We support Sola Mama, Single Mothers
Life and Money Planning Tips for Sola Mama*
Yoshiko Nakamura, Financial Planner
Life while raising children is a marathon. Make a plan for the long run.
You can’t run it alone. Find friends to run with you.
*Sola Mama: A new name proposed by Yoshiko Nakamura for single mothers.
Sola is the feminine form of the adjective “alone” in Spanish, Sol is the sun, and Mama is the mother. It creates an image of smiling women like the Sun in the Sky.
Imagine what kind of life you want to lead
– What kind of year do you want the next one to be? Let’s envision what we want the coming year to be like.
– First, let’s imagine how you want to spend your day. Where will you live, what time will you get up in the morning, what time will you eat, what time will you go out, how will you work, and what time will you come home? How will you spend time with your children?
– How will you spend your days off?
– What do you want to be doing in three, five, and ten years? Try to develop an image of what you want to be in 3, 5, and 10 years.
- Think about work from several perspectives
– What kind of work will you do?
– How many hours per day and per week will you work? (Include commuting time in your calculations.)
– How much income will you earn per month?
– It is also important to consider whether you will have enough time to spend with your family.
– It is challenging to become financially independent with an hourly job. (It is impossible to be financially independent with an hourly job.)
– (It is not possible to have a part-time job as a housewife.)
– Find a full-time job with benefits or a job that leads to such benefits.
– Find a job with benefits or a job that leads to such benefits. Improve your skills through public job training. 3.
- Project your income and expenses
– Write down your current monthly expenses.
– Estimate what your monthly expenses will be if you live the lifestyle you envisioned in step 1.
– Project your income next year, three years from now, and five years from now, when you get the job you have in mind in step 2 (including public benefits).
– Based on the above income and expenses, calculate whether you will be able to live or save.
– If you cannot live or save, consult with someone you trust and come up with a plan to cope with the situation. 4.
- Manage your money well
– Know what government, community, and non-profit aid you can receive and make good use of it.
– Do not use credit cards. Use debit cards.
– If you have a revolving credit card or other debts, pay them off as soon as possible.
– Do not take on new debt (including credit card purchases).
– Save 250,000 yen first (target 500,000 yen) as a contingency fund. 5.
- Do not sacrifice yourself. Do not sacrifice your children
– What is important in the way you work and live is to take care of yourself. Do not sacrifice yourself for your children.
– Be careful not to sacrifice your children for yourself. The most important thing for children is to spend time with their parents and to experience unconditional love from their parents.
– We all get tired of raising children. When this happens, take it easy, ask for help from friends and the community, distance yourself from your children, and have time for yourself.
Also note the following!
~ Working, income, living, family time, and personal time are closely connected ~.
- Working hard for income is counterproductive
– It is important to find a balance between earning income and maintaining a good quality of life.
– Working long hours without sufficient rest or time with family eventually leads to fatigue, poor physical and mental health, and the risk of illness.
– As a result, they may have to quit their jobs or change careers.
- Look for good income opportunities
– Hourly jobs do not provide financial independence. You won’t have a future if you work hard!
– Look for a job with good income and benefits (health insurance and paid vacation).
– That way you can achieve financial stability without having to work long hours.
- Expand your skills
– By upgrading your skills and acquiring new ones, you can increase your income and advance your career.
– Acquire certifications and vocational training according to your interests and career goals.
– In the age of 100 years of life, you must continue to improve your skills until you reach the age of 80. 4.
- Get support in various ways
– Take advantage of community resources, government assistance programs, childcare support, and networks to get support for work and living without hesitation.
– It is impossible for one person to do all the work, housework, and childcare. Get help and share the load. 5.
- Take good care of yourself
– A good diet and exercise for the body and rest and fun for the mind are essential.
– To this end, be willing to accept public and private support.
– A well-rested mind and body are essential to continue working happily and earning an income.
– If your body and mind are healthy, you will have a much better relationship with your children. The reverse is also true.
If you still feel that you just can’t bring them up.
No matter how hard you try, things may not work out. If you feel you can’t try any harder, there is another option. Talk to us about it. If you put up with too much, both parent and child will be unhappy.
– Temporarily place the child in an infant home or foster home and take the child back after rebuilding your life.
– Give the child up for adoption (special adoption).
Sola Mama
A new name was proposed by Yoshiko Nakamura for a single mother.
Sola is the feminine form of the adjective “alone” in Spanish, Sol is the sun.
