Can I Afford to Be a Solo Mum?Understanding the Financial Reality — and Your Options
The financial reality of raising a child on your own is the number one fear for most women considering this path to motherhood.
If you’ve found yourself quietly asking:
How will I afford this?
What if I can’t make it work?
What does life actually look like financially without a partner?
You are very much not alone.
Every woman — partnered or not — thinks about the financial impact of having a child. The difference is that when you’re considering solo motherhood, the responsibility feels more visible. More tangible. Sometimes more confronting.
And that doesn’t mean you’re pessimistic.
It means you’re thoughtful.
A quick but important note
This article provides general information only and is not financial advice. Everyone’s situation is different, and professional guidance may be helpful for your circumstances.
The purpose of this article is not to tell you what to do — but to help replace fear with clarity.
The fear is common — and not unique to solo mums
One of the biggest misconceptions is that financial fear belongs only to solo mothers.
It doesn’t.
Couples worry about:
loss of income
childcare costs
mortgage pressure
lifestyle changes
whether they can afford to “do it well”
The difference is simply this:
When you’re solo, there isn’t a second income to mentally lean on — so the questions feel sharper.
That doesn’t make the fear bigger.
It makes it clearer.
And clarity is where empowerment begins.
Step one: understand your real financial position (not your imagined one)
Fear thrives in vagueness.
Before deciding whether solo motherhood is financially possible, you need to understand your actual situation — not the worst-case scenario your brain offers at 2am.
Start by looking at:
your current income
regular expenses
savings (or lack of them — both are useful information)
existing debts
areas of flexibility already available
Many women discover one of two things:
their situation is more workable than they expected, or
there are options they simply hadn’t considered yet.
Information doesn’t remove every challenge — but it almost always reduces panic.
What you realistically need to budget for
It helps to think in phases rather than one overwhelming number.
1. Conception costs
Depending on your path, this may include:
fertility clinic appointments
donor costs
medications and treatment fees
testing and scans
supplements or acupuncture
counselling sessions
legal advice (for known or recruited donors)
Some women plan gradually. Others prepare upfront. Neither approach is more “right” — only more suited to your circumstances.
2. Pregnancy and birth
Costs may include:
public or private maternity care
scans and appointments
health insurance gaps (if applicable)
birth support such as a doula or student midwife
maternity clothing
pregnancy support services
baby essentials (cot, pram, car seat)
even a babymoon, if that feels meaningful to you
There is no single correct version of pregnancy spending — only what feels supportive and sustainable.
3. Maternity leave and early parenting
This is often where anxiety peaks — and where planning creates the most reassurance.
Explore:
employer leave entitlements
government parental leave or benefits
savings to supplement income
how long you want to be off work — not just what you think you should do.
Understanding your entitlements can dramatically change how achievable this stage feels.
Adjusting financially isn’t failure — it’s strategy
There’s an unspoken belief that needing to adjust financially means you shouldn’t pursue parenthood yet.
That simply isn’t true.
Many solo mums:
shift spending priorities
reduce or pause lifestyle expenses temporarily
downsize or rent out a room
restructure work arrangements
explore additional income streams
access equity or financial products (with professional advice)
Money is one of the most adaptable resources we have.
Time, fertility, and opportunity are not.
Government and employment entitlements matter — a lot
Many women underestimate what support already exists until they actively look.
This may include:
government parental leave payments
employer maternity leave
flexible work arrangements
healthcare coverage or subsidies
These supports exist to be used — and factoring them into your planning often changes the financial picture significantly.
Acknowledge the grief — it belongs here too
There’s also something rarely spoken about.
Sometimes the financial reality of solo motherhood carries grief.
Grief that:
motherhood may look different from what you once imagined
you may return to work earlier than you’d ideally like
some choices feel more constrained without a partner
Holding that grief doesn’t mean you’re negative or ungrateful.
It means you’re human — capable of holding realism and hope at the same time.
Lifestyle decisions are financial decisions too
Financial planning often leads to intentional life design choices, such as:
moving closer to support networks
choosing location over property size
planning schooling earlier
creating a lifestyle that works for one income
Many solo mums later realise these weren’t compromises — they were clarifying decisions that made life simpler and more aligned.
The truth many women realise too late
There are always ways to earn more, adjust financially, or rebuild wealth over time.
There is not always unlimited time to have a child.
This isn’t about rushing.
It’s about planning with honesty — and perspective.
A practical next step
If this has raised more questions than answers, that’s completely normal.
The Financial Planning Workbook can help you:
understand your starting point
map likely costs
explore income and support options
identify adjustments without overwhelm
👉 Download the Financial Planning Workbook here.
If you’d like deeper support, the Considering Solo Motherhood course walks through both the emotional and practical decisions step-by-step — so you can move forward with clarity rather than guesswork.
Final thought
Worrying about finances doesn’t mean you’re not ready.
It means you care deeply about the life you’re creating.
And that’s a very solid place to begin.