Caution: These strategies will not work for everyone, but remember nothing from nothing leaves nothing.

1. If you are to receive child support payments, insist paying parent buy a life insurance policy covering term of payments, naming you as owner and beneficiary. Your “ex” will be unable to change beneficiary without your agreement. Try to have this court ordered at time child support order is established.

2. Take action if delinquent parents are consistently late or refuse to pay child support altogether. You may need an attorney or intervention from your local child support enforcement agency.

I used a portion of my child support funds to make more money in an effort to provide a better life for my child. If you really give it some thought I am sure you too can come up with a home-based business idea that will help you provide for your family. I created a home-based business because I could not afford to take on a second job; day care was just too costly.

These are difficult economic times for all parents but particularly for parents who have only one income. I am a firm believer that single parents must have several streams of income and operating a home-based business is one way to increase your income stream.

Consider operating one of 5 home-based businesses. None involve a lot of start-up money and although they won’t make you a millionaire, they will allow you to provide for additional needs of your family.

1.Home work Tutor Do you like to listen to your children read? Are you patient and caring? Do you visit teacher’s store in your area buying little books that can help your own children read, write or do basic math? Would you like to help another child in your neighborhood? If you think you might be interested in helping children with their homework, become a homework tutor. There are busy parents who do not have time to help their own children and would appreciate someone making sure their children understand and complete their homework. Remember parents are not only paying for your willingness to review their child’s home work, they are paying for your time and expertise. Make sure you provide parents with a weekly progress report and ask them to let their child’s teacher know they are working with a homework tutor, so your efforts will not be in vain.

2. Letter Writing Service

Several hundred years ago only clergymen and professionals were literate. Today even literate individuals need help writing letters, particularly written complaint letters and letters seeking a resolution or response to a concern. If you enjoy research involved in helping to resolve everyday problems this may be home-based business for you. There is little doubt that you will encounter a wide variety of needs as a professional letter writer and your goal is not to solve a problem but to write in such a way that you bring problem to light. Think carefully about who might need your services and why and remember there is power in pen or in keyboard.

3. Mystery Shopper