We’d just finished dinner with a couple who’ve decided to buy a house in Merida, where my wife Suzan and I live, and move here permanently.

“Healthcare and insurance costs alone are killing us. Add property tax, and it’s too much… especially when you consider that the value of our house in the States is falling fast.”

Suzan and I have been hearing this a lot from Americans wondering where they can go to retire in style.

Real estate prices in the U.S. are becoming more attractive thanks to the huge dose of reality injected into the market by the mortgage bubble burst. But people still keep shopping in Mexico, Ecuador, Uruguay, Brazil… throughout Latin America. Throughout the world.

“It doesn’t make any difference that you can now get a great deal on a place in the States,” a friend recently said. “You still can’t afford to live in it. And you sure won’t make any money on it in the near future if you try to sell it.” Not a great option for a retiree on a fixed income.

Outside the States, we’ve seen real estate prices in almost every market appreciating 10, 20, 30, even 50 percent a year for the past decade. I expect that to stop. After all, crashing markets, rising unemployment, inflation… these things won’t be limited to the U.S.

It’s a big world, and most things in it are relative. Even if the global cost of living rises 50 percent in the next few years, there will still be places on the globe where the cost of living is 50 percent less than in the States.

And with no real help in sight for rising taxes and healthcare and insurance costs in the U.S. (does anyone really believe the insurance and medical lobbies will allow universal healthcare?), smart folks will think about where to retire, do the math, and move to where the money they’ve managed to keep for themselves will go the furthest.

And that, I believe, will help support property prices in the places they want to escape to… places like Mexico, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Brazil.

Not that Suzan and I plan to flip our place in Merida any time soon. We’re having way too much fun here… not the least of which is having dinner with new friends. But I don’t see the value of our property slipping 30 percent in a year, which is what we’ve seen in markets like Florida and California lately.

I expect the value of our properties abroad to stay steady, especially as the global economy gets worse. We live and have invested in places that make sense from a cost of living, climate, and convenience point of view. And as more and more people realize that they have options for where to retire (other than just sitting where they are and watching their money drain away), I expect we’ll have many more dinners with new friends shopping for a better life in Merida and other prime locations around the world.

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First, you should manage what money comes in and out of your accounts; then start thinking of ways to create multiple sources of income. Even if you are working harder than ever your current job, you should always be thinking of ways to get out the of the rat race.

One major problem in today’s society is our inability to get off the gas pump. To save money we need to lessen our consumption of gas. With the high gas prices, companies are developing more proficient ways to travel. If you don’t have the kind of money to invest on a new hybrid, at least plan on how much money you want to spend each month on gas.  I also read an article on The Simple Dollar about little gas saving tipsthat may help you at the pump. All in all, commuting to and from work is getting very expensive, so it behoves you to start managing and control your travel to start saving money.

If you just don’t have time to start or create more streams of income, then start planning out everything your household needs. The average family spends way too much on food they probably are never going to eat. By pulling your family together and deciding on a budget meal plan, you will able to set and spend a certain amount of money per month on food. This will definitely great you to start saving money. Also, cut junk food altogether and stop wasting money at the vending machines at work. These trivial expenses can add up very quickly.

Unfortunately, surviving in today’s economy is not going to get any easier. With inflation, the average family is having a more difficult time making enough money to keep afloat. A few ways to start saving money is by cutting unnecessary things in your life. Call a family meeting and discuss what you can cut out of your lifestyle. If you need to get rid of the TV then do so. Start learning how to manage your time and take out items that cost money. This will help you save even more money and stop throwing at worthless companies. Decide what you need and get it, learn how to differentiate between the wants and the needs.

If you’re looking for a little extra money then you should try looking for ideas online. There are dozens of different ways to make money online. Having a secondary income is always a fantastic way to stay afloat in today’s working economy. In fact it is quite difficult to maintain a good lifestyle if you aren’t receiving checks from different money sources.

Another great way to save money and keep your family steady in the economy is by managing your time a little better. If you work at home then you might want to make sure your family knows that you are working during a certain time, and you need time to focus. If you work out of the house always ensure that the amount of time you work is okay with your budget and your family.

