Hello and Happy Saturday SWARM Moms and those that love them!!

School has not yet started for my children so this is the last weekend of summer for us.  For the last few weeks we having been purchasing supplies as they go on sale and as we determine what we already have.  I'm sure we will never have to purchase crayons, markers, rulers and erasers ever again.

Because we have so many multiples of different items. we have some choices about what to do with the spares.  We can keep extra supplies, (just in case we need them),  we can donate the supplies to the "fill the bus campaign, (organized to provide supplies to families without the resources to purchase the items) or we can organize  'a big trade',  with the kid's friends so extras can go to those who need them and you can trade for any items you might want or need.  Moms!!!  you can do this virtually with your kids by having them post the offerings and trades on their facebook pages, twitter accounts and other social media sites that they are allowed to visit. This can help you by saving some money, but more importantly, it can help you get organized and open up some space in your home for other stuff. If you are following the Organization journey that we began this past week, this will help you by providing some guidance if you were stuck in the 'where do I begin' mode.  Begin here, with your children by helping them get prepared for this new happy and successful school year.

Organization is a tool that will help you and your kids have a successful, less stressful year.   Remember... "when you know where it is, you can find it"  Sharon, Director of SWARM for Single Moms and those that love them!   Happy new and happy school year to All!

binders and folders and pens... oh my

Hello Single Moms!

Organization focus: paperwork.

binders and folders and pens...oh my!!!

What this means specifically is that the very foundation of your organization begins with tools. In this post we talk about the tools for the paperwork that will need to be organized.  Folders to hold papers, Binders to hold the folders (boxes and file cabinets work well, too!) and pens to keep notes.

Of course, this is the age of technology so you may be using a computer/Ipad in place of the above tools;  creating a spreadsheet for your finances, enotes for your notes, etc...  One of the conveniences of technology is less paperwork and less space is needed.  Think: less clutter, less mess!!!

However, having said that, most of us will still have and need to keep on hand, hard copies of much of what is needed to help keep the paperwork organized.

For example, in the kitchen you may like to cook and have many recipes.  Although most of your recipes could be on the computer, it is more likely that you still have cookbook, recipe boxes, etc.

Since we are talking about the kitchen, why not start your home organization process in the kitchen.  Don't freak out! The purpose of this organizational process is to work with a single mom's lifestyle (busy, busy, busy)! You do not have to start and complete the organizing of your kitchen in one day.  Instead, since we are operating from a paperwork point of view, gather your paper work and put it into a box or a drawer.  Personally, I like using a box for this type of organizing This way you can take the papers with you into another room where you can leisurely go through the papers and spread out and if you haven't completed the task your kitchen will not be without a drawer.  Everything should look tidy while you are working on the paperwork organization from your kitchen.

OK Moms!  Get going and get started.  Today is the day to carry on your organizational plan!

Organization - Filing Paperwork

Hi Single Moms and those that love them!

Organization it is!

This week as we look to getting organized as the season begins to change you need to get an idea about what file folders you need to keep your paper work in order.

Think about things like Medical Receipts, Utility Bills, (I like to have a separate folder for electric, water, trash removal, etc...) Auto Repair, Auto Insurance, Credit Card Stmts. List the areas of interest that you will be filing paper for, so you will have an idea how many file folders you will need.  You should consider that since the school year is just starting, you can have your children file away their graded papers, old tests and quizzes.  Getting into the habit of filing your paperwork will help to ensure that you will be able to find the paper work you need, when you need it.  How nice is that? No more wasting time looking for ANYTHING on paper. :)

These folders come in boxes of varied amounts.  Last time I bought a box, it had 100 in it and 5 years later, I still have many left.  Just sayin!

The TIme is Now To KNOW!

Hello Readers!

As my readers know by now, I have accepted the request to continue on the finance journey, (disclaimer: I am not a financial planner, analyst authority, etc...) using the experience I have from so many years of scrimping, saving, etc to make ends meet!  Since there is a large amount of information sharing that is from personal experiences, so then must there be other information that is learned.  I am a perpetual student.  Always trying to make sense of the world and how it works and as a single mom, I have an extreme interest in being successful financially.  It is good for me, it is good for my family to never stop learning all I can in relation to (most especially), personal finance.  I want a better life and just as important, I don't want my children to be struggling in their lives because of financial ignorance. The time is now to know.

