SavvyMomsUnite

So it has been a long time since I have posted to my blog. Lots have happen but I am glad to say in all I have seen all my challenges through. Another year of grad school down, my daughter is close to completing Pre-K, and I have embarked on a 90 Day Weight-loss Challenge that has been life changing. Back in February I wrote about this year being the year for me to seek a healthy lifestyle, well I am doing it. Each day that I inch closer to my goal, I am proud how far I have come. Here are some photos showing what a difference a year makes.

This was me May 15, 2011 at a convention. I was around 236 lbs.

March 19, 2012. Day before I started my 90 Day Challenge 208lbs.

Me April 26, 2012. I feel great!

So 2012 has started and this is the time for New Year’s resolutions. If you are like me your resolution is only good for a few months. I have decided I am going to do something different. Every month I will set out to accomplish a goal whether it be large or small.  It has to be Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic and involved a Timeline for accomplishing it. I will be using the SMARTER Goal Setting strategy that I use with my clients when they are career planning.  Each month I will document the goal and the progress I have made.  So for the month of February I am committed to losing 10 pounds.  This will get me closer to my goal weight of 165lbs which I hope to reach by April 2012. I will post pics to show my progress. Wish me luck!

So finally we got to celebrate Adrianna’s 5th birthday. It was not easy planning the event nor was it easy coordinating all the guest and making sure all the details were covered in the midst of my finals week at school along with major projects that needed to be completed at work. But the party was a success! Adrianna had a wonderful time with her friends and family. I cannot believe how much time has passed but I am very grateful for all the blessings that I received since having her. Mommy loves you and will always pray that you become the best you can be.

One of my grad school classes is a Foundations of Research course for my Adult Education program. By the end of the class I would have produced a research proposal which could probably become my Master Thesis if I want it to. I was so thrilled to have selected a topic that I personally am impacted by( as well as several of my friends)  but also one I would like to learn more about. I would consider myself as part of the middle class and what I have found is access to programs for moms in my income bracket are very few, well at least in my state. I remember when I was making in the low 30s and being told my income was too high to receive help with my daughter’s health insurance. Let me provide some background information. At the time, it was a year of me being a single mom, I was working for a non-profit, Adrianna was 1 and half years old. In order to add her to my insurance through my job I would have had to pay 600 dollars a month. Now, how was I going to afford that with all my other expenses only making in the low 30s. Adrianna went two years without health coverage. Whenever she would get sick I would hope and pray that it would not get worse so I would not have to rush her to the hospital where the visit would cost between 200-300 dollars. This was not including any medications she needed. I would stare at the bills as they would pile up hoping that by me staring, they would suddenly disappear like I had some magically powers. I am sure many parents face this obstacle of paying for health insurance for their families especially if their employer does not provide it. But what happens to those families that do not meet the cut off or assistance based on their income. They are not at the poverty line but still need support. How do they get a little help when they are only working on one source of income. It has been quoted that in order to own a home in the state of Rhode Island you will need a combined income of 70,000 or more. Now let’s get real who do you know on average making that salary, especially single parents.

Please do not misunderstand as I do not have anything against two parent homes or even those receiving help from the state due to their financial standing. What I do take issue with is this assumption help is not needed by the single moms or dads in the middle. We all could use a  little support especially during those times when the other parent fails to uphold their end of their financial responsibility. I am not saying pay our daycare bill or even gives us free healthcare(unless everyone is getting it) but give us a discount at least or how about allow us the ability to provide simple things for our kids as financial support for attending private schools when our school districts have failed to provide viable options(that is another topic  for another day).

Because I am solution oriented I am thinking of ways this issue can be addressed. Well first put a spotlight on the issue. What issues are single parents in the middle class facing and how they are combating the issues? One of the ways I am eliminating my barriers is by embarking on a entrepreneurial journey. Generating a second income stream so that I am able to make up for where my full time job is not able to. Having even an additional 200 dollars coming in a month could help. Hey it would have helped pay my daughter’s medical expenses, bills, gas, etc when I was making less. We all need to be doing something “on the side” because our full time jobs cannot support our many needs,  especially single parents in one income homes. My dream is to create a support network for those single parents that provides resources, networks, support systems that will eliminate some of the barriers faced. Giving them tools to start a business if their heart desires. Creating opportunities that lighten the load a little. I know I won’t save the world but if I can make things easier for one single parent, including myself, that it will be worth it.

10 steps to couponing

I am so excited to introduce this Savvy Mom, a good friend of mine. Her name is Dana Lee Jones. She is a wife, stay at home to two beautiful little girls and owner of Dana Lee Jones Photography. She actually took the beautiful photo of Adrianna and I(featured in the last post on this page). She is what I like to call a Extreme Couponer Extraordinaire. She has been couponing for some time. I am impressed by how much she saves on her grocery bills. She has estimated a savings of $10,000 dollars since she has started. Amazing! I have posted the audio of her explaining the steps. What I learned from her is that it takes organization, diligence and flexibility. If you are willing to do all those things and more, you will be saving money in no time. Please enjoy the tips. Any questions, feel free to comment below and Dana will respond. Happy couponing!

Adrianna had a ball, literally! She loved playing kick ball with me and her aunt, although at times she said she was tired and became frustrated if she could not kick the ball. It made me think that I need to encourage her to do more outdoor activities even after she comes home from daycare. I think because I was not an athlete or outdoorsy growing up, I have failed to allow my daughter to be more active. That will all change going forward. Lovely day, great learning experience. More photos below from the weekend in CT.

I am waiting in the car for my sister outside Stop and Shop while she ran in to get some food items for our stay at my brother’s in Connecticut. My sister, her husband, Adrianna and I are going to CT for some relaxation. We will be grilling turkey burgers, chicken and hotdogs later. Adrianna is excited about playing outside and running around the fields that surround my brother’s home(will post pics soon). Such a beautiful day in September. Wish the weather would stay like this a little longer. I am happy to say my hair cooperated with me today so I was even more excited. Lol!

(Photo taken by Dana Lee Jones Photography)

I am a single mother, full time Career Advisor, part-time graduate student, and business owner. Life is crazy but I am always looking for ways to connect with other women who experience the joys and challenges of being a single mother and striving for financial freedom. The purpose of this blog is to share information on various topics that may be of interest to single moms such as affordable and safe daycare options, financial planning, providing affordable education for your children, affordable housing, parenting tips, couponing(I need help with this), organic food shopping(on a budget of course), health and wellness, and last but not least wealth building. Join me on this journey as I seek resources, develop discussions, and provide opportunities for single moms to connect and share with each other things they have done to make their lives a little easier. My name is Elkie and I am looking forward to building this community with you.

Elkie

My reason why I work so hard. Adrianna is wearing a traditional African suit, one I wore when I was her age(4 years old).  We take great pride in our culture. I am teaching Adrianna how to appreciate her culture and that of others.  I want her to not be ashamed of where she comes from. She can actually say some words in my Dad’s dialect Bassa, which is a Liberian dialect. She loves learning new ways to greet people. I will be so proud when she becomes multilingual.