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The Divorce Budget Plan (The BEST Essential Guide For 2024!!!)

If you’ve recently gone through a divorce, you may feel overwhelmed with finances. How do you budget your money when there are so many new expenses to consider? 

Divorce is never easy, but knowing how to budget your money after a divorce is one thing you can control out of all the messy stuff.

The fallout can be financially devastating when a couple goes through a divorce. Not only do you have to worry about splitting your assets and debts, but you also have to figure out how to live on one income. 

I’ve never gone through it, but my parents and I’ve had friends who have.  One friend, in particular, had a lot of financial struggles and dealt with a lot of debt – specifically credit cards that his wife had built up without him knowing about it.

It was quite a mess and took him years to dig out of.

If you’re not careful, you could quickly find yourself in over your head financially, like my friend was.

Focus on the things you can control.

When budgeting after a divorce, there are some things to consider. 

Here are ten tips for budgeting money after divorce: 

1. Make sure both spouses have access

The fallout can be financially devastating when a couple goes through a divorce. Not only do you have to worry about splitting your assets and debts, but you also have to figure out how to live on one income. 

If you’re not careful and don’t have much money, you could quickly find yourself in your head financially.

That’s why it’s important to budget money after a divorce. By creating a budget and sticking to it, you can ensure you spend only what you can afford. 

And by considering things like investing and paying down debt, you can put yourself in a much better position for the future. So, if you’re going through a divorce, don’t forget about budgeting! It could be the key to your financial future.

Before you go through with the divorce, make sure that each spouse has access to all of their own financial information. 

Many couples keep their finances separate, but it’s essential that both spouses have access to any and all information when budgeting for the future if you have joint bank accounts. 

This includes credit card statements, licenses, and insurance information.

If things are sticky, having your lawyer or getting one specializing in family law as the intermediary might work better for all involved.

2. Create a budget

Going through a divorce can be financially devastating. Not only do you have to worry about splitting your assets and debts, but you also have to figure out how to live on one income. 

If you’re not careful, you could quickly find yourself in over your head financially.

One of the best ways to avoid this is by creating realistic post-divorce budgeting routines. This will help you track your expenses and make sure that you’re spending only what you can afford. 

It may take some time to get used to your new standard of living on a budget, but it’s well worth it in the long run.

To budget properly for your future expenses, you must set up a  plan based on income and expenses. You can also consider child support and alimony in your budget.

Depending on your resources and needs, there are several different ways to budget. You can use software like Quicken, create a custom plan using a spreadsheet, or use old-fashioned pencil and paper like this Budget Planner from my shop.

3. Don’t spend more than allotted

Just because you are now living on budget money after a divorce doesn’t mean you have to live in deprivation. You can still enjoy life, but you need to be smart about spending your money. 

One of the most important rules is to spend only what you have allotted for each category. If you do, you’ll quickly find yourself in over your head financially.

This means being strict with yourself and resisting the temptation to splurge on unnecessary items. It may be hard at first, but you must stick to a budget to avoid going into debt.

It’s easy to get carried away and spend more than planned, but you should base your budget on income and expenses. If you’re overspending each month, you’ll need help planning for the future.

4. Consider investing

If you are suddenly single and have some extra, there are a few ways to invest your money.

Try seeing a financial professional for some financial planning,  investing in a retirement plan, or other investment properties.

One option is investing in retirement through an online broker like Scottrade or E-Trade. The other option is investing in real estate by buying a home outright or renting out a property you already own. You can also buy into mutual funds or gold coins if you want to spread the risk around a little more. 

If one of these strategies sounds like something that might work for you, do some research before making any big decisions, as it’s important not to put all of your eggs in one basket, and be sure to speak with a financial adviser.

Also, consider budgeting for your child’s education fund so you can start investing now and in the future.

Small investments can add up over time, even if it’s not much.

5. Pay down debt

The fallout can be financially devastating when a couple goes through a divorce. 

Not only do you have to worry about splitting your assets and debts, but you also have to figure out how to live on one income. 

If you’re not careful, you could quickly find yourself in over your head financially.

One of the best ways to protect yourself after a divorce is to pay down your debt as quickly as possible. 

This will help reduce your monthly expenses and make it easier for you to live within your budget. There are several things you can do to pay down debt after a divorce, including:

– Creating a budget and sticking to it

– Cutting back on unnecessary expenses

– Selling unused belongings to boost your total income

Paying down your debt can help you budget better and live without monthly credit card bills. Focus on paying off higher interest rate debts first, as those will cost you the most over time. 

