realistically complete any course in less time.
Colleges and universities
A number of colleges and universities offer online and in-person training and certificate programs to become a professional bookkeeper. Search online for “college bookkeeping classes near me” or “online college bookkeeping classes” to find available programs.
Here are a few examples:
Cornell University offers eCornell, an online learning platform that offers a self-paced accounting certificate course that is interactive and provides access to a community of like-minded students
Penn Foster offers an online diploma in bookkeeping you can take on your own time and pace
Ashworth College has an online bookkeeping course to prepare you for the NACPB bookkeeper certification exam
Costs and completion times vary and are set by each institution. Contact the school directly to learn more.
2) How to become a bookkeeper: Look for internships or on-the-job opportunities while in training
Experience is key in any job market, and bookkeeping is no exception. Aspiring bookkeepers will benefit from finding a paid internship or an entry-level bookkeeping position like a bookkeeping assistant while they complete their training.
Taking on an entry-level bookkeeping job can allow you to focus on learning the business without juggling the demands of another job. Some companies might offer paid internships.
Here’s how to find bookkeeping internships and on-the-job opportunities while you learn:
Check with your training program – Ask your student services office for help on finding a business that will give you a chance to practice your skills. Bookkeeper Launch's closed Facebook group is designed to facilitate networking for jobs with some of the best virtual bookkeeping services.
Leverage LinkedIn – Ensure you update your LinkedIn profile to show you are seeking bookkeeping opportunities and engage with companies
Use job boards – Search FlexJobs, Indeed, and other online career portals to look for leads
Join a bookkeeping organization – Membership often has perks like career assistance
Contact local firms – Research firms in your area that are looking for bookkeepers and contact them to ask about part-time or internship opportunities
Attend career fairs – Look for fairs with financial companies in attendance and network with the representatives
Use an app – Apps like Handshake, Tallo, and Parker Dewey can help you find internship opportunities and freelance gigs in your field
3) How to become a bookkeeper: Find job opportunities “near me” and remote
While many large companies employ a bookkeeper full-time, smaller companies often hire part-time or freelance bookkeepers to help with finances and accounting. Many individual entrepreneurs also hire virtual bookkeepers to help them stay on top of their cash flow and prepare quarterly income tax payments. Some individuals hire bookkeepers.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (BLS OOH), the demand for bookkeeping is expected to decline by 6% through 2032.1 This data refers to in-house bookkeeping jobs.
BLS data on remote jobs projects that accountants and auditors (professions parallel to bookkeeping) are the fastest growing careers among business and financial operations telework.2
Whether you’re looking for a bookkeeping job “near me” or you’d like to find a remote opportunity, there are several strategies and tips for finding a part-time or full-time bookkeeping job:
Reach out to local businesses to network to connect with a business owner who needs bookkeeping services
Ask your friends and family if they know anyone looking for bookkeeping support
Update your LinkedIn profile to reflect your bookkeeping skills and desire for work so your profile will show up in searches if someone looks for a bookkeeper in your area
Bookkeeper Launch has a whole section on finding jobs online, including specifically on LinkedIn.
This video shows why virtual bookkeeping is a great career, especially for single moms who want to work from home:
If you're first starting out, or you want flexible work, part-time or freelance bookkeeping jobs might be for you. You can find entry-level bookkeeping jobs online at a number of job sites, including:
FlexJobs
ZipRecruiter
Indeed
Networking events near you
Small business organizations in your community
LinkedIn
Through marketing efforts including social media, newspaper ads and bus stops
FAQs about bookkeeping as a profession
What does a bookkeeper do?
Bookkeepers help business owners to maintain their business’ financial records. This can include recording sales, revenue, and expenses, check statements for accuracy, verify receipts, billing and account receivables and payroll.
Some bookkeepers work on staff, though it’s increasingly common to work as an independent bookkeeper — especially small or new businesses. Many bookkeepers have multiple clients at the same time.
Who are good candidates to become a bookkeeper?
If you love numbers and math and actually enjoy tracking data in spreadsheets, a career as a bookkeeper can be a great fit for moms — especially since these high-paying jobs are often available on a part-time basis, as a work-at-home side job.
What kinds of tasks do bookkeepers do?
While the exact role of a bookkeeper can depend on the specific job they’re doing, these professionals focus on tasks that help businesses and individuals keep their finances organized. Common job duties bookkeepers perform include:
Learn and use bookkeeping software, databases, and spreadsheets, including Excel, Quickbooks, and Freshbooks payroll software.
Enter important financial transactions into the appropriate bookkeeping software
Monitor and keep track of client payments
Keep track of business expenses via bookkeeping software
Reconcile discrepancies found in financial records
Produce financial reports
Help clients keep track of receipts that document their expenses
Check financial records for accuracy
Help clients stay on top of their taxes, including withholding or quarterly tax payments
If your career goals include advancing to accountant or CPA, that involves a more rigorous process. Unlike bookkeeping — where certification is optional — a CPA license requires passing demanding education, exam, and experience milestones. This guide on getting a CPA license breaks down the steps.
A bookkeeper who is self-employed running her own bookkeeping business may take on a broader range of duties than their peers. They will likely have to track their own finances including income and expenses, for example. They will also be required to make their own tax payments and make sure their business remains in compliance with local and state law.
Self-employed bookkeepers will also need to learn how to market their businesses to attract and keep new clients — not to mention keep their own books!
FAQs about a bookkeeper's earning potential
Can you make good money as a bookkeeper?
Yes, you can make good money as a bookkeeper, and the profession has even greater earning potential as you gain experience. If you pursue a virtual practice, you’ll set your own competitive rates.
Bookkeepers.com’s Bookkeeper Launch, a course run by CPA Ben Robinson, reports many of its students earn $75 per hour in their freelance bookkeeping business.
If you pursue a position at a business, instead of freelancing, the hourly or salary-based pay will be set by the employer and can vary.
How much money can you make as a bookkeeper?
According to the BLS OOH, the median salary for a bookkeeper is $45,860 per year, or $22.05 per hour.3
As of May 15, 2025, ZipRecruiter reports the national average income for a bookkeeper in the United States is $50,573 per year, or $24.31 per hour, with higher earners making around $74,000.4
Who needs bookkeepers?
Bookkeepers are hired by every single kind of business, nonprofit, and government agency. Many larger organizations hire full-time bookkeepers on staff. Many accountants, CPAs and tax preparers also work with bookkeepers to help support their clients.
Freelance bookkeepers and those who own their own bookkeeping businesses often report that the variety and types of businesses and organizations they support is one of the best parts of bookkeeping. This post details how to start a bookkeeping business, and find and grow clients.
Erin Bardsley was a newly divorced single mom in Vermont, and needed a new career.
Erin says that she loves that she helps a bakery, yoga studio, and an arts non-profit — especially since they are local businesses in her local community. Today she earns $70 per hour and is killing it as a bookkeeper:
FAQs about how to become a bookkeeper
What qualifications do I need to be a bookkeeper?
To get started as a bookkeeper, you do not need a college degree or a bookkeeper certification. These qualifications can help but are not necessary. You just need to be able to demonstrate that you have the skills to handle the tasks your clients need.
These skills are required to be a successful bookkeeper, whether you have your own business, or get a staff job with another company:
Attention to detail
Math
Problem solving
Ability to see the big picture
Facility with technology
Commitment to technology
Great communicators (clients trust you with their bank account information, and trust vendors who respond quickly and thoroughly)
For entrepreneurs: Good at networking, and gaining the trust of new clients
Most bookkeeper clients will look for some or all of these specific, hard skills:
Spreadsheets — typically Microsoft Excel
Quickbooks, or other popular accounting / bookkeeping software
Basic accounting
Basic understanding of bookkeeping ethics and law
In addition to technical skill, certain personality traits can also help you stand out:
Having excellent attention to detail is a must for bookkeepers since they need to ensure accuracy of financial transactions and a wide range of important figures.
Computer and math skills are also required since you’ll be computing numbers regularly with the help of bookkeeping software programs.
The ability to communicate effectively is important since you’ll need to interact and discuss financial matters with either an employer or your clients.
Do I need a college degree in bookkeeping?
A college degree isn’t necessary to become a bookkeeper. No experience is necessary to take classes to learn bookkeeping skills. Eventually, you might want to pursue a bookkeeping certification to demonstrate your competence and increase the legitimacy of your virtual bookkeeping business.
Can I teach myself to be a bookkeeper?
You can become a self-taught bookkeeper using an online course like Bookkeeper Launch. It’s a self-paced course that teaches you the basics and helps guide you on setting up your business successfully.
Is a bookkeeping certificate worth it?
One of the beautiful things about owning your own bookkeeping business is that you do not need any specific bookkeeping certification, degree, or formal training to get started.
