One of the difficult aspects of going through a divorce is h to handling the financial changes that come with transitioning from joint finances to single finances. This challenge might be a bit difficult, but it doesn't have to be impossible.
There are some ways that you can plan to make things a bit easier after your marriage ends. These won't be a magic solution to every problem, but these tips can set you up for success in the future. Here are a few suggestion to consider:
Know where your money goes
One of the most prudent things that you can do is to account for every penny that you have coming into or going out of the house. Write out a budget. Make a plan for your money. You will likely find that you don't have as much wiggle room now as you had previously. As time progresses, you can determine where you need to make adjustments to the budget. Remember that making it and sticking to it are very important at this stage.
Cut back if necessary
You might notice that you don't have as much left over at the end of the pay period as you thought you would. This is where you might have to make some difficult decisions. Making cuts to your spending can help you balance your budget so that you wind up with more money per pay period. Since you can only count on yourself now to cover emergencies, you shouldn't get caught without enough cash to cover emergencies.
Build your savings
Your savings are very important now. At a minimum, you should have a rainy-day fund that's sufficient to cover a basic emergency. Ideally, you will work up to having six months' worth of income stashed in the bank. The idea here is that you should be able to cover unexpected expenses or negative changes in income. You don't have to try to do this all at once. Just make sure that you work at a steady pace to get it done.
Focus on your credit
If you plan on purchasing a vehicle or home, you will need to make sure that your credit rating is protected. Check your annual free report and see if it needs improvement. Once you do raise your rating, you can qualify for better interest rates when it's time to make a major purchase.
Adjusting to living on a single income may take a little time, but it's a worthwhile path to financial independence.