Lastly, teach your kids the advantage of knowing what they need rather than what they want. If you manage your money well, then you can stay with the flow of everyday life and succeed in today’s economy.

So how do single mothers manage pulling in enough money to feed their family and manage to spend time with your kids?

There are various government assistance programs that some single moms are eligible for. They can either be through private organizations or the federal welfare program. These programs are great and can very helpful if you can actually get into them.

How do you know if you qualify for assistance?

The best way to find out is by going to your local welfare office and seeing if you have a low enough income to apply for one of the support programs. A way you can qualify is by having a low enough income. These welfare programs offer you a variety of forms of money. Some will give you stock or bank accounts, things that can be turned into cash for you use. When applying for a welfare program, include the amount of money you make and other hardships you and your family might have gone through.

So what happens if you don’t qualify for a welfare program but are still struggling?

If you can’t qualify for welfare programs then you will have to apply for a grant from the US government. There are about 900 grants from 26 different grant-making agencies that are willing to help you with your hardships. The grants come from the U.S government and the only way you can get your hands on one is by doing something for financial assistance .This usually implies that you might have to do a service project or some other task. Then you can receive the grant.

More Resources

The government isn’t the only place out there that offers grants to people. Schools, private companies, and many non-profit organizations are willing to help single moms through their hardship. These days they are many schools that offer specific scholarships for single moms who are trying to go to college. If you are curious about this type of assistance, you should go and talk to the financial advisor of the school that you would like to go to.

Other organizations that offer help to single moms is sites like Singlemom.com. They offer financial help to single moms in need. Depending on the organization you turn to, they are willing to give out a cash grant every month to deserving single moms. Receiving a grant could help you get through the month, and allow you a little bit of breathing room.

If you get a grant in the future, then make sure you use it for the benefit of the entire family. Misusing a grant or welfare program is not what they are intended for. These financial aids systems are meant for helping single moms who are truly struggling to keep their head above water. Use them correctly.

One Last Note

I know this article is focused on single mothers who are going through financial hardship. But, I just like to acknowledge and praise all the single mothers who have very successful careers and taking great care of their children. Many of us wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for the sacrifice and hard work that our mothers went through in life.

Companies tend to function perfectly fine one day, then they are bought out or going bankrupt the next day, it is difficult to judge which companies will rise and which will fall. Not counting trying to get a job with the most stable company. Having more than one income also has more advantages other than a fallback source. Plus, you can also live a more comfortable lifestyle.

For example, say you have a good job at a firm downtown, a nice salary and a family. You want to be able to give that family the most comfortable lifestyle that you possibly can. If you have more than one income you will be able to afford more of the wants rather than the needs of that family. You might actually be able to take a break and go on a fun vacation, take some time off with your family. By getting multiple sources of income you can also save up for the future and truly have an emergency fund or nest egg to fall on when times are hard. Having money that flows into your bank account even when you are asleep is ideal. People who are “wealthy” don’t rely just on the fact they are CEO of a major company, they realize that by having more than one income they are able to live without the constant fear the company might go under.

Another economic issue we must address is inflation! Inflation is a big problem for us with the rising costs of our main staples. Just take a look at gas prices; do you think the average worker at a company will be able to afford driving to work every day on an average salary? Having a backup income will allow you to be able to take inflation as it comes. Without that ability you will be struggling to keep your head above water while other people have put on their floating devices or brought out their boats.

Now that we have discovered how great having a couple more sources of income is, let’s discuss briefly how we can obtain those sources of income. There is the classic get another job route or something a little less time consuming: Internet Marketing. There are thousands of great legitimate ways to make money on the internet. Just to name a few, you can start with affiliate marketing, selling things on eBay, blogging, creating Adsense webpages, membership sites, and the list can go on and on…

Once you feel comfortable with making money on the internet you can move on to make your own products and market them. This will generate a great secondary income to help you with all those extra expenses and give you a little more freedom than just your average salary will.