However, I feel it is imperative to start with a focus on organization for the first month or so given the importance of keeping an organized living environment.  It really does make your life easier and run smoother.  There is no better time than the present season change to incorporate new ideas as we embark on a new school year.  Are you up for it??

Today I want you to take some time and think about where you happen to be the most disorganized and  what areas you want to improve.  We will cover as much ground in the next few weeks to get you fully prepared to carry out your organizational planning.

So for now, take this day and be cognizant of the areas of your life that you know need organizational help.  Then, let's get to it!

for the record

Hello Readers!

Today I want to share with you my motivation for opening a resource center for single moms.  One of the moms involved in Swarm rents a house in my neighborhood.  She pays her rent to the homeowner who refuses to fix problems with the house until the very last minute.  In other words, she phoned him over six weeks ago about the water heater leaking.  He and his wife stopped by and although there was strong evidence of a leak (and an ongoing one at that) he said that the leak was small and easily solved by turning a latch, which he did and then promptly left the house.

This Swarm mom, ever hopeful, thought. 'well, maybe that really was the problem', and got on with her life.  Fast forward two days later, the water slowly started coming out again.  It was true that the leak was small, but for every leaking drop, her water bill increases...

She includes a letter in her next rent check stating the leak was back and that she was losing money because she was now paying for water that she was not using... No response from the landlord so she phoned him again and left a message.  Eventually he did get back with her and finally decided that the water heater might need repair. He sent over two of his regular plumbers who determined that a new water heater was needed and within days the water heater was replaced.  However, the leaking caused some problems under the house in the crawl space and now the mom has a mold problem.  The landlord says the mom should buy a dehumidifier to control the mold growth.  The mom does not have the money and the landlord is not required to provide one, so the mom, who is tired of having to go through hoops to keep her house in order, figures it is time to move.  She doesn't want to, because her child is settled and thriving right now and just doesn't need another disruption in her life, but mom is now concerned with health and safety.  Another problem with moving is the cost.  She would need a new down payment, using the current one for the last month's rent and the cost of a truck rental.

So now after sharing that little story I can get to the point... If I had the resources to help this mom, I would be able to help her finance the dehumidifier so she could stay put and have better control in her environment.  Another issue here is the cost to move from a potentially unsafe living space to a new home.  Truck rentals and down-payments can be more than the mother has in her savings account or in her SOS account.

This is what I mean by quality of life issues that single moms face. We are not so poor as to qualify for government help, yet the cost of some helpful products that could remove some stress and improve the quality of our lives is just out of reach.

The Working Single Mom

There will be many posts related to this title: 'The working single mom', but for today I want to share the need for the single mom to be the best employee your company ever hired.

First of all, it is important to be the best at what you do for a number of reasons.

1)  Power - People who are the best in their fields are in demand and have more choices

2) Ego - It is good to be the best and to know you are the best; makes you feel good about yourself

3) Money - people who are the best at what they do can demand a higher income

4) Valuable - your employer needs to have people on the team who strive to be the best, it makes them look good and increases the likelihood for success and profit

and finally...

5) Control of your life and flexibility in your work environment

How can you be the best employee your company ever hired? Be on time, dress for the job you want within the company, keep learning new things, keep track of your ideas and the impact they have on the company, be honest, never gossip, be a team player, be loyal to the managers and be employee willing to champion new policies and procedures. Although there is no 'I' in team, there is an 'I' in promotion so be willing to stand out, stand up and lead, lead, lead!!!

Pre-fall rev up

Hello to all Swarmers!!!

Single moms need help.  We need the sort of help that empowers us and propels us to live a better life.  We want that for our children, as well.  SWARM believes that education will get us there, so will learning how to save and spend money wisely.  The best way to get there, however, is by being organized.  Being organized will allow us to schedule our lives so we can use our time efficiently.

