Community› The Bump Message Boards› Single Parents
Single Parents
New Discussion

Will divorce break us financially?

ldooldoo member
in Single Parents

I keep asking questions that are probably no-brainers, but bear with me. :)

Like most people, I'm scared about how much divorce will hurt financially. No, it won't change what decision we make. But I'm just curious how hard it's been for you guys.

Husband and I both have steady full-time jobs. We don't make a lot, but we're plenty comfortable - with our incomes together. He makes a few thousand more than me. 

How did life change financially for you? And what unexpected costs were there?

Thanks!

Report Reply to Post

Re: Will divorce break us financially?

  • LadyLissameLadyLissame member

    I am in a different situation, but it did not change at all.

    We are still in the divorce process.

    While we were together, we were already living off of my income. He didn't work (that was one of the many issues). So when he moved out, I actually had more money available to me because I was not paying his bills as well.

    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • ChunkyMunkeyChunkyMunkey

    My divorce all said and done will come to about $2,000. As for being broke as a single parent? I actually have more available money since I moved into a cheaper apartment close to my family and work, no longer pay his bills since he could barely keep a stable job and don't have to pay for his food/gas/car/tools. My paychecks always paid rent, utilities and groceries. He used to blow his paychecks on tools he "needed" and his booze filled weekends with his buddy. Luckily I didn't get stuck paying for his recently purchased $10,000 tool box.

    So it didn't break the bank for me. It just sucked up almost my entire tax refund. Totally worth it.

    Financially I am in a great place even being the custodial parent of (almost) two children. 

    image

    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie Pregnancy tickers

    Report Reply
  • kmartinez80kmartinez80 member

    I am financially better off than when I was married because I am no longer supporting XH or paying his bills (he would continuously rack up tons of CC debt).  While we were married he would sometimes have a job, but when we moved for my job he basically refused to get a job so I was supporting both of us.  Per the divorce decree I was ordered to pay him spousal support but it was a small amount for only 8 months, so I am now done with that too.

    The divorce did cost me a pretty penny as I spent just shy of 50K over the course of a year in attorney's fees because of my XH's tactics (he represented himself, had no job and a lot of time to file motion after motion, send dozens of emails to my lawyer, and stall the legal process significantly).  It was the best money I've ever spent since I was protecting myself and DD (XH was abusive to us both), but I did have to wipe out all my savings, cash in all my stocks, mutual funds, cut out all luxuries, etc. to pay for it.  Luckily I've been able to build some of that stuff back up and add in a few luxuries here and there.

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • expectingnothingexpectingnothing
    We had already sold our house before the separation and I was a SAHM since I was laid off when DD2 was born so the differences in my life are that I had to get another FT job right away and I rent a home right now since my savings got wiped out.  I also had 3 moves (2 long distance) in less than 18 months which added up to be close to 10k right there.  The divorce (separation agreement and amicable divorce - standard paperwork) cost me $4k.
    DD1 01.19.07
    DD2 11.17.08

    image

    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"