Coursework through a community college, or online courses like Bookkeeper Launch will teach you the basics to help you get that first job.
However, having a certification can be helpful when you are building your client base. It shows potential clients that you have taken extra steps to serve their needs.
How long does it take to become a bookkeeper?
With the Bookkeeper Launch course, you can train to become a bookkeeper in as few as 90 days. Each bookkeeping course varies in terms of completion time but most options take less than a year.
Bottom line: You can learn to become a bookkeeper in less than a year and launch a new career
Thousands of people enjoy successful bookkeeping careers, and many of them launch businesses that give them flexibility, freedom of location, a good salary, and the satisfaction of working with successful, interesting entrepreneurs.
Online courses like Bookkeeper Launch can help you:
Gain skills to become a bookkeeper with no prior experience
Leverage tools and systems to work efficiently
Learn how to market yourself to gain clients
Grow your client base over time
Connect with other bookkeeping business owners to build a sense of community
Scale your business and expand your services as your grow
Bookkeepers.com is an excellent resource to help you launch and maintain a successful bookkeeping business. It offers free courses to give you an idea of what you can expect from a bookkeeping career, so you can determine if it's a good fit. Get started FREE courses from Bookkeepers.com now >>
Bookkeepers help business owners to maintain their business’ financial records. This can include recording sales, revenue, and expenses, check statements for accuracy, verify receipts, billing and account receivables and payroll.
Can you make good money as a bookkeeper?
Yes, you can make good money as a bookkeeper, and the profession has even greater earning potential as you gain experience. If you pursue a virtual practice, you’ll set your own competitive rates.
How much money can you make as a bookkeeper?
According to the BLS OOH, the median salary for a bookkeeper is $45,860 per year, or $22.05 per hour.
Who needs bookkeepers?
Bookkeepers are hired by every single kind of business, non-profit and government agency. Many larger organizations hire full-time bookkeepers on staff. Many accountants, CPAs and tax preparers also work with bookkeepers to help support their clients.
Sources:
“Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks” Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook September 6, 2023 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/bookkeeping-accounting-and-auditing-clerks.htm
“Working from home: Outlook and wages in occupations with telework” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics career Outlook September 2022 https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2022/article/telework.htm
“Quick Facts: Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks” Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook September 6, 2023 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/bookkeeping-accounting-and-auditing-clerks.htm
I receive dozens of emails weekly from women who are living with family, temporary housing, without transportation or reliable child care or employment and facing rising costs of everything. Employment is precarious and child care even less so.
The world is not set up for parents, much less single parents.
You need cash – not complicated programs – and studies1 find that cash serves poor people best. I want to be part of that movement.
Below is a list of grants for single mothers from charities and private organizations. Note our warning about any ads that promise government cash grants for single moms. The government does not give grants to single parents. This post outlines government programs that low-income parents, families and individuals may qualify for.
Keep reading to learn more about legitimate hardship grants for single mothers — from private charities, businesses and individual donors (including this site's own Kickass Single Mom $500 Grant).
Hardship grants offer cash money to address dire needs and emergency situations. The money often comes quickly to those in need and does not require repayment.
Here are some hardship grants to apply for:
Wealthysinglemommy’s $500 Kickass Single Mom Stimulus Grant
Update: the $500 cash grant is now annual, but still given to a single mom, no strings attached.
The Kickass Single Mom Stimulus Grant has one goal: Give a hand to single moms struggling with money, health, stress, child care, illness and loneliness. We have gifted more than $50,000 since 2020.
Modest Needs, founded in 2002, is a nonprofit with a goal to provide short-term financial help to working families who go through hardships at no fault of their own.
The organization serves families who may be one or two paychecks away from being homeless, aren’t often eligible for government assistance and just need an act of kindness to help them get over a financial hump. These one-time grants, on average, are between $750 to $1,250.
Modest Needs offers two self-sufficiency grants:
Emergency help: This covers any unexpected or emergency expenses from medical care not covered by insurance to a broken refrigerator
Monthly bill help: This grant helps people who cannot pay a bill due to a circumstance that was beyond their control, like losing pay for staying home with your sick child and being unable to pay the electric bill as a result
These grants offer one-time help to ease the burden of single parents and low-income families.
To be eligible, you must be:
At least 18, employed, and a legal resident of the United States or Canada
Applying for yourself or someone in your home
An active bank account holder or you have filed federal taxes in the past two years
Able to access a computer with internet so you can check your email and the Modest Needs website daily during your application period
Able to access a scanner and fax machine to send documents to support yoru grant request
The holder of a legal rental lease (if renting) signed by your landlord and yourself that shows the monthly cost of your rental
The primary source of income for your household must come from employment, child support, veteran’s benefits, or retirement income
The American Legion offers three grants to help emergency funding for single mothers and its members who experience natural disasters and other financial emergencies:
American Legion National Emergency Fund (NEF) Grant – Helps active members of the American Legion and Sons of the American Legion. Grant awards up to $3,000 are available to address immediate needs in the wake of a natural disaster.
American Legion Auxiliary Emergency Fund (AEF) Grant – Offers up to $2,400 of financial help to active members of the AEF who can’t pay rent or utilities, are navigating a natural disaster, or have other dire money needs.
American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) Grant – Up to $1,500 of cash assistance available for active American Legion members or active duty service members who are raising children 17 or younger (20 if still in high school or with a disability). Funds are for housing costs, food, and health expenses.
Financial assistance from American Red Cross Hero Care Center
The Hero Care Center of the American Red Cross works with Military Aid Societies to help qualified service members get a hardship grant or a loan. The center is available 24/7/365.
To qualify, you must be one of the following:
Active duty service member in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard
Activated member of National Guard or Reserve unit
Immediate family member of an active duty service member or activated National Guard or Reserve member
Veteran (retired service member) or spouse/widower of a veteran
Request help by calling 877-272-7337 or text GETHEROCARE to 90999 to get the app.
Financial hardship grants from Bill Pulte Foundation
Bill Pulte was a billionaire home builder who set aside millions of dollars to help people in need. His son, also named Bill Pulte, is a philanthropist who frequently gives away money on X (formerly known as Twitter) and heads the Bill Pulte Foundation, a family-run organization that provides grants to people going through hardships to help pay for:
Housing costs
Utility bills
Medical needs
Funeral costs
Preference is given to people who have fallen on hard times because of events outside of their control, such as a weather-related disaster, being robbed, or receiving a diagnosis of a serious or terminal illness or disease.
To apply, you’ll need to share your story and also verify how much money you need to handle your hardship.
Check with your school to find out if they offer hardship programs for current students or alumni. Many colleges and universities have established grants and emergency funds to provide financial support to help current and former students navigate hard times — or can connect you with local charities.
For example, Glenville State University in West Virginia offers hardship grants to students with overwhelming circumstances that keep them from being able to keep a roof over their head or get food or medical care.
Search “student hardship fund” and the name of your school to find possible grant opportunities.
CORE Grant
The Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE) organization provides financial assistance grants to help families pay rent or a mortgage, get much needed medical supplies, buy food, pay for childcare, and more.
This assistance is only for short-term help. You must be a food and beverage service employee with children to be considered for a grant. Grant award amounts are determined case-by-case.
In 2022, 58% of CORE grant recipients were single moms and 3% were single dads.
Grant help from Justice Federal Credit Union Foundation
The Justice Federal Credit Union Foundation (JFCU) helps people who fall on hard times through no fault of their own. The financial grant is intended to provide temporary help for the recipients. Grant amounts range from $250 to $3,000.
Are you a member of a union? You may be eligible for a grant from Union Plus, a nonprofit created by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
To be eligible, you must be experiencing a hardship and have one of the following:
Union Plus mortgage
Union Plus credit card
Union Plus personal loan
Union Plus supplemental insurance
These grants cover everything from benefits to pay essential bills to financial help to keep your home.
If you are a service member on active duty, veteran, or eligible dependent and experience a financial hardship, you may be eligible to apply for a grant from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Unmet Needs program.
The program helps pay for necessary expenses, such as:
Housing expenses
Vehicle expenses
Utilities
Childcare
Medical expenses
All funds are paid directly to the landlord or service provider. Grant award amounts vary, depending on the applicant’s circumstances. The hardship must be directly related to military service and through no fault of the service member. Apply for a VFW hardship grant.
For example, Hands of the Carpenter is a faith-based nonprofit that provides working single moms with reliable transportation. Through the Transportation Low Cost and Lift UP programs, you can get discounted repairs and access to a reliable car to get to work. This program serves seven counties in Colorado and is open to working single moms with dependent children.