Did you see the words: organized and schedule?   These are the keys to improving our lives.  Why? Because when we are organized we can achieve daily goals that are inline with our needs and wants.  Organization is the key to improving our lives.  When you are organized, you are informed. You know where you stand, what you need to do and perhaps, just as important you know what you have accomplished so far.  Take the time now, (before the fall season begins) to create the plan you need to get and stay organized.

Remember, it is always better to get organized before the storm of new activities. Now is a great time to organize and plan because information is beginning to trickle in.  If you children are involved in school related activities they may already be attending those activities at the school.  There will be paperwork involved and there will be dates for you to know. But it is coming in slowly, unlike the first week of school when you will have teachers, administrators, activity coordinators, etc all vying for your time with paperwork that needs to be filled out and sent back within a specific time frame.

Get started now while you can plan with less stress...

In my home I have created a spot on the wall, in the kitchen, with chalk board paint that myself or my children can write quick reminders of information that I need to know.  It may be as simple as, 'we need toilet paper soon' to 'sport physical tomorrow, need $15.00'. Using this chalk board to send a heads up about these sorts of events that need to be in the fore front of my thoughts.

I also have a wall space dedicated to paperwork schedules of school activities that are coming up.  This space remains throughout the year and as one schedule is completed (volleyball) it will be replaced with the next schedule (i.e. robotics). At a glance I am able to know before I leave the house what is coming up for that day, week, etc.

If you happen to have a child who neglects to hand over important paperwork, have them get into the habit of 'dumping' paperwork at a designated spot near the space they empty their backpack.  For some kids it is easier to have this space in the kitchen where they may also be emptying their lunch box, near the front door as they enter the home or perhaps in their bedroom or space where they do their studying.  Find a shoebox, basket or name a shelf that you want them to place these papers and this MAY help you get the necessary paperwork in a timely manner. Try it!

Lastly, remember that in order to become organized and remain organized you must be consistent in your good habits. You must follow these steps if you expect your children to  follow these steps.  Gently guide this new behavior and encourage your kids to think of areas that they can find ways to become more organized.

From Sarah Ban Breathnach's book Simple Abundance

Four old-fashioned rules that can change the quality of your daily life beginning today

1) If you take it out, put it back

2) If you open it, close it

3) If you throw it down, pick it up

4) If you take it off, hang it up

Hi Swarm Moms!

School will be starting in just a few weeks.  It won't be long until you get back into your 'regular' schedule.  This is a great time to start planning for the upcoming school year.  Since your kids on  a journey to self-improvement through education, why don't you consider doing the same for yourself.

If you are under-employed take the time now to consider upgrading your education or work skills.  Are you in your dream job? Are you even in a job you like? ... or one that pays your bills and helps you to have the life you want. If you are not in a job that is at least meeting your needs, you must consider getting out of that job and into one that can help you to improve your quality of life.

Know this:   if your needs are not being met, your quality of life is no good.  You must always have your needs met and you must be getting some of your wants.  This is basic quality of life information.

Having enough money to make that happen is vital.

If you do have a good job, but something is missing from your life that affects your quality of life, take this time to discover what it is and what you can do to help yourself.  Grow your life while your kids are growing up.  Happy day, single mothers!

School year is fast approaching

Hi Moms!

Today it is time to think about the coming school year.  Do you have your children's supplies already? or... are you waiting until the last minute.

Clue: If you begin your shopping now you are guaranteed to save money.

Read: If you save money you will have more to put into your savings account.

If you have been noticing as I have, there are many stores that now offer school supplies. If you begin shopping now, there are deals to be had. In my neighborhood, Target and Kroger have been offering deals on notebooks, pens and markers.

If you live in a state that has a tax-free back to school week-end sale, you may or may not be saving money when you buy during this time.  It pays to pay attention, so start getting organized so you can make the most of your time and your money.

P.S.   I have the bracelet and once I have the legal, 'go-ahead', I will begin the process of the raffle.

Stay tunes if you are interested, otherwise, stay tuned for more single mom, 'quality of life issue, information.  Have a great day!