Resources for Widows

Things to help you along the way

I regularly come across useful resources for widows and must-have tools, encouraging blogs, valuable side hustles and lots of other ways to make your life easier.

I promise to always pass along the good stuff I find, so check back often.

Just so you know, I only recommend products that I use or can verify. I have a strong aversion to promoting resources or products that I haven’t vetted. I won’t write about or suggest anything that isn’t based on my own experience or my own research.

Hopefully, the following recommendations will save you time, money, or your sanity, which we widows know is always in short supply.

Resources for widows

Disclosure: Some links below may be affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for your support! However, affiliate programs don’t dictate what products or resources I recommend. I will always pass along valuable information, even if this blog doesn’t earn a commission from my recommendation. See my Affiliate Policy for more information.

ONLINE COURSE FOR WIDOWS

Consider this important resource for widows when you need extra support to handle all the tasks you’re now responsible for.

The Ultimate Survival Guide for Widows

The Ultimate Survival Guide for Widows Course

Finally, an online course and manual that literally covers all the post-death tasks widows must accomplish in nine efficiently organized sections to help you tackle your newly widowed to-do’s without going insane. Learn how to prioritize tasks, manage finances, and handle accounts with sections covering everything from Social Security benefits to assessing your cash flow to what to do about taxes and insurance.

If you’re a widow struggling with indecision about what post-death tasks to complete first, when to complete them and how to get it all done, don’t worry. This course can help!

GRIEF SUPPORT FOR WIDOWS

The Widow Squad Logo Hands

The Widow Squad

The Widow Squad membership is a community of widows moving through their grief in healthy, self-affirming ways and creating a satisfactory life after their spouse’s death. This community will give you the resources, inspiration and camaraderie to help you get a grip on your grief and learn how to live without your person.

If you’re a widow, this is where you want to be.

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The Eluna Network

A public, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to provide comfort, hope, and healing to children affected by loss and family addiction. Their National Bereavement Resource Guide compiles grief organizations by state and local resources.

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National Alliance for Grieving Children

The National Alliance for Grieving Children promotes awareness of the needs of children and teens grieving a death and provides education and resources for anyone who wants to support them.

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Soaring Spirits

Soaring Spirits International connects widowed people to each other through regional social events, forums, and blogs. Their popular Camp Widow is a retreat-style conference in a variety of US-based and international locations.

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Help Texts

Receive personalized text messages weekly with tips to help you process your grief. Your subscription also includes text messages with specific ways to help for up to 2 other people who want to support you. Click to receive $10 off a yearly subscription.

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Affordable Therapy

A non-profit, nationwide network of mental health professionals serving consumers who don’t have health insurance or whose insurance doesn’t provide adequate mental health benefits. They provide mental health care at deeply reduced rates.

Modern Widows Club

Modern Widows Club

Modern Widows Club (MWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2011 with a mission to empower widows to thrive. They continue to develop data and materials to advance opportunities, create change and focus on your health, not your grief.

FINANCIAL COACHING FOR WIDOWS

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Wings for Widows

A 501(c)3 public charity providing financial coaching and education for new widows to help them achieve financial wellness after losing a loved one. The first and only organization of its kind in the United States that does not charge for its services.

BOOKS FOR WIDOWS

Broken Open Book by Elizabeth Lesser

Broken Open

Elizabeth Lesser’s book about how difficult times help us grow gives rich insight into the benefits of surrender and how to use fear as an ally instead of an antagonist. Powerful examples of the potential within all of us.

A Widow's Guide to Healing

A Widow’s Guide to Healing

Kristin Meekhof’s book shows grieving widows what to expect and how to deal with the challenges of losing a life partner in the first 5 years of widowhood.

When Thigs Fall Apart

When Things Fall Apart

Pema Chodron shows us how moving toward painful situations can establish clarity and open our hearts in ways we never imagined.

Second Firsts

Second Firsts

Christina Rasmussen shows us that loss can actually be a powerful catalyst for creating a life that is in alignment with your true passions and values.

After Your Person Dies

Dr. Linda Shanti McCabe shares the paintings she made the first year after her husband died, as an invitation for you to see how you can create new meaning while traveling with loss.

The Grief Club

The Grief Club

Part memoir, part self-help book, part journalism, author Melody Beattie provides stories of human loss in its many forms in a powerfully healing way.

PROTECT YOUR DATA

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Identity Guard

An identity theft protection service I’ve used for 7+ years that scours billions of online data points to discover vulnerabilities and alert you when your identity may be at risk. It monitors your SSN, credit card numbers, financial account numbers, health insurance number, and more to help protect your personal information.

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IDrive

An easy and affordable backup service that protects your data from common forms of data loss with set-it-and-forget-it daily cloud backup. After your initial backup is complete, set an automated backup schedule and easily sync between devices or use the web interface to ensure data availability at all times.

MAKE MONEY

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Flex Jobs

A game-changing resource for finding professional, remote jobs. Perfect for widowed solo parents looking for more alternative schedules. Every company and position is hand-screened by so you know you’re getting top-notch job listings. This is a very well-curated site for not only freelance jobs but also remote and otherwise flexible gigs. You won’t have to worry about scam postings, because they research the jobs and monitor new gigs pretty thoroughly.

Fully Booked VA

Virtual Assistant

Think you’ve got the chops to offer support services to other businesses? Maybe you could put your skills to work as a VA. As a VA, you’ll do anything from content or email management to bookkeeping to social media management for your clients. The Fully Booked VA system guides you through establishing, launching, and managing your VA business. and the value-packed lessons, videos, and worksheets are well worth your initial investment.

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Proofread Anywhere

Do you have mad proofreading and editing skills? And like the idea of working from literally anywhere? My friend Caitlin has just released a completely free workshop that pulls back the curtain to see inside the world of proofreading books and blogs. If you love words, details, and red pens, then you will want to check this out. Quality proofreaders are in high demand, and Caitlin will show you how to become a rockstar proofreader.

Loan Signing Agent Systems

Loan Signing Agent

Loan signing agents walk homebuyers through the forms and contracts they must sign when closing on a new home loan. Real estate agents and loan officers need signing agents, who have a notary public certification, to ensure all home loan documents are filled out and signed correctly. Learn how to become a loan signing agent from this reputable course. This course takes you step-by-step through learning the different types of closing documents and teaches you how to get signing jobs.

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Decluttr

Make money clearing out your old CDs, DVDs, games, books, cell phones, and other tech items. Get paid for your unwanted stuff in one simple transaction and shipping is always FREE.

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Raktuen

This is no joke. You can get cash back for shopping at over 2,500 stores. Retailers pay Rakuten a commission for sending you their way, and Rakuten shares the commission with you whenever you purchase items through their portal. I use Rakuten and have earned a significant amount of cash back!

SAVE MONEY

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Trim

A personal financial assistant that analyzes your spending accounts and helps you save money, negotiates bills on your behalf, and cancel subscriptions you don’t use. This amazing tool constantly monitors your financial activity and looks for savings while you’re busy doing other things. Receive text messages when the negotiations begin.

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Policy Genius

An insurance marketplace ready to help you get insurance right by making it easy for you to understand your options, compare quotes, and buy a policy, all in one place. Policygenius combines that marketplace experience with online tools, an expansive educational library, and guidance from real, licensed humans to help you get covered with confidence.

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Thrive Market

The BEST place to buy organic brands online for 25-50% less than other stores. I eat a gluten-free, egg and peanut-free diet, and I have no problem finding what I need at Thrive Market. Whether you’re gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, paleo, keto or flexitarian, there’s something here for every dietary need. Click for 25% off your first order.