After participating in TLC, you can apply for the Lift UP program which provides:
Discounted car care for up to three years
Vehicle placement for cars that are beyond repair
Vehicles for working moms that don't have a car
Car education to ensure the car stays in good working condition
Community-based grants
Check your area for community-based grants aimed at helping low-income families or people facing an immediate hardship. To get started, you can search: “hardship grants near me.”
Here are a few programs we found to give you an idea of what’s available:
In Richmond, Virginia, the Family Crisis Fund offers a one-time grant of up to $2,500 to help Richmond residents pay bills rent or cover a down payment for a new home3
The Crisis Assistance Ministry offers rent and utility bill assistance to help residents in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina who are experiencing financial difficulty4
Memorial Assistance Ministry in Harris County, Texas offers a one-time payment of $1,500 for eligible residents to help pay for emergency expenses.3
Check out our state-by-state guides for single-mom programs in your state:
The government doesn’t offer grants to individuals to help with buying food or to pay for housing expenses, so beware of advertisements that promise as much.
Government grants are available for businesses, nonprofits, schools, state/local governments, and other eligible organizations through Grants.gov, but not to individuals.
However, the government offers benefit programs through Benefits.gov like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Learn more about EBT cash benefits, EBT discounts and freebies, and how to use your EBT card on Amazon.
To find all programs you may be eligible for, try using the federal government Benefit Finder tool.
Grants for single moms to buy a house
The government has programs to help you buy your first home, including help with down payment assistance and closing costs in the form of grants and affordable interest rate loans.
Some programs include:
Community Development Block Grant
Fannie Mae Community Seconds
HUD Public Housing Authority Housing Choice Ownership
If you are pursuing your first degree or going back to college, there’s likely a grant or scholarship to help you with tuition, fees, and expenses like books or equipment.
Some grants, like the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant awards up to $4,000 per school year to undergraduate students who demonstrate a financial need. Many opportunities like this one start with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
There are also tons of grants and scholarships that are state-based, unique to a field of study, or specifically for women pursuing higher education.
Netherlands-based Organic Formula Shop provides a $2,000 scholarship to single parents in the U.S. currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. The one-time scholarship is paid directly to your school and is for any field of study. All GPAs are considered.
To qualify, you must be:
A single parent
Enrolled at a two-year, four-year, vocational, or technical school
U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
Willing to write an essay about why you are pursuing higher education
When the 2024 deadlines are available, we will update them for the fall and spring semester.
This is a deep resource of hardship grants for single mothers, financial aid, emergency cash, financial assistance and other help for single mothers and their children.
Beautiful update: To date, I have received a total of $7,000 in anonymous donations from *four* sources, boosting the number of grants we were able to distribute by 14!
For example, this email is from a mom who asked to remain anonymous, and financed two bonus emergency grants that were distributed:
My husband and I are expecting a small stimulus check. We didn't expect one based on our income, and given that we are both lucky enough to keep our jobs and be able to do them from home, we've decided we'd like to donate it and sponsor two single moms for $500 each. If this were a few years ago, I'd be in a very different position, and my husband remembered my struggle when we were dating plus what it would have been like for his single mom when he was a kid.
The grant was originally weekly. All told, since March 26, 2020 we have given out more than $50,000 (updated Feb. 25, 2025).
Jasmine Holmes is a medical assistant and student in Merriville, Ind. — and mom of four. She asked for help with basic bills and daycare for her youngest child.
Brittney Gregory, a caregiver and mom of five in Frankfort, Ind., said she'd use the $500 for home repairs “get what my kids need for school.”
Stacey Morgan, a home cleaner in Port St. Lucie, Fla., is mom of four. “Despite all the hours spent trying to support my family I am still failing and I hardly even see my kids at this point.”
Tabitha Sheffield is a mom of two and caregiver to a niece. She lives in Granbury, Tx. “I was a real estate agent, but due to a car accident where something flew out of the back of a truck and hit me, I had surgery on my hands and haven't worked a few months. Hopefully I will eventually be able to work again.”
Demisha Kennedy, a mom of two who works as a cashier in Hinsdale, Il. “My apartment caught on fire Tuesday at midnight and me and my kids are homeless.”
Janine Porter, in McDonough, Ga., is a mom of nine. “I lost my contract for an administrator for a foster care agency in July 2023. I started a tax business October 2023. I am now a tax preparer and trying to grow my business.”
Maria Caudillo Delgado, in Austin, came to the U.S. from Mexico fleeing gang violence when she was 17. Now she has three kids ages 8, 4, and 8 months old. She's currently a Legal Permanent Resident here but wants to take citizenship classes and learn English to be able to help her kids in their own education. She just began renting her own apartment in January, was sustainably working in housekeeping but due to COVID-19, they furloughed most hotel workers. The money would help her pay her rent during this crisis and help her focus more on the future rather than worry about the present. Maria is a client of the family shelter Posada Esperanza.
Marquita Thomas, Wilmington, Del. mom of two, who lost her social services admin job to cancer, then a school bus admin job to coronavirus.
Ida Ndoye, a Bronx, New York mom of two: “I need the $500 now to buy diapers and food for my children for the next weeks, until I can get a response for food stamps.”
“I used to work as a nanny in Greenpoint (Brooklyn). Due to the pandemic, my employers are now working from home. Being a full-time nanny, they offered me two weeks pay to help until things resume to normal. That was back on March 12th. Not being a citizen, I won’t receive any part of the stimulus check. I am thankful for the food pantry in my neighborhood which helps me with food and few diapers here and there for my infant.”
Bailey MacIntosh, mom of one, in Dayton, Ohio: “My father, who was a main source of help, committed suicide a few years ago. My stepfather is fighting a rare salivary gland cancer, and I am trying to take the strain off my mother. I am a certified chef, and I do independent contract work at a catering company that is now closed due to Covid-19. I tried to get unemployment but because I am an independent 1099 employee I am ineligible, leaving me with 0 income. Anything will help right now.”
Jasmine Isby, mom of one, Tupelo, Miss.: “Currently, no daycares or schools are open due to Covid-19 and my son isn’t able to watch himself, he’s only four years of age. My job [manufacturing] is forcing parents in this predicament to take a leave of absence with no pay and no eligibility to obtain unemployment and rent is almost due along with a light bill.”
Alisha Wilson, mom of one, Westminster, Calif.: “My work hours as a home health aid have been severely reduced to just 12 hours/week. I spent all of my stimulus check playing catch up on bills and buying food, diapers, and wipes. My bank balance is currently negative and I am unable to receive assistance from anyone I know as they are in similar situations due to the virus.”
Adonai Foster, mom of four in Beloit, Wisc.: “I'm behind on rent and bills and it's only me and my kids — and which one graduates in June of 2020. I'm a crew member at KFC, and due to Covid my hours were cut, so it's hard to stay a float working only 20 hours a week for $9.50 per hour.”
Tanika Hunter, mom of one in Baltimore, Md.: “I have been out of work since mid-March; I have been denied for food stamps and I live in a school district that does not have enough laptops to provide the students. My honor roll student has to rely on doing homework from my cell phone. She has vision problems and it is extremely hard for her to see the work. I do not want her grades to slide due to lack of resources.”
Tanya Domingos, mom of two, formerly a waitress, in Fall River, Mass.: “I get unemployment but that barley gets me through. I got kicked off SNAP because of my unemployment benefits so money is getting tighter. I don't drive so I have to pay for taxis, and my son is autistic so he has special appointments he has to go to.”
Vinneshia Covington, mom of two, Burlington, S.C.: “We recently moved cities, so for the first time in 6 years my children and I can have a home again. I got a job at Hardee's part-time. I walk 2 hours every day to and from work but it's worth it to finally be a little out the water, but I need help with bills.”
Christina Mills, mom of 1, Knoxville, Tenn.: “I am a foster mom of a precious 6-year-old son. I am now in the process of adopting him and we are both very excited! Finances have been tight as I rely on Social Security benefits. I do work as a petsitter, that came to a screeching halt with the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Jessica Morgan, mom of 3, Pennsgrove, N.J.: “My children are 5, 2 and 4 months and I am struggling to afford all their necessities. Due to Covid-19, I can not work because it is not safe for me or my children for me to work as a self-employed housecleaner.”
Andrea Weed, mom of 1 in Puyallup, Wa., lost her new business as a home daycare provider when the virus hit: “With the $500, I can pay for groceries and clothes for my 5-year-old.”
Brandi Snyder, mom of 4 in Council Grove, Kan., a store room attendant who lost her job: “I can't seem to get ahead because I never seem to make enough money, and I've been struggling so long that it feels like I can't breathe! If I could just get even a little bit of help I know we'll be OK, and maybe I can even be someone that my children will be proud of someday!”
