Extra Income Post-Divorce: Making Money

Posted on by Robert J. Reeves

The financial costs of divorce can have you eager to start working again. Still, even when you start working, you might find yourself needing some more money. That’s why it’s useful to look for extra income post-divorce. There’s a few ways you can earn that extra bit of cash…

Extra Income Post-Divorce: Financial Independence

Sell old belongings

One way to get some extra income post-divorce is by selling off things you don’t need anymore. Everyone has some things which are just taking up space in the home. This could be old clothes sitting in the closet, or some decor or furniture that goes unused. Rather than letting it go to waste, it can be useful to try and sell them.

Even if it’s older or in rough condition, you’d be surprised how much you can get for old clothes, furniture, and other items. Plus, on top of getting some money, you also create space for new replacements. While an old-fashion garage sale can work well, there’s also a lot of stores which will take your old items off your hands.

Pick up a “side gig”

There’s been a lot of talk about “side gigs” these days. These are something you do outside of your main job to get a bit of extra cash. That means they’re also pretty handy for getting extra income post-divorce. What’s nice is that there’s a wide variety of gigs you can try your hand at.

For example, everyone is familiar with ride sharing services like Uber or Lyft. However, you could also try freelance writing if that sounds more up your alley. There’s also transcription services; many of them can be done online, and at your own leisure.

Look for seasonal work

Maybe you only need some extra income post-divorce for a short time. One common time people like to make more money is around the holidays. In these cases, where it’ll only be temporary, you could also look for any seasonal jobs that are hiring.

Like the name implies, these jobs will only need you to work for a short time. Plus, they’re usually eager to fill the positions. If you can find a way to fit them into your schedule, and don’t mind the work, then they can be a nice way to make some more money.

How-to Start Working Again After Divorce

Posted on by Robert J. Reeves

When going through a divorce, you will need to start thinking about your financial situation. Perhaps you were a stay-at-home parent during your marriage and do not have a job now. This life change may now require you to start working again after your divorce. This may be an easy transition for you, but some may also find it to be challenging to reenter the workforce.

How-to Start Working Again After Divorce: Life Transition Preparation

Finances

First, you will need to take a hard look at your finances. Perhaps even after the divorce, you will be in a financial situation where you do not have to work. However, it may be the case where you determine that you will need to start working again after the divorce. Depending on your finances, you will be able to determine if you will need to get a full-time or a part-time job. You will also need to consider if your skillset will allow you to get a job that can cover your expenses.

Continuing Education

Perhaps you have determined that you do not have the skills for a job that gets the income level that you desire or need. In this case, before you start working again, you may need to go back to school. There are quick programs that you can do, such as becoming a dental assisting or a licensed real estate agent. There are even bootcamps for coding classes or digital marketing that will fast-track you to a new career.

For you, getting back into your career may even just be a matter of taking a few continuing education courses to brush up on your knowledge and skills. If you have been out of the workforce for a while, your field likely has new made advancements. Refreshing and updating your skills will make you a more competitive candidate.

Evaluate Your Interests

You will want to evaluate your interests before you start working again. You may have went to school for one thing, but no longer be passionate about that anymore. It is very common for people to find a new career path during their life. Think about what things you enjoy doing and think about how you can apply those things to a job. You will be more likely to enjoy your job if you are doing something that you love.

While it can be daunting to think about going back to work after being out of the workforce for a while, or needing to find a new career that better fits your current situation, it is very possible to do this. Just look at your finances, take courses if needed, and consider your interests. Following these steps will help make the transition much easier.

Talking to Your Therapist About Abuse

Posted on by Robert J. Reeves

Talking to your therapist about abuse in your marriage or relationship can be painful but helpful. If you are dealing with past trauma, they can help you come to terms with it and find ways to minimize the emotional scars. If the abuse is ongoing, they can give you advice on how to de-escalate situations and get yourself to safety. Your therapist must maintain confidentiality, so it’s safe to tell them. However, don’t tell half-truths or lies if you want therapy to be effective. Opening up can be painful, but take it at your own pace. And finally, if you are feeling discomfort, talk to your therapist about it. Or figure out if it’s time to find somebody new to talk to. Hopefully, they can give you advice to help you safely exit the relationship to keep yourself safe from abuse.

