coping with divorce

When you're already going through a major life change, it can be very tempting to start changing a lot of other things as well. This is why retailers are particularly aggressive in targeting new parents with advertising; they know that someone who's life is already changing in dramatic ways is more likely to be open to making changes in their routine. The same thing also applies to circumstances that aren't quite so happy, like divorce. While you should take advantage of this chance to improve your life, you should also pay attention to whether the changes you're making are really something you're going to want to live with.

Manage Your Money Cautiously

Any time you're extremely emotional and just starting on coping with separation and divorce, it's not a good idea to make big money decisions that you won't be able to reverse. The ideal scenario during a divorce is put whatever money you have into the safest possible place. You should still observe sensible limits, such as keeping the total amount in any given bank under the FDIC insurance limit for the type of account you have. Other than that, though, it's best to stick with money management strategies that aren't very exciting.

The reason for this simple. People who are emotional are vulnerable. People who set themselves up as money managers often prey on those who are recently divorced or who have just gotten an inheritance because they know they'll be dealing with people who have to make new money arrangements and who probably don't feel up to checking on all the details carefully. This makes it a lot easier to get you to buy things like insurance policies you don't really need.

Get Advice from Someone You Trust

If you have someone in your life who knows you well, and who you trust deeply, it's a good idea to ask that person to help you out by giving an opinion on any big decisions you want to make for at least a few months following your divorce. The end of a marriage can leave you with a lot of freedom, and it really might be the perfect time to quit your job and to try to start your own business. On the other hand, you might be fooling yourself into believing that you want to do something wild and children and divorce risky, because you're anxious for a distraction from the problems and uncertainty that you're facing.

If you have a trusted friend look over your plans, you can get a more objective opinion from someone who's had a chance to observe what you normally do and like when life is a little quieter. That's a great way to get some insight into how you're likely to feel about a decision when you've had more time to get used to coping with divorce.

Facing divorce is difficult, but you can get through it and build a better life. The Divorce Magazine can help you learn all about coping with divorce.