Jasmine Sanders, mom of 1 in Las Vegas, is out of work as a Uber and Lyft driver: “I need to pay rent, keep our lights on, and have my car I order to get around. I have no income coming in at all and it’s so stressful.”
Tiara Jenkins, mom of 1 in Iowa City, Iowa: A para-educator who was laid off in March, she wrote: “Starting a summer job as a traveling CNA, but my car's transmission needs replacing to get back and forth or I won’t be able to keep this job.” Her Facebook profile name is “Tiara HighlyMotivated Jenkins.”
Da'Janee Chaney, Bronx mom of a newborn wrote: “I need $500 to help pay for my backed-up utility bills, get summer clothing for myself and my baby, and to get at least a big pack of diapers and some baby wipes. I'm currently in a job-placement program, I'm looking to get my GED and then go to college.”
Erikka Johnson, expecting mom with two daughters in Grand Rapids, Mich., whose hours as a direct-care worker were reduced: “I'm facing eviction due to working very low hours. With everything going on my girls and I can't afford to be homeless.”
Amanda Scott, mom of three in Oxford, Miss., lost her work as an office manager and waitress to Covid-19: “I'm raising two teenage boys and a 7-year-old daughter alone, but I'm giving it my best. All three need new clothes just in case school starts back. I'm trying the hardest I have ever to keep a roof over our heads and keep moving forward.”
Kay Zuanshi, 19, Starbucks barista in Greenville, S.C. “I'm raising a 7 month old independently. COVID has made it impossible to pay bills alone, as my hours have been cut drastically.”
Olivia Jeffers, mom of 5, and a chef in Hephzibah, Ga. “I have been unable to provide the basic necessities to maintain my home, or support my children being that I am unable to work and my vehicle is holding me back due to lack of maintenance and funds.”
Ashley Pratt, mom of 2, Pittsburg. “I am a single mom of two struggling to get unemployment after my job as an insurance appointment setter was eliminated. I don't have a drop of gas in my car or a dollar to my name. I'm literally going to McDonald's to steal napkins for toilet paper.”
Sharae Dillingham, mom of 4 in Indianapolis. “My car broke down and i just moved to this city. I lost my job.”
Britney Robertson, Houston nurse and mom of 1: “Although it is great that places are closing or making adjustments to help curve the spread of Covid, closing is not an option for hospitals. This money would help with childcare which has proven to be difficult due to childcare facilities closing and the fear of contracting Covid from others.”
Evangellene Torres, Jacksonville, Fla., mom of 2 who cares for her mom, who has Lupus: “I had to take a leave of absence when someone tested positive for Covid-19. Taking care of a 1-year-old and a 6-year-old, and my mom with health issues is a lot. I currently work at Home Depot and they cut my hours to 16 hours per week. I’m running out of options.”
Tiffany Hunter, Cocoa, Fla, nurse and mom of 3: “I have been furloughed due to the rise of Covid cases at my facility. On top of that I have to quarantine due to the fact I am Covid-positive. I have applied for unemployment and I have my daughter, my mother and also my nephew that moved with us 3 months ago due to his mother losing their place. The DCF worker has not been responding since they placed him with us, therefore we get no assistance as of now. I need help, the bills are still rolling in, and I have no income to pay them. I feel like I am losing control.”
Nicole White, mom of 3 in Akron, Ohio: “Had to stop work as a cleaner when our country hit a Level 4. I have 3 kids, and 2 have disabilities. I've been fighting for social security for two years now. My parents passed when I was young so I have no one to turn to.”
Francine Simplice, Jacksonville, Fla. “My son has 8 allergies at age 2 and I need help with money to buy food. I don't qualify for assistance. I'm also pregnant and the father left me. I worked in customer service, but I'm on disability because if postpartum depression.”
Ashanti Durham, mom of 1 in Los Angeles, who lost work as a special ed paraprofessional substitute: “I am currently homeless in need of basic necessities for my 2-year-old. Also need money for apartment application and or security deposit for apartments.”
Juanita Madden, pregnant mom of 2 in Nashville whose hours as a dog groomer were slashed: “I've had loss of income due to Covid, found out I was pregnant then recently my fiance passed away and I'm trying to do everything myself. This would help me keep my hope that things will get better.”
Patrice Marlow, North Charleston, S.C., mom of 3 lost work when Covid closed the restaurant where she was a server, and her income was limited by lack of child care.
Connie Papayani, mom of 5 and medical biller in Islip Terrace, N.Y. “My landlord needs his house back by October and I had less than $200 in income in June and July. No money in savings. Feeding kids on food stamps.”
Chianae Tihoe of Oakland Park, Fla., single mom of one who last her job as a Victoria's Secret manager due to store closure. “I'm behind in rent and being harassed with eviction,” she said. “Unemployment benefits in Florida are $119 per week that you may or may not get.”
Shakayla Johns, mom of two in New Orleans, who is unable to work as a hair stylist during lockdown. “I’m struggling every single day. My fridge is empty, I don’t get any type of assistance from the government, my electricity bill is past-due $1,000, and I’m afraid when Covid is over I’m going to loose everything.”
Renita Stokes, Grand Prarie, Texas mom of three. “I just moved my kids from Memphis to Texas in June, and then I got laid off due to Covid. I've been trying to figure out what to do. I've been denied for SNAP and trying to figure out what to do. Everything has been extremely overwhelming.”
Kaytee Currie, of Baytown, Texas, is a mom of two and caretaker of the elderly. “Any money I can get goes towards an apartment or rental home so my kids and I don't have to crash at family members' houses.”
Kenyetta Jones, mom of 2 in Savannah, Ga., who lost hours at a supermarket when the pandemic hit. “I need a place for my kids and me. I’m only 22 taking care of twins and sick parents with a minimum wage job.”
Ashley Watkins, mom of 3 in Declo, Id. “I was a babysitter, gig worker, freelancer. Now I am unemployed and trying to compete for work with millions of others and losing. I'm behind on every single bill I have. I don't even have enough money to winterize our home.”
Jessica Fail, mom of 6 in Molino, Fla. “I had a bad car accident and was out for a while, during which the company moved overseas. At the same time my marriage was ending so myself and my children moved in with my granny so we could rebuild our lives and I could keep an eye on her. I am trying to find a job but my car needs a new tire. I also have no way to get the kids winter clothes.”
Shavon Anthony, mom of two in Fayetteville, N.C. “I work full-time as a CNA. I do home health. I work by the hour. I have only one client. If he gets sick and ends up in the hospital, I don't get paid. My client is sick and back in the hospital again, so I'm not getting paid. I have no savings.”
Nika Porter, mom of 6 in Madison, Wisc. “I was an assistant manager for McDonald's for 9 years, but I lost my job due to the pandemic because I had no one to watch my children because school shut down. If it weren't for those new eviction laws we would be homeless right now.”
Charlee Stones, mom of 2 boys, ages 2 and 2 months, in Ely, Nevada. I just paid rent for December it was the last of my savings. I'm not sure what I'm going to do for January or other bills. I am a custodian at a hotel and casino, and lost my job when Covid hit, and am now struggling to find child care. I am lucky they are holding my job for me, but as of now I have no income and bills are piling up.
Elizabeth Cargle, mom of 4 boys in Hogansville, Ga. “I recently become homeless and I am trying to keep my little family together. I was working in retail at a Family Dollar but they closed the store due to Covid.”
Tiffany Miller, mom of 1 in Fort Lee, N.J. who also cares for her mother. “I was a bartender and I lost my job because of Covid. I learned to sew and for awhile I was selling masks and now I make kids tshirts for birthdays but I'm still looking for a real job. I pretty much gave up on paying for unimportant bills but I need to pay my rent and I need to make sure I have internet and electric so my daughter can attend virtual school.”
Bailey Peterson, mom of a baby, in Wilmont, Wisc., whose hours as a server have been cut due to COVID: “I’m a new mom doing the best I can for my baby by myself and I’m not able to afford child care for all the days I work, let alone anything else the baby needs. I could really use the extra help, as my child’s father is incarcerated and unable to contribute anything.”
Kya Johnson, Indianapolis mom of 1 says: “My child and I are currently being evicted and have nowhere to go, no cosign, no anything to get us in a new place. My job is working from home for myself and making crochet garments to sell.” See her creations here.
Elizabeth Barden, a Philadelphia mom of 3 wrote: “I need to be able to continue to provide for my family. We had an electrical house fire on January 30th, 2021 and lost everything. I work as a bus attendant. My job was important when school was open but since the pandemic, everything has been rough.”
Angel Heston, mom of one in Shelby, N.C., is an Amazon Fulfillment Center picker, an essential employee. “My son and I are living in an Extended Stay Hotel that I pay $358/week for, until I get my tax refund. We are literally a few dollars from homelessness every week, and a lot of time go without things we need, just to have a roof over our heads.”
