Budgeting Tips That Help Me Stretch Every Peso as a Single Parent

Raising a child alone is a journey filled with love, strength, and yes—plenty of budgeting challenges. As a single parent, every peso matters. I used to feel overwhelmed trying to cover all the basics while still saving for the future. Over time, I’ve learned how to make the most of my income without sacrificing Amalia’s needs or our quality time together. If you’re navigating the same path, I hope these tips bring you some light and a little breathing room in your finances.

Track Every Peso—Yes, Every Single One

The first step that truly changed my financial life was learning to track where my money goes. I used to wonder why my salary disappeared so quickly—until I started writing down all my expenses. From small snacks to monthly bills, everything went into my notebook (and eventually a free budgeting app).

Once I had a clear picture, I categorized them into needs, wants, and savings. This helped me identify unnecessary spending and redirect that money toward essentials. Even just 20 pesos saved from buying extra junk food can go into Amalia’s savings jar—or towards milk and vitamins.

Tip: Set a “review day” once a week. I do mine every Sunday night after Amalia falls asleep. It’s my mini check-in to see how we’re doing and make adjustments for the week ahead.

Plan Meals and Buy Groceries with Intention

Food is one of the biggest regular expenses, and I used to overspend without even realizing it. Meal planning helped me cut costs by 30–40% while also making our meals healthier. I now plan our weekly meals based on what’s on sale at the grocery or palengke. I also check what we already have at home before making a list so I don’t buy duplicates.

Batch cooking on weekends also helps—think adobo, sinigang, or ginisang gulay that can last 2–3 days. It saves both money and time during the week.

Bonus tip: Bring a grocery list and stick to it. It’s so easy to get tempted by items we don’t really need, especially when shopping hungry!

Embrace Secondhand and Free Resources

When it comes to clothes, toys, books, or even furniture, I’ve learned to shop secondhand or accept hand-me-downs with gratitude. There’s no shame in it—what matters is making wise choices that don’t strain the budget. Amalia still gets excited with “new to her” things, and we’ve discovered great finds in online groups and ukay-ukay shops.

Also, I take full advantage of free community resources like parenting workshops, medical missions, and storytime events at the barangay or local library. These experiences enrich Amalia’s life without costing a cent.

Being a single parent isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely possible to thrive with the right mindset and budgeting habits. I’ve learned to turn small savings into big wins, and more importantly, I’ve gained peace of mind knowing I’m managing our finances with intention. Every peso I save is another step toward a better future for my daughter.

Are you a fellow single parent trying to make ends meet? Or do you have your own budgeting tricks that work wonders? Share your thoughts in the comments or message me—I’d love to hear your story. And if you found these tips helpful, don’t forget to follow Moments by Amalia for more real-life stories, parenting insights, and money-saving wisdom.

Together, let’s turn every peso into a stepping stone toward a brighter tomorrow.