Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Single Mothers Discount?
Single moms sign up for free at www.singlemothersdiscountcard.com. Like a senior citizen discount, or a student discount, this discount was developed to support a subpopulation of society that is not at the height of its economic earning potential. The Single Mothers Discount Card (SMDCard) is also like the AAA card, because it gives members discounts at participating businesses. It's a win-win economic proposition for everyone, because single moms join for free and receive discounts offered by participating businesses and participating businesses profit by drawing in more new and repeat business.
Why are single mothers in need and deserving of a discount?
According to 2019 U.S. Census Bureau, 80 percent of single-parent families are headed by single mothers. The United States has the highest percentage of single family homes in the world. Single mothers (and those that are close to them) know too well the disadvantages that they and their children are at risk for. But others are not as aware. In educating people about the injustices of the current legal system and the financial inequities inherent in being a woman, we hope to, slowly but surely, make a difference at the policy level. As we know, women currently earn approximately 18% less than men in America and women of color earn even less. In addition, in a divorce, women bear a disproportionate financial burden. Because of statistics like these and more, we created the SMDCard in order to help level the economic playing field for single mother families, one purchase at a time.
How does the Single Mothers Discount Card support single moms?
Single mothers do not pay for anything of the SMDCard services. The business is funded by Business Partner members and by donations from people who want to help level the economic playing field for single-mother families.
The SMDCard offers financial support to single mothers in three specific ways.
1. Free SMDCard membership. Use the card to get discounts at participating businesses.
2. Single moms (and others) can earn commissions on sales. If a Business Partner joins and mentions you, you will receive $10 for helping us to grow our network.
3. If single mothers have a business to advertise, we offer Half Price Business Partnership memberships for single moms.
I am a single mother and would like to join.
Thank you for your interest. An annual membership is free. Join here and get your SMDC card.
I have a business and would like to accept the Single Mother Discount Card.
Great. Join our growing network of participating business by becoming an SMDC Business Member here. Business Members receive downloadable signs to post in the window of your business, by the cash register, and/or on your web site and social media feeds to let people know you offer the discount. In addition, we will advertise your business on our Business Partners page. Note: Business Partner membership for single moms is free.
What discount do businesses offer?
We leave that up to the business to decide and/or for the mom and business owner to decide together. (If you're looking for a number, you could try 18% because that represents the earning gap that women currently experience in the U.S.)
I, or people I know, think this is a great idea and want to lend our financial support. What should we do?
Business Partner members can advertise on our site, which will give us revenue and them business they wouldn’t normally get. Individuals can make donations here via PayPal or Venmo.
How do I use the card?
This is a grassroots movement, so it is likely that you are the first person you know that has heard of the card. Hence, you will need to educate people. When buying a good or service, ask the seller if they take the Single Mother Discount Card and show them your card. You can use the statistics on the card to explain. If they say yes, you will get a discount. If not, you’ve lost nothing and have planted a seed and started a conversation that needs to be happening.
I am not a single mother, but I like this idea. How can I lend support?
Thank you. The point of this web site and the discount is to support single moms. You can help in the following ways:
1. Donate. All donations will be used to further the mission of SMDC. Our goal is to raise enough money, participating businesses, and awareness to always keep membership free for all single moms.
3. Let people know about this site. The more businesses and moms that join, the more successful the movement will be.
How can I prove that I am a single mother?
You can’t and that's okay. Vendors will have to accept your card (and your word) following an honor system. Having your child(ren) with you may prove useful, though.
What if a vendor says no?
No problem. There’s no harm in trying to save money in this way. And, if nothing else, you've planted a seed and you’ve used your voice to let someone know that single mothers are an underserved population.
What kind of services or goods can I get discounted?
We invite any businesses that cater to children and mothers to participate with the SMDC. Try the card when you travel, buy groceries, clothing, services, and activities for your child or yourself.
I am a single mother, but receive child support and/or my child(ren)’s father is involved in their lives. It is still okay to use the card?
Yes, for the reasons stated above. As a woman and a single mother, you are more likely to pay for more, and to give more of your time. While this is certainly not true in every case, it is statistically true. You will also be promoting the cause for other single mothers who don't have the support you do.
My child/children are grown up; should I still use the card?
Yes! Single mothers often still hep their children out financially even after they are 18. In addition, you likely experienced financial inequities while your kids were small, so you can still benefit from SMDCard discounts.
I didn’t know that this was bigger than me. Where can I find more resources for single moms?
We will be including a list of resources soon. You will find lots of reading material on single motherhood and women’s issues in general. If you have resources you'd like us to consider listing, let us know.
I am a single father in the same position as the women you discuss. Can I use the card?
While the population of single dads is smaller than single mothers and our mission is focused on the specific needs of women, who have different financial issues than men in general, we do have a Single Fathers Discount Card! If you have primary custody of your child(ren) and are in need, you can sign up for the adapted SMDCard and telling vendors that you are a single father. This can get you needed discounts and help to educate the public about the fact that there are single custodial fathers in need of support too.
Can aunts, grandmothers, adoptive, and foster moms use the card?
Though the intent of the SMDCard is to assist single moms, we recognize that there are many people who are raising children alone who would benefit from the discount. As with single fathers, you can sign up for an SMDCard to get discounts and to help educate the public about why you need the support as well.
Can the SMDCard be used in any country?
Yes, the card can be used wherever businesses will participate. We currently have members in most U.S. states and 14 countries.