Lorena Moreno, mom of three in Houston. “My rent is due today, though the office gives me till the 3rd to pay it without late fees. “Last year I lost my insurance job due to having COVID while I was 4 months pregnant with my little one. When I was finally negative they did not want to hire me back because I was already 5-6 months pregnant. I tried applying everywhere but due to my pregnancy nobody would call me back. I also did side gigs as a vocalist, but due to the protocols from COVID I hardly had any gigs.”
Chiquita Jackson, mom of two in Palm Beach, Fla. where she is a bus operator. “I have to move out of my apartment because it was ordered not safe for me and my kids by my local city my landlord was served with violations.”
Chaya Sanchez, mom of two in Tuscon, Ariz., who also cares for her brother and her mom who is struggling with cancer and stopped working as a Door Dash driver and house cleaner to care for her kids and mom during the pandemic. “I really need the money because I'm stressed thinking how can I get money for rent, child care and household expenses. With my mom sick and brother not having work it's hard.”
Brandy Pearson,mom of 6 and receptionist in Memphis, Tenn. “I am behind on rent and have an eviction notice, they went up on my rent and it is too much for me. I am trying hard to keep my 2 sets of twins and 2 older girls under a roof.”
Paige McGriff, mom of 2 in Oskaloosa, Ia., says her hours working as a server at a pizza restaurant have been cut from 30 hours per week, to 14 hours. “I am struggling to pay my $750 rent (2.5 months past due and utilities while I continue to stay on the waiting list for Section 8 housing. Since my kids' father was fired from his job 3 months ago, I haven't been receiving child support, which contributed to a big part of my monthly income. I am unable to work more because I do not have childcare available in my area due to the massive surge of the Delta variant and my kids' father refuses to help care for the kids so that I can work more.”
Demetria Mayo, a mom of 5 in Huntington, W. Va., says while she has help through living in low-income housing, she needs help finding a car for work since her work as a hair stylist has been reduced. “I'm a good mother,” she wrote in her application.
Jessica Lark, mom of 2 in Gainesville, Ga., caregiver for her infant daughter who has cystic fibrosis and short gut syndrome. She wrote: “I'm not able to work because my daughter requires a lot of attention. She spent 10 months of her life in the hospital. I need a 4-door car to get her to her doctor's in Atlanta. My daughter, son and I are currently staying in one small bedroom at my mom’s house.”
Shawnika Miller, mom of 3 in Columbus, Ohio: “I am mom to three children and detail cars for work. Each morning, I walk my kids .8 miles to and from school, plus a mile to the grocery store with a wagon. I detail cars while the kids are in school with the baby since I have no help to watch him. I struggle to get enough work to keep all bills paid, but my kids are so amazing and they know mom does everything to make it happen.”
Rachael Geurts, mom of 2 in Modesto, Calif., lost her warehouse job because of COVID: “On top of COVID, I fractured my elbow and can barely use my right arm, which puts me out for my main areas of work. I have past due bills and rent and a 4-year-old about to start Head Start who needs a backpack and supplies. My 13-year-old girl needs new clothes.”
Nicole Rudolph, mom of 4 in La Center, Ky., who cleans and sanitizes houses: “I'm struggling to provide for my children's needs and pay the bills. I have two kids in diapers and a baby girl on the way that I have to provide diapers for as well. My two older kids need internet service to be able to do homework at home on their computers because of COVID.”
Kaylee Baker, mom of 6 in Oil City, Pa., caretaker for her oldest daughter who has several special needs and requires 24/7 care: “We're almost out of necessary daily hygiene products with five girls in the house. We ran out of laundry soap and garbage bags three weeks ago.”
Aaquasha Jones, mom of 1 in Pittsburgh, Pa., who also takes care of her younger sisters. “I lost my mother, brother, and grandma three months apart from each other. I’m dealing with social anxiety and depression while also trying to start real estate school and become a doula while raising my daughter and little sisters. This money will help me get caught up on bills and lighten the load while I’m in between jobs.”
Ashley Gonzalez, mom of 2 in Brooklyn, N.Y., who works at McDonald’s and attends school full time at Brooklyn Community College. “My car broke down and unfortunately I currently work paycheck to paycheck. My car is the only way I’m able to take my kids to school and get to school and work on time. Please if I could show desperation through a message, I would.”
Jekera Scott, mom of 3 in College Park, Ga., who babysits to make ends meet with her kids in tow. “We are literally checking out of a hotel that I pay for on a daily basis. I just need to get at least a day ahead so I can start saving.”
Bethany Price, mom of 3 in Gulfport, Miss., who does online grocery shopping at her local Walmart Supercenter from 5 AM to 2 PM Sunday through Thursday. “I'm trying to get a home for my children, mother and myself. We were evicted due to the pandemic and currently living with my sister and her family. There are 15 people in our household.”
Jacyntha Todd, mom of 3 in Greensboro, N.C., who works through a temp agency as a quality auditor at a computer company. “I’m struggling to make ends meet and pushing myself at work to work as much overtime as they allow. My car payment and rent are late, and I am spending a lot of money on gas right now because my daughter's doctors appointments are in another county. I have applied for food stamps, but I think if they count my overtime as my income, I make too much to qualify.”
Coneia Batey, mom of 2 in Nashville, Tenn., who works as a cashier at Wendy's and is a nursing student at Nashville State Community College. “I'm a single mother who is literally doing it all. Although I'm employed, unfortunately the pay isn't enough to cover all my bills, diapers, food, and gas, plus I have work that needs to be done on my vehicle.”
Dee Weber, mom of 3 in Window Rock, Ariz., who works at a school in administration, running events and fundraising for school programs. Her hours were reduced to part time during COVID and have not been reinstated. “I am having a hard time paying for gas to work daily. I also need to buy bigger clothes for my children while also trying to support my mother who just had surgery a few days ago.”
Maybelin Espinoza, mom of one from El Salvador, now living in Brooklyn, N.Y. “I need the money because I can't work right now. I had an accident that requires me to be in recovery for at least eight months.”
Fatima Pineda, mom of one from El Salvador, now living in Brooklyn, N.Y. “I really need the money for food and clothes and to help pay my rent. I also really need help paying my phone bill.”
Brittany Cannon, mom of 3 from Inverness, Fla., who works as a Daycare VPK teacher with Head Start. “I'm a single mom of three girls who are growing rapidly and they really need new clothes and shoes. Money is tight especially with Christmas and birthdays approaching when my checks just barely cover my bills.”
America Copeland, mom of 2 from Dallas, Ga., who works as a special education paraprofessional in a high school. “I get paid once a month with three kids, and it's very hard. Gas by its self is difficult, on top of bills, rent, and school fees for each child.”
Brittany Lacy, mom of 3 from Elizabethtown, Ky., who works at a vape shop but is going to school for cosmetology. “I have to buy food for all of us, pay bills to make sure we have a roof over our heads, plus electric, water, and gas, and I'm so stressed because to be honest. I don't even know how I'm going to pay any of it.”
Adnelis Albizu, mom of 3 from Kearny, N.J., who works as a social worker, connecting people with the resources they need. “I need help to pay my electricity bill. I don't make enough money, and I'm not allowed to do overtime like I used to before.”
Judena Pierre, mom of 1 from Lake Worth, Fla., who works as a hairstylist. “I need the money to help with daycare expenses, groceries, and diapers for my daughter. It's been extremely difficult to keep up with the bills with the economy being so inflated.”
KyePorshia Johnson, mom of 3 from Canton, Miss., who works for Amazon. “I’m late on my rent and about to get evicted with nowhere to go with 3 babies. I need extra money for groceries to continue to provide for them.”
Yolonda Bowen, mom of 1 from Indianapolis, Ind., who works as a Taco Bell shift lead. “I live with my sister with my daughter, and we both sleep on a twin-size mattress. I'm trying to do everything in my power to get us moved into our own space.”
Sheena Wagatha, mom of 5 from Newport, Mich., who works as a residential cleaner. “I am mother of 5 struggling to pay bills. I am always barely escaping shut off and constantly go without things to ensure my kids get what they need. I lost everything and started over, and my furniture is a mattress on the living room floor.”
Katelyn Levasseur, mom of 3 from Port Charlotte, Fla., who previously worked as a waitress but now sells scrap and other items on Facebook to pay for the hotel she lives in with her kids. “I lost everything in the hurricane. My daughter has cystic fibrosis, and DCF wants my kids to stay with my parents until I can obtain a house. My truck was totaled, so I have no transportation.”
