Salem Bankruptcy Law Blog

You know that the odds of divorce can change drastically depending on varying factors in your life -- if your own parents got divorced, for instance, or how old you were when you got married. But what about the amount of education you received? Does how far you go in school have an impact on your relationship?

It absolutely does. For example, studies have found that women who do not complete a high school education have a far greater chance of getting divorced than women who go to college.

If you and your ex share custody of your children, the kids likely need to live in two different homes. There are rare exceptions -- such as nesting, when the parents move in and out of the same house -- but most custody arrangements have the children move.

This can be difficult and upsetting for the kids. Here are a few tips that can help make things easier, allowing them to feel happy and secure:

• For young children, have a set routine. You want them to know exactly what to expect when moving between houses.
• As they grow up, though, be flexible with this routine. Kids start to get involved in more activities and they spend more time with their friends. Do not make the routine so restrictive that they resent it.
• Communicate with your ex. Yes, you may not get along and may not enjoy talking, but you need to communicate about the children's needs at all times. Put the kids first.
• Talk to the kids, as well. Ask them what they want and how you can make the process easier for them. Again, these things may become more relevant as they get older.
• Never make your children pick sides. This puts a lot of stress on them. Instead, focus on showing them that you both love them and want to spend time with them, even though you are no longer married to one another.

You ask your spouse for a divorce. You file the papers. You want this relationship to end.

In an ideal world, you would also move out. However, that it is not financially possible. You decide that you'll keep living together through the divorce and perhaps for a time afterward. It's the only thing that is affordable.

Debt can feel like insurmountable obstacle, but it doesn't need to. There is relief from debt. You do have options. No matter how overwhelming it feels, keep that in mind.

Of course, if your debt is due to your spending habits, just looking for relief is not enough. You also have to change the way you think about money so that you do not get into debt again in the future. Here are a few budgeting tips that can help:

• Keep track of everything you spend. Don't ignore "little" purchases. Even those morning coffees add up. Track every single cent and account for it somewhere in your budget.
• Understand that budgets change. You need to make adjustments over time. Set it up for the first month. If it doesn't work, feel free to tinker with it until it does.
• Set up a miscellaneous category. You do want to budget for every dollar you make, but that does not mean you know every expense in advance. Having a category like this gives you some flexibility for when things come up.
• Plan ahead for abnormal expenses. Save up in advance. For instance, you do not need to have a "Christmas presents" category every month, but you do need one for November and December. Plan in advance and put money aside so that you're not suddenly stuck without any means of financing necessary and predictable seasonal expenses.
• Differentiate between what you want and what you need. Start your budget with what you need, and focus on the expenses you can't avoid.