In this third blog post of my financial journey as a young widow, I want to share one of the best pieces of advice I received when Jon and I were anticipating getting married. Our mentors at the time said, “Get life insurance. No matter how tight the budget is, make it a priority. Life can change in an instant, and you want to be prepared as much as possible.”
I had no idea that the advice given to two young college students would have such an impact on our lives.
Life Insurance
Jon and I got life insurance a few years after we were married, shortly after our first child was born, and since we were young and healthy, it was pretty inexpensive. Some months it seemed like a chore to continue to pay it, but we remembered the advice we were given and kept our policies.
Read more...As a widow with small kids, finances were a big concern. There are so many things that go into running a household, as I am sure you are aware - the mortgage, utilities, food, gas, car maintenance, and the list goes on. I had never been fully responsible for any of this, and while I had worked in several different professions, I had been out of the work force since my kids were born.
Social Security Survivor Benefits
One of the first things I did after Jon passed was to contact my local Social Security office to see if the kids and I qualified for Survivor Benefits. This program is in place to help widows with young kids make ends meet. There are certain qualifications and income limits, so you’ll want to go to your local Social Security office to get more specifics.
Read more...Losing Jon was a heart-wrenching experience, and I was overwhelmed when I thought about life without him. I was trying to grapple with his death, plan a funeral and burial, and was suddenly plunged into single parenting. I was also now the sole provider for my family, and there were so many unanswered questions:
- How was I going to make ends meet?
- Would I have to get a job and put my kids in school?
- Would I lose my dream of homeschooling my kids?
- What kind of work would I be able to find that would provide enough income?
As 2024 is just beginning, I have been thinking and praying about a word I want to focus on for the year. I am not one to make New Year’s resolutions, as I often lose momentum after a few weeks, but I do like to have something I focus on for the year.
For 2023, my focus was to be INTENTIONAL. I wanted to be intentional in my relationships, my home businesses, my time with the Lord and my health. Some things went well, and others were more challenging.
A few years prior, my focus was CONTENTMENT. Let me tell you, so many things came at me that year that challenged my contentment. But it made me lean harder on Jesus as my only source for contentment.
Read more...Working from home is such an amazing option for many people. Being a piano teacher in my home has been such a blessing for myself and my family. God gave me the desire to become a piano teacher in high school, and I started with my first students when I was 15. Having a home-based piano studio has not only allowed me to follow my passion for music and teaching, but it helped me provide for my children as a young widow.