Roshawna Roberts, mom of 3 from Valdosta, Ga., who works as a city school bus monitor. “Two weeks ago, I made up my mind to get out of an abusive relationship that had financially ruined me. I was also recently in a car wreck, which resulted in my car being totaled. Right now, I'm trying to start over from scratch.”
Macon Bedford, mom of 1 from Woodstock, Ga., who works as a manager at a Family Dollar store. “I am currently in a domestic violence shelter with my son, so I would use the money to pay my phone bill, apply to apartments, and pay for my son's daycare.”
Bethany Loza-Diaz, mom of 1 from Groves, Texas, who works as a cashier. “I have a 3-year-old, and I need to get him some child care with transportation. We have no car, and he comes to work with me every day.”
Tanisha Briscoe, mom of 2 from Memphis, Tenn., who works in a warehouse. “I just recently moved back in with my parents after leaving an abusive relationship. I'm sharing a room and a queen-size bed with my two son's who are 4 and 1½ years of age. I have no vehicle, and I just recently got a job after spending what feels like a year searching. I lost everything I owned in 2020 and have been trying my best to make up for it since then.”
Elyssa Moore, mom of 5 from Phoenix, Ariz., who works as a fraud analyst. “I currently do not make enough to pay my rent and recently got an eviction notice. I was denied rental assistance and have nowhere to go. I’m drowning and have been trying to get help but keep being told there’s no help at the moment.”
Jakkia Scott, a mother of 2 and braider from Artesia, Calif. “As a single mom working for myself, business is slow this time of year. I’m facing financial challenges right now, and this grant would greatly assist me with paying for rent, bills, and food.”
Elexsis Miller, a mother of 1 from Albuquerque, N.M., who works as a substitute teacher. “My bank account is in the negative and being sent to collections. My Medicaid and food stamps are on hold, and I have to buy groceries with an emergency expense taking my whole check for the next two weeks.”
Amarianna Page, a mom-to-be from Gainesville, Fla., who works at a psych prison. “I need the money because my job put me out of work ahead of schedule, and I'm on leave without pay. I have no idea how I'm going to pay my bills without any income. I don't need much, just enough to keep me afloat for the next month.”
Lexus Kelsey, a mom of 1 and bartender from Noble, La. “I’ve been diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer that has spread to my lymph nodes. Doctor appointments, medicines, and child care have put me behind financially.”
Samone Bouie, a mom of 2 from Clarksburg, W.V., who works in customer service. “I have a 3-year-old and 1-year-old and struggle to buy food and clothing. I'm not eligible for government assistance.”
Lucy Smith, a mom of 1 from Scranton, Pa., who works as a Producer Relations Advisor for an insurance company. She also does DoorDash on the side. “I work two jobs and I’m almost four months behind on my rent because I needed to purchase a used car because my 19-year-old car died.”
[Previously, this was a monthly $1,000 Kickass Single Mom Grant, which celebrated single moms doing incredible things in the world. You're still doing incredible things in the world, but the world is very different today, so the program changed. For more than five years, the $500 grant was gifted monthly. It is now annual.]
SOURCES
“The Long-Term Impacts of Cash Assistance to Families,” by Kevin Werner, The Urban Institute, Jan. 31, 2024 https://www.urban.org/research/publication/the-long-term-impacts-of-cash-assistance-to-families
“New Richmond program gives cash directly to people in need.” October 10, 2023. Axios Richmond. https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/10/10/richmonds-cash-assistance-family-crisis-fund
“Disaster Relief” Harris County Recovery Assistance.” Memorial Assistance Ministries. https://www.mamhouston.org/hcra
Daycare — a necessity for working families — can be a huge financial burden. If you’re finding it difficult to afford daycare, you’re not alone. All across the country, single parents and low-income families are struggling to pay for weekly daycare.
According to a recent survey by Care.com, parents spend on average 24% of their household income on child care.1 That same survey reports that the average cost of daycare is $321 per week (up from $284 in 2022). That works out to just under $1,300 each month. For some families, that’s more than rent (or a mortgage payment).
Yet, there is hope.
If you meet income limits, you can get free daycare or a subsidy to help you pay for daycare. If you make too much money but still need help, you’ll have to get creative to find the help you need (we share some ideas below).
Keep reading to find out which free or reduced-cost child care options will help your family.
To start your search, Google “free child care near me” or dial 211 to learn if your city has free or reduced-cost child care.
Low-income families and single parents with limited income are often eligible for benefits to help pay for child care, including daycare and before and after school care. These helpful benefits are in the form of vouchers, subsidized daycare, daycare scholarships, and financial aid for daycare.
Daycare vouchers
A daycare voucher, sometimes called a daycare certificate, is a type of subsidy. Subsidies provide a portion of funds to help cover child care.
How it works:
If a week of daycare costs $400, a voucher might cover $250, leaving a family to pay the $150 difference. However, this is just an example. Voucher amounts will vary based on your income and other financial resources, as well as available funding from the voucher issuer. In some cases, there may be waitlists (you’ll need to sign up and wait for funding).
Daycare vouchers can come from many sources, including:
Government programs: States and territories receive federal funding to help families pay for child care
Nonprofits: If you qualify, you can get help from nationwide nonprofits and charities like YMCA, YWCA, and Boys & Girls Club, as well as smaller local charities
Churches and religious organizations: Local churches and faith-based charities may offer vouchers through partnerships with social services or may directly provide discounted child care and daycare options
How to get a daycare voucher:
Contact the source of the voucher and follow the instructions for receiving one.
Reach out to nonprofits and churches to ask what options they may offer to help pay for child care. They may require an application or a referral from a case worker if you receive benefits from programs like TANF or SNAP.
In the case of a government daycare voucher, you can contact your case worker (if you have one) or your state’s office of child care. Eligibility requirements are different for each state and territory but may cover factors like:
Household income based on size
Number of children and ages
Other sources of income (If you receive child support, you may still be eligible)
Employment or educational pursuits
Citizenship status
For example, in Texas, child care assistance is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission through its Child Care Services program. Texas parents may be eligible for funding to pay for daycare or child care if:
They have a low income (amounts vary by region)
Children are 12 or younger
They work, attend school, or are in a job training program
They receive or are transitioning from government assistance
They receive or are in need of protective services
In your state, you will have to apply in person or online for the voucher to find out if you are qualified to receive help.
Please note that it may not be called a voucher. Depending on the state, it may be a scholarship, assistance, a certificate or something else, but its function will be to help you pay for child care.
A government subsidy for daycare is money that helps qualified families pay for care. This can be in the form of a voucher, but it may also be called a scholarship, certificate, or child care financial aid. These are federal funds given to states and territories based on the needs of the population.
How it works:
The government daycare subsidy is accepted by state-approved providers throughout your state. Once you receive a subsidy, you can approach a participating daycare to enroll your child. Your state child care office will have a list of available providers that accept the subsidy. This may be online or through a phone number or referral service you can call.
To get help:
Contact your state child care office or tribal child welfare program
Go to ChildCare.gov
Dial 211 or visit 211.org
Medicaid and daycare
Does Medicaid cover daycare? Not for children. There are Medicaid waiver programs for adult day care, but none for children at this time. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost health coverage for children but do not provide money for daycare or child care.
Free daycare: Early Head Start
Head Start is a federal program founded in 1981 to bridge the early learning gap of low-income kids, support their families in ways that prepare children for school, and provide free or affordable child care for families that need it. Head Start has grown to include Early Head Start for infants, toddlers and their families, as well as summer programs, and has served more than 22 million kids and their families.
What are the qualifications for Early Head Start?
Most Early Head Start programs serve children from birth to age 3 through weekly home visits that support child development. EHS also provides services to pregnant mothers and families, including prenatal support.
All Head Start programs are available at no cost to children whose family income is at or below the poverty level as determined by the federal government. Children whose families are receiving public assistance and those experiencing homelessness or in foster care qualify regardless of income. Head Start services are also available to children with disabilities and other special needs.
How to apply for daycare assistance from Early Head Start
To apply for Early Head Start services, use the Head Start Locator to find a program near you (select Early Head Start from the dropdown menu). You can call 866-763-6481 for assistance weekdays from 8 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Free daycare: Head Start
Head Start services are for pregnant women and children ages 0 to 5 and are typically offered in centers, though some programs may provide in-home services.
What are the qualifications for Head Start?
Head Start programs are available at no cost to children from low-income families. Eligibility is the same as Early Head Start:
Head Start is free for children whose family income is at or below the federal poverty level, as well as children whose families receive public assistance, are homeless or in foster care qualify — regardless of income. Head Start services are also available to children with disabilities and other special needs.
How to apply for daycare assistance from Head Start
YMCA programs across the country offer child care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Some centers provide free or low-cost care for families who qualify based on income and other criteria. Search for a YMCA location near you to find out which programs and services are available.