Talking to Your Therapist About Abuse: Confidentiality and Comfort

Confidentiality

Talking to your therapist about abuse is confidential, as long as it does not actively involve a child. Therapists have to report concerns if they fear that you are in danger of hurting yourself. Or if they suspect child abuse or crime. However, if you want to be sure, ask them about their confidentiality policies. You don’t ever have to fear that word will get back to your abuser, though.

Don’t Tell Lies

When talking to your therapist about abuse, it’s important to be completely truthful. Don’t tell lies, omit important details, or tell half-truths. This won’t give your therapist the information they need to truly help you. If you want your therapy to be as effective as possible, then you’ll need to be completely honest.

Opening Up

It can be painful and uncomfortable when talking to your therapist about abuse in your relationship. Take things at your own pace, and go as slowly as you need to. Your therapist should be able to help you navigate this conversation at a pace that feels comfortable to you. Just remember that the more you open up, the more helpful they can be.

Discomfort

Finally, if you are experiencing a lot of discomforts when talking to your therapist about abuse in your marriage, it might be a sign that it’s not a great fit between you. You can talk to them about your discomfort and see if that helps reduce the tension. However, if you don’t feel completely comfortable about being vulnerable with your therapist, it might be time to find a new one.

Talking to your therapist about abuse in your marriage is one way to help reduce the emotional scars that come from this form of trauma. In addition, they can help you navigate the abuse to hopefully exit the relationship safely and de-escalate situations at home. Your therapist will keep everything you tell them in strict confidence in most situations, and you can always discuss their confidentiality policy ahead of time. Be fully honest with them if you want to get the most out of your sessions, and go as slowly as you need to when telling your story. Finally, if you are feeling uncomfortable, it might be a sign that you should have a conversation with your therapist or even begin the search for somebody that is a better fit. Hopefully, they can help you navigate this tough situation.

Dividing Student Loan Debt in a Divorce

Posted on by Robert J. Reeves
Dividing student loan debt in a divorce can get very complicated. Everybody knows that during a divorce, spouses must divide up their assets. But not everybody realizes that they also divide their debts. Divvying up student loan debt depends a lot on when you took out the loan as well as what the money was for. It also is important to lay out who benefitted from the loan. A judge will take into account many things when deciding to divide up marital assets. There isn’t any one answer on how loans are split. However, the goal of any judge is to make things fair and equitable for both parties. The best way to ensure that you are getting the best settlement possible is to hire an experienced divorce attorney to represent you.

Dividing Student Loan Debt in a Divorce: What Happens to Debt?

Pre-Marital vs. Marital Debt

When dividing student loan debt in a divorce, a judge will ask “when did you take out the loan?”. If you got the loan before marriage, then it is not a marital debt. Therefore, your spouse would likely not take on any of the debt during a divorce. However, the loan is a marital debt if you were in school when you married. Or if you took the loan out after marriage. In this case, a judge will decide how to split it fairly.

Where Did the Money Go?

Another question that a judge will try to answer is “where did the money go?”. If you used the money on something like housing, then your spouse also benefitted from it too. In this situation, they might be responsible for some of the debt. However, if it was entirely for tuition, a judge is more likely to assign the debt only to the student.

Who Benefitted from the Loan?

When trying to divide student loan debt in a divorce, a judge will also look at who benefitted from the loan. For example, if you divorce right after graduation, then your spouse is not likely to benefit at all from the loan. However, if your spouse graduated and used the credentials to get a high-paying job for many years before the divorce, then you did benefit. A judge is more likely to split the debt if you benefit from the money and your spouse’s education.

The Big Picture

While there are many factors that a judge takes into consideration when dividing student loan debt into a divorce, they are mostly looking at the big picture. For example, they will take into consideration things like each of your salaries and assets. They’ll also consider alimony and other spousal support payments. The goal is to divide your marital assets and debts equitably. When a judge is dividing student loan debt into a divorce, things can get a little messy. Just as with all aspects of divorce, a lot of factors contribute to the divvying up of debt. A judge will look at when you took out the loan as well as what you spent the money on. They’ll also think about who benefitted from the money and how it fits into the overall picture of your financial health as a couple. The goal of any divorce proceeding is to split up marital assets, property, and debts in a way that is fair to both parties. Hopefully, if you have concerns about student loan debt, your divorce attorney can help you navigate them and ensure that you get the settlement you are entitled to.