In an unforgettable moment during the broadcast of the awards, the audience got to see Cruise delivering his gratitude speech from a fighter plane with the iconic golden popcorn statue placed in the backseat. The 60-year-old actor was flying the aircraft wearing sunglasses, while he thanked the viewers for the fan-voted award by speaking into a headset. Talking to his fans and viewers, Cruise said that he loves them and loves to entertain them, and there’s no better feeling for him than to know that his viewers have enjoyed and appreciated his film so much, calling it an absolute privilege. Then, the actor talked about his upcoming action movie Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One, which is about to hit the screen on July 12th. Cruise assured the audience that they are in for a wild ride!

Alongside Tom Cruise, Michael B. Jordan (Creed III), Keke Palmer (Nope), Florence Pugh (Don’t Worry Darling), and Austin Butler (Austin) were also nominated for the MTV Movie and TV Awards in the category of best performance in a movie. While Top Gun: Maverick led the award ceremony this year with the most nominations for movies. For TV shows, The Last of Us and Stranger Things both dominated the categories with six nominations each. Other winners like the Vanderpump Rules cast, Jennifer Coolidge, Pedro Pascal, and more accepted their awards with pre-taped speeches just like Tom Cruise. But none of them could bring the air of flair and drama to their speeches like the Top Gun star.

Being a single parent is hard in all aspects. Especially in terms of finances, as you’re no longer a part of a dual-income household. In such scenarios, strategies can feel overwhelming at times, but once you develop some good habits, being smart with your money will become your second nature. We’ve got you covered with some top tips to save yourself from being broke!

Changing the Living Pattern to Start Saving More

We all spend on things we want but don’t really need, just because we can afford them. But being a single parent means more responsibility and a dire need for saving more. And that calls for living below your means, with money being left over instead of overspent. Assessing purchase decisions will change your mundane living pattern. As a result, even a small amount of extra savings per month will start to add up over time and, hence, will save you from being broke.

Clearing Debts and Fixing Credit

Research shows that a large section of Americans today struggle to come up with even $400 in an emergency. This isn’t because they’re all broke, but because the majority of them live in debt. So, starting to pay off your debts should be one of your priorities as a single parent. To fix your credit, it’s always better to use free credit check websites, as they can help you in bargaining and working something out to pay off your collectors.

Knowing Your Worth and Finding a Side Hustle

We all want a job that’s fulfilling and happy. But as a single parent, when you want to save yourself from being broke, you need to take whatever job you can get. You also need to overcome the fear of asking for a raise, when it makes sense to do so. But if your efforts fall short there, a side hustle can be your savior. Even with a full-time job, working an extra few hours freelancing can bring in those much-needed extra dollars, each month.

Learn to Keep Your Cool

Last but not the least, patience is key. You can’t fix your financial life instantly. So, instead of giving up in frustration, being patient is highly necessary here to understand and accept the reality of time and process. Another psychological battle you may have to grapple with as a single parent is stress. Study shows that stress can cause people to make bad financial decisions. So applying a few de-stressing techniques, like meditation, can work wonders here.