Qualifications vary by location.
Free daycare: YWCA
YWCA serves more than 200,000 children annually through its affordable child care, Head Start and preschool programs. Search the YWCA website for programs and services offered in your area.
Qualifications vary by location.
Free preschool
YMCAs, YWCAs, Head Start all provide preschool programs for 3 and 4-year-olds. Check with your local social service agency to learn about other free options, including voucher programs where you may have some choice to enroll your child in a church, private or school-based preschool, for free or low-cost.
Governments are expanding these programs because they are good for child development, and help the economy by supporting working parents.
For example, in 2009 Washington, D.C., began offering two years of full-day preschool to include 88% of 4-year-olds and 66% of 3-year-olds by 2017, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.
The percent of mothers with at least one child under age 5 in the district, who were either working or looking for work, grew by 10 percentage points during that time.
Free child care programs: Child care assistance programs in your state
To find free or low-cost daycare options in your area, visit childcare.gov to search for licensed providers and financial resources. The website provides a comprehensive list of assistance programs and discounts available to families who need help paying for child care.
If you don’t qualify for daycare vouchers, find yourself at the bottom of a long waitlist for daycare vouchers, or simply need help finding cheap daycare, we’d like to share some creative ways to get access to affordable daycare, before and after school care, and free preschool.
We asked our Millionaire Single Mom Facebook group for advice, and here’s what some had to say:
“Care swap with friends. That was the only way we made it work.”
– Lourdes G.
“Boys and Girls club. For $100/wk they would pick my son up from school, keep him until 7 pm and provide a meal. If schools closed, they were open. If school closed early unexpectedly, they picked them up early and kept them. It was amazing.”
– Nicole S.
“If you are U.S. based and believe your child is delayed in speech or other areas, check your local school district! I was able to get my toddler into free preschool this way because she was speech delayed.
Because I went this route through a public school, she also automatically received an IEP, which is a huge deal in my state. So on top of the free child care she receives, through her IEP she also receives therapy for speech, OT, and PT at school. That saves me $600 in copays every month from private therapy.”
– CheyAnne C.
“Before/after school programs through your specific school (not an outside source that visits the school).”
– Courtney H.
Tips on lowering daycare costs
When it comes to finding affordable daycare and lowering your child care costs, use these tips to get the best results:
Participate in a child care swap
Try a nanny share arrangement
Research local nonprofit child care options
Check with your school district
Contact colleges and universities (especially if you are a student)
Ask about child care options if you or your children belong to a club or participate in extracurricular activities
Check with your employer atu daycare stipends and other child care benefits
Use a child care referral network
Look for sliding scale fee daycares
Check your military benefits
Let’s explore these suggestions:
Child care swap
These best friends do child care swaps monthly to give each other a break:
A child care swap or child care co-op allows you to create your own daycare network with other parents you trust. This works best if your schedules are aligned, but you agree to take turns caring for each others’ children.
When creating a care swap, you’ll want to:
Lay out clear expectations: Talk about schedules, naps, transportation, activities, meals, discipline, and any other concerns you have about offering child care
Ensure safety: Make sure homes have childproof measures in place and discuss the details of any care that will happen outside of the home (like a trip to a playground)
Communicate regularly:
Establish emergency plans: Make sure all parents are clear about what to do if an emergency arises
If you need help organizing the swaps, consider using an app like Carefully. Carefully allows you to build a private network of people you trust to take care of your child. It allows you to arrange scheduling, pickups/drop offs, and communicate in one spot.
Carefully has a 4.1/5 rating on Google Play and a 5/5 rating on the App Store.
Nanny share
If you are looking for in-home care from a professional, a nanny share might be right for you. You will agree to share the cost of a nanny’s care with other families. In turn, that nanny will provide care on a schedule to each family involved.
According to Care.com, a nanny share will cost less than a private nanny but more than a child care center.2 Using rates based on a two-family nanny share for one infant and data from a 2022 Care.com survey on the cost of care, a family might pay:
$694 per week for a private nanny
$463 per week for a nanny share
$226 per week for a child care center
Keep in mind that prices vary by region. Even though a child care center may cost less, a nanny share could give you benefits like schedule flexibility (especially on holiday nights, and weekends), more one-on-one attention for your children and socialization with other kids and parents in the nanny share.
To get started, have conversations with other families you know and trust. You can use a resource like Care.com to find a nanny and set up a share.
Check out this Reddit thread where parents compare daycare vs nanny share:
Nonprofits that focus on children, like Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, YWCA often offer free or low-cost child care or daycare solutions during the school year and over the summer. But don’t limit your search to children-centered organizations. Also look for help from faith-based charities and churches, as they often offer free or low-cost daycare options.
School districts and local schools
Your school district or your child’s school might offer in-house before and after school care as well as summer programs. These programs are provided by the school and usually offer a meal or snack and age-appropriate activities for children. Some schools also partner with local organizations to provide free or reduced-cost care.
Also, if your child has a developmental delay, needs assistive technology, or is dealing with behavioral or medical challenges, they may be eligible for free preschool.
Meanwhile, school districts and schools are increasingly emphasizing standardized management and safety when operating pre- and after-school care and summer programs. To ensure smooth pick-up and drop-off processes, clear visitor identification, and well-defined roles for faculty and staff, many schools provide name badges for staff, volunteers, and program coordinators.
GSJJ personalized name tags can clearly identify names and responsibilities. This not only helps parents quickly identify the contact person but also reduces chaos during peak pick-up and drop-off times, improving overall order. For participating community organizations, boutique name badges enhance professionalism and parental trust. In scenarios involving child safety and responsibility management, these details often become an important component in creating a safe and secure environment.
Check with the guidance counselor at your child’s school or contact your school district office to learn what options are available.
Local colleges and universities
Colleges and universities in your area may provide discounted, on-campus daycare if you are a student. Plus, if they offer an early childhood education major, there could be options for enrolling your child in the on-site daycare even if you do not attend the school.
Clubs and activities
If your child participates in STEAM, gymnastics, martial arts, creative arts, sports, or other academic clubs or activities, there may be options for before and after school care as part of your membership.
Employer
Ask your current or potential employer about benefits such as daycare stipends, money employers provide to help pay for the child care costs of their employees. The human resources office is a great place to start.
Referral networks
Use child care resource referral tools from sources like Child Care Aware of America. A referral network will allow you to search for care, compare services and pricing, and find discounts and programs to help you save. It’s a way to get the facts and settle on the best, affordable solution for your family.
Sliding scale fee daycare
When you are looking for a daycare center, ask if they offer a sliding scale fee. If so, it will allow you to pay for child care at a cost that is typically based on your monthly gross income and family size.
Some daycare providers base these financial requirements on the federal poverty level (FPL). You may see FPL percentages as the qualifying factors. For example, if the guideline is 150% of the FPL, that means you can earn up to 150% of the FPL for your household size.
For a two-person household in 2024, the FPL is $20,440 and up to 150% of that number is $30,660. This means you can make up to $30,660 for a two-person household and be eligible.
Here’s an example of a sliding scale fee program:
Let’s say a local day care offers a sliding scale fee option for families that qualify based on income. In this made-up scenario, the cost of daycare is $250 per week for one child. They may offer a 20% discount for a two-person family with an income up to 150% of the FPL. Instead of paying $250, you’d pay $200, a savings of $50 per week.
Military child care benefits
Child Care Aware of America partners with the United States military and Department of Defense to support families looking for help through the Fee Assistance and Respite Child Care programs.
SOURCES
“This is how much child care costs in 2024” January 17, 2024. Care. https://www.care.com/c/how-much-does-child-care-cost/
“Is a nanny share right for you?” January 20, 2023. Care. https://www.care.com/c/is-a-nanny-share-right-for-you/
No matter what you're going through, there is likely a service, agency or resource for you:
Financial help and cash assistance for single moms is readily available from a variety of sources in your community, such as:
Churches
Nonprofits
Government agencies
Civic organizations
Fraternities and sororities
These entities can offer cash assistance, including grants and emergency cash to help you when money gets tight. They may also offer assistance with budgeting and financial planning to help you get back on track.
Government assistance is also available in the form of Section 8 vouchers for housing and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which offers monthly cash assistance to low-income families with children. Learn more about EBT cash benefits, EBT discounts and freebies, and how you can use your EBT card on Amazon.
Keep reading for more helpful options, but first understand that your income is a bigger factor than whether you are married, single or how many kids you have.
This Federal Poverty Level chart is frequently used to determine benefits:
Number of people in family/household
Annual income
1
$15,960
2
$21,640
3
$27,320
4
$33,000
5
$38,680
6
$44,360
7
$50,040
8
$55,720
For families/households with more than 8 people, add $5,680 for each additional person.each additional person.