Single moms sign up for free at www.singlemothersdiscountcard.com. Like a senior citizen discount, or a student discount, this discount was developed to support a subpopulation of society that is not at the height of its economic earning potential. The Single Mothers Discount Card (SMDCard) is also like the AAA card, because it gives members discounts at participating businesses. It's a win-win economic proposition for everyone, because single moms join for free and receive discounts offered by participating businesses and participating businesses profit by drawing in more new and repeat business.
Why are single mothers in need and deserving of a discount?
According to 2019 U.S. Census Bureau, 80 percent of single-parent families are headed by single mothers. The United States has the highest percentage of single family homes in the world. Single mothers (and those that are close to them) know too well the disadvantages that they and their children are at risk for. But others are not as aware. In educating people about the injustices of the current legal system and the financial inequities inherent in being a woman, we hope to, slowly but surely, make a difference at the policy level. As we know, women currently earn approximately 18% less than men in America and women of color earn even less. In addition, in a divorce, women bear a disproportionate financial burden. Because of statistics like these and more, we created the SMDCard in order to help level the economic playing field for single mother families, one purchase at a time.
How does the Single Mothers Discount Card support single moms?
Single mothers do not pay for anything of the SMDCard services. The business is funded by Business Partner members and by donations from people who want to help level the economic playing field for single-mother families.
The SMDCard offers financial support to single mothers in three specific ways.
1. Free SMDCard membership. Use the card to get discounts at participating businesses.
2. Single moms (and others) can earn commissions on sales. If a Business Partner joins and mentions you, you will receive $10 for helping us to grow our network.
3. If single mothers have a business to advertise, we offer Half Price Business Partnership memberships for single moms.
I am a single mother and would like to join.
Thank you for your interest. An annual membership is free. Join here and get your SMDC card.
I have a business and would like to accept the Single Mother Discount Card.
Great. Join our growing network of participating business by becoming an SMDC Business Member here. Business Members receive downloadable signs to post in the window of your business, by the cash register, and/or on your web site and social media feeds to let people know you offer the discount. In addition, we will advertise your business on our Business Partners page. Note: Business Partner membership for single moms is free.
What discount do businesses offer?
We leave that up to the business to decide and/or for the mom and business owner to decide together. (If you're looking for a number, you could try 18% because that represents the earning gap that women currently experience in the U.S.)
I, or people I know, think this is a great idea and want to lend our financial support. What should we do?
Business Partner members can advertise on our site, which will give us revenue and them business they wouldn’t normally get. Individuals can make donations here via PayPal or Venmo.
How do I use the card?
This is a grassroots movement, so it is likely that you are the first person you know that has heard of the card. Hence, you will need to educate people. When buying a good or service, ask the seller if they take the Single Mother Discount Card and show them your card. You can use the statistics on the card to explain. If they say yes, you will get a discount. If not, you’ve lost nothing and have planted a seed and started a conversation that needs to be happening.
I am not a single mother, but I like this idea. How can I lend support?
Thank you. The point of this web site and the discount is to support single moms. You can help in the following ways:
1. Donate. All donations will be used to further the mission of SMDC. Our goal is to raise enough money, participating businesses, and awareness to always keep membership free for all single moms.
3. Let people know about this site. The more businesses and moms that join, the more successful the movement will be.
How can I prove that I am a single mother?
You can’t and that's okay. Vendors will have to accept your card (and your word) following an honor system. Having your child(ren) with you may prove useful, though.
What if a vendor says no?
No problem. There’s no harm in trying to save money in this way. And, if nothing else, you've planted a seed and you’ve used your voice to let someone know that single mothers are an underserved population.
What kind of services or goods can I get discounted?
We invite any businesses that cater to children and mothers to participate with the SMDC. Try the card when you travel, buy groceries, clothing, services, and activities for your child or yourself.
I am a single mother, but receive child support and/or my child(ren)’s father is involved in their lives. It is still okay to use the card?
Yes, for the reasons stated above. As a woman and a single mother, you are more likely to pay for more, and to give more of your time. While this is certainly not true in every case, it is statistically true. You will also be promoting the cause for other single mothers who don't have the support you do.
My child/children are grown up; should I still use the card?
Yes! Single mothers often still hep their children out financially even after they are 18. In addition, you likely experienced financial inequities while your kids were small, so you can still benefit from SMDCard discounts.
I didn’t know that this was bigger than me. Where can I find more resources for single moms?
We will be including a list of resources soon. You will find lots of reading material on single motherhood and women’s issues in general. If you have resources you'd like us to consider listing, let us know.
I am a single father in the same position as the women you discuss. Can I use the card?
While the population of single dads is smaller than single mothers and our mission is focused on the specific needs of women, who have different financial issues than men in general, we do have a Single Fathers Discount Card! If you have primary custody of your child(ren) and are in need, you can sign up for the adapted SMDCard and telling vendors that you are a single father. This can get you needed discounts and help to educate the public about the fact that there are single custodial fathers in need of support too.
Can aunts, grandmothers, adoptive, and foster moms use the card?
Though the intent of the SMDCard is to assist single moms, we recognize that there are many people who are raising children alone who would benefit from the discount. As with single fathers, you can sign up for an SMDCard to get discounts and to help educate the public about why you need the support as well.
Can the SMDCard be used in any country?
Yes, the card can be used wherever businesses will participate. We currently have members in most U.S. states and 14 countries.