A recent survey found that 46 percent of divorced women ran into financial surprises of one kind or another. To be more accurate, 38 percent of women aged 55 and above reported experiencing these kinds of surprises after getting divorced whereas approximately 50 percent of women in younger age brackets reported the same phenomenon. As a result, the women of Texas would do well to learn from their predecessors and prepare themselves financially in case they ever decide to go through with a divorce.
There are six financial surprises that seem to be the most prevalent amongst divorced woman. To start with, many women may be unaware of how much debt they and their soon-to-be ex-spouses hold. Furthermore, a healthy portion of divorced women is usually forced to return to the workforce, which is something for which they might not be prepared. Additionally, some divorcees overestimate how large their alimony checks will be, putting them under a financial burden sooner than they think. Another fallacious assumption some divorced women make is that they can keep the marital home. Underestimating the cost of health insurance can be debilitating to a divorced woman’s finances. Finally, the process of getting a divorce itself is very costly, which is something plenty of women don’t anticipate.
Interestingly, a big predictor of how likely a divorced woman will run into a financial surprise is how involved she was in managing the finances during the marriage. It can be problematic for a woman who’s never had to worry about earning, investing or saving money to suddenly be responsible for doing all that and more. Of the women surveyed, around 21 percent had relinquished all financial responsibilities to their spouses.
Trying to get back on one’s feet after a divorce can be an arduous feat. What’s more, plenty of women have reported several fears they have with regards to life after divorce, including living on a single income, investing their money and covering the cost of the divorce. Consequently, it is advisable for anyone about to get a divorce to consult with an experienced professional who can help them during this difficult time and aid them in maintaining his or her standard of living.