Many churches set aside what's known as a benevolence fund to help parishioners and community members with utility bills, rent / security deposits, and other expenses.
To get help with your utility bills from a church fund, start by calling churches in your area to find out which ones offer assistance and how to apply. You might have to sit with them for an interview, provide proof of financial need and fill out forms as part of the application process.
Some churches might ask you to volunteer time if you are able or attend church-led classes on money management.
Love INC is a ministry that mobilizes local churches near you across the country to support local people and communities in need. Each branch is independently operated, so you'll have to search for your nearest Love INC location to find out which churches in your area offer services and how to apply.
There are also several denomination-based organizations that can help single moms in need with utility bills and other expenses.
Catholic Charities has more than 3,000 offices across the United States that help families with free money for paying utility and energy bills regardless of their religion.
Most United Methodist Church locations offer assistance with food, clothing, utilities, and other essential expenses.
The Episcopal Church has hundreds of parishes across the U.S. that help community members with food, utility bills, rent, and more.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an organization that utilizes home visits to help people with rent, utilities, food, or clothing, in addition to offering companionship and religious guidance.
Lutheran Social Services serves more than 30,000 individuals and families with food pantries and hot meals, clothing, and emergency vouchers for hotels, buses, and utilities.
Grant help for single moms
I also give out $500 cash to one single mom each year, no strings attached.
I started the Kickass Single Mom Stimulus Grant to give a hand to single moms struggling with money, health, stress, child care, illness, and loneliness. If you’re a single mom and you need the money right now, you can apply — no catch.
Apply:
Tax help for single moms
Are you getting a tax refund? File for your tax refund ASAP to get funds you need — and are owed! Learn more about tax returns for single parents.
Financial coaching help for single moms
Have questions about money?
The nonprofit Savvy Ladies provides a free volunteer-run helpline service that pairs you with the appropriate volunteer to help you with:
Divorce and money
Family finances
Small business planning
Budgeting
Debt management (including credit cards)
Retirement investing/saving
Money and emotions
Government help for single moms
Benefits.gov
Benefits.gov is the official public benefits website of the U.S. government. The website is a portal to help you understand which benefits you’re eligible to receive. Answer some questions on the Benefits Finder tool to be matched with qualifying programs.
If you specifically need help paying utility bills, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps qualifying families cover energy costs.
In addition to helping families pay for energy costs at home, this program helps improve energy-efficiency, repairs heating and cooling equipment, and provides emergency energy assistance. You may also be able to get a free air conditioner in some states.
To find your local LIHEAP assistance program, select your state and county from the dropdown menu on the LIHEAP site. You can also call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline at 1-866-674-6327.
TANF is a program that offers short-term cash assistance for necessities to qualified families. Each state, territory, and tribe sets its own rules and eligibility criteria.
To apply, you must meet at least one of the criteria:
18 years old or older, and the head of your household
Resident of the state in which you apply
You are pregnant
You have a child living with you that is 18 years of age or younger
Each state has its own income limits and determines the length of time you can receive cash benefits.
For example, in Florida, your gross income cannot be over 185% of the federal poverty level for the size of your family and cash assistance is limited to 48 months unless the recipient is a child (under 18).
United Way’s 211.org is a 24/7 live hotline that connects you with community services, resources for mental and physical health, finding food, housing and more.
Salvation Army is a global organization that supports low-income people and families with a variety of food, shelter, emergency cash, jobs skills, domestic violence and human traffic support, and disaster relief.
The Singletons is a nonprofit helping single-parent families in Arizona. To be eligible for help, you or your child must be undergoing treatment for cancer, living under the same roof, and have no significant other living in your home.
Depending on your needs the program provides:
Money applied to a utility bill
Healthy meals ready to heat and eat
Outings with other single parents battling cancer
Essential hygiene and cleaning items
Activities for children and gifts on special occasions
Housing help for single moms
If you’re a single mom in need of housing, there are a number of programs that can help.
If you need help with transportation, many local bus and subway systems offer discounts for students, low-income riders, the disabled, and senior citizens. For older people, Area Agencies on Aging can connect you with car services or volunteer drivers to help you get around.
Ridesharing.com can connect you with people who have a car and are going where you are going — both locally and long-distance.
Hands of the Carpenter is a faith-based nonprofit that provides working single moms with reliable transportation. Through the Transportation @ Low Cost (TLC) and Lift UP programs, you can get discounted repairs and access to a reliable car to get to work. This program serves seven counties in Colorado and is open to working single moms with dependent children.
After participating in TLC, you can apply for the Lift UP program which provides:
Discounted car care for up to three years
Vehicle placement for cars that are beyond repair
Vehicles for working moms that don't have a car
Car education to ensure the car stays in good working condition
To apply, you must be a living in one of the following counties in Colorado: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, or Jefferson.
If you're ready to buy a car, but you have low or no credit, Auto Credit Express is a quality lender:
Better Business Bureau rating of A+
In business since 1999
For new or used cars
Auto loans and refi for buyers who have low or no credit, or who have gone through bankruptcy or had a vehicle repossessed
With higher gas prices than ever, getting affordable or free gasoline for your vehicle is critical. We compiled a list of 24 resources for getting free or reduced-cost gas, including vouchers from charities and government programs, discounts from gas stations and other retailers, and ways to earn money paid on gas cards.
Cell phone help for single moms
Lifeline is a government program that helps low-income qualifying people get a free or reduced-price smartphone and wireless service. We elaborate on the dozens of programs throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, including those from big carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile in this guide to free smartphones and cell service.
If you are one of the majority of Americans who rely on prescription drugs, you may be able to get them for free or very low-cost. Learn more in our prescription medication guide.
Free prescription glasses
Until recently, it was difficult to find a pair of eyeglasses for less than $400. Thankfully, more brands are offering stylish and affordable options, and some programs offer free eye exams and glasses for qualifying individuals. Check out our post with 18 resources for free prescription glasses and cheap frames.
Affordable dentures
According to the American College of Prosthodontists, more than 36 million Americans do not have any teeth, which can significantly impact their quality of life.
Dentures are a cost-effective way to get your smile back, but they can vary considerably in cost and quality and require periodic replacement and adjustment. Check out our guide on where to buy affordable dentures.
Free hearing aids
According to GoodRx, hearing aids can cost between $2,000 and $7,000 on average. We put together a list of places to get free or low-cost hearing aids.
Free therapy
Perhaps not surprising, studies find that single moms are twice as likely to be depressed and anxious than partnered moms. One study of nearly 7,000 mothers in Europe found that 30% of single mothers reported symptoms of depression or anxiety compared with just 14% of partnered mothers and 37% of single moms reported high parenting stress compared with 16% of partnered mothers.
Self-care means putting your own mental, spiritual, physical and social well-being before all else — filling your cup so you can serve others in your family, at work, in your community. Read this excellent post with free self-care tips from therapist Elizabeth Cohen, PhD.
Coursera's free trial covers the course, The Science of Well-Being, from a Yale professor, has been taken by millions of people, and promises to teach skills that lead to more happiness and productivity.
Also, if you believe medication may be part of your mental-health plan, an online doctor who can write prescriptions can help. Our list of top online doctor apps.
Veterinarian care
If you have four-legged friends at home, their care can easily cost hundreds or even thousands per year. Learn about options for free vet care, including:
Routine vaccines and check-ups
Spay and neuter surgeries
Emergency vet care
Euthanasia
Prescriptions
Clothing help for single moms
Whether you need new clothes for your children, a professional outfit for a job interview, or you just want to update your wardrobe, there are a lot of ways to get free clothes when you can't afford to buy them.
If you’ve been thinking about going back to school (or about going for the first time), don’t let money be the thing that stops you. There are a number of single mom scholarships, grants, and financial aid programs you can apply for.
We put together a list of 20 scholarships for single moms that will help you land the job of your dreams, inspire your children, and help you live a better life. Also, check out our list of scholarships for women.
Educate yourself about getting a raise with our video:
Help for kids of single moms
Free childcare and preschool
All 50 states, plus many cities and counties offer free or reduced-cost child care, daycare and preschool. Here is a list of all the ways you can get the affordable or free childcare as well as preschool you need.
The last thing any mom should have to worry about is how she'll feed her baby. Luckily there are programs like WIC that provide free formula to qualifying moms and babies.
There are dozens of local and national programs to help low-income families enjoy the holidays with free gifts. Here are our guides to free Christmas presents and Christmas money. There are also opportunities to get free toys and gift cards from various sources year-round.
My bestselling book The Kickass Single Mom (Penguin), which was featured on The Doctors, New York Times, Reuters, Parents magazine and hundreds of others, is a guide to building a career, wealth and a wonderful life as a single mom.