It may seem counter-intuitive to budget more money toward your debt while planning for the future, but reducing your monthly bills can give you some extra funds to budget elsewhere.

6. Be patient

There is a lot of pressure on you to budget your finances after a divorce, but there are some things you can do to make it easier. 

For example, budgeting for the future is tricky when all your money goes towards paying off debts and living expenses. 

However, if you budget an extra $20 per week into long-term investments like retirement funds or college savings accounts, this could provide peace of mind and future benefits. 

That’s one way that being patient with your finances post-divorce will help keep stress levels low.

It will take some time before your budget plan is up and running smoothly, but it will get easier as you go along. 

In the beginning, trying to budget money after a divorce isn’t possible, but stick with it, and better money management will become second nature.

7. Live simply

Budgeting after a divorce can seem daunting, but it’s important to remember that living a financially simple life is key to getting back on your feet. Here are ten tips to help make budgeting easier.

A. Identify your budgeting goals

This can be as simple as writing down the first few things that come to mind on a piece of paper. But that post-divorce budget is an important step to take.

Having some money goals will help guide you and keep you focused, making budgeting more effective by giving you tangible financial milestones to track your progress against.

B. Know your wants vs. needs

It is common to want everything you see, even if it’s outside of your budget. 

For example, ‘wants’ may include eating out or buying that new gadget, while ‘needs’ may consist of paying the power bill on time or having medical insurance.

The first step to controlling your new budget is to understand the difference. Essential expenses are at the top of the list, and then you can set a realistic budget for discretionary spending afterward.

C. Don’t keep up with the Joneses

This budgeting trap can be hard to avoid after a divorce, but it’s essential not to be fooled by the feeling of wanting what your friends or neighbors have. 

Instead, stay focused on working towards your financial goals while making sure you’re living within your means.

D. Get empowered by technology

Working with numbers would be mind-numbing, but technology provides excellent tools to make budgeting easier. 

Free budgeting apps are available for your computer or phone that can help you track your money and keep yourself on track while making it easier to stick to your budget goals.

When you budget money after divorce, planning for the future isn’t the only thing you must worry about. You also need to budget enough money each month to cover your living expenses, so try not to take on any unnecessary luxuries until your money is in order.

You can also use websites to check your credit score and credit report details or to help you track your spending habits to manage your new income better.

8. Plan to Save An Emergency Fund

Planning for emergencies is a crucial budgeting strategy. But when you are divorced, it can be challenging to budget for emergencies because of the emotional and financial stress of divorce.

If you’re budgeting enough each month, you’ll have extra funds to save toward the future. When you’re newly single, having a decent rainy day fund is more important than ever. It’s just you – you have no partner. Consider things like retirement accounts as sources of income for later in life.

9. Don’t forget about yourself

Self-care is essential when going through a divorce because of the emotional toll it takes on people involved in the process. 

Many people neglect themselves while focusing all their energy on caring for their children or escaping an abusive spouse.

When you budget money after a divorce, remember to spend for yourself. 

After all, you’ll have to live with your budget plan, so you need to be comfortable with it before moving forward.

It’s time that we start taking care of ourselves too!

10. Stay objective

Divorce can be financially devastating. Not only do you have to worry about splitting your assets and debts, but you also have to figure out how to live on one income. 

If you’re not careful, you could quickly find yourself in over your head financially.

Stay objective – Both parties must stay objective when debating the terms of the settlement agreement. 

This will help avoid any emotional bias that might lead either party to make decisions they regret later on down the line.

When you budget money after a divorce, staying objective about your budget options is important. This is especially difficult when you’re trying to cut costs by giving up something that will be hard for both yourself and your children to adjust to (for example: moving into a smaller house or moving out of the neighborhood your children have grown up in).

A budget is a budget, and you must avoid getting too emotionally involved with it. This will only lead to budgeting mistakes that could cost you more money than just giving up the luxury item.

The budgeting process may seem overwhelming initially, but it will get easier as you go along. If budgeting seems stressful and challenging to do on your own, talk with a financial advisor or divorce attorney for assistance. 

They can help you create the right budget plan considering your needs and situation. 

And if all else fails? Remember that budgeting is about making decisions based on what’s best for you—not anyone else! So budget money after divorce confidently, knowing this isn’t just another expense; it’s an investment in yourself.

Final Thoughts On Tips To Budget Money After A Divorce

If you’re going through the divorce process, it’s essential to take some time to evaluate your financial situation and come up with a plan. 

Remember, you’re not alone.  According to the CDC, 2.7 out of 1,000 people are going through what you’re going through.

Don’t try to go it alone – plenty of resources are available to help you get back on your feet. Reach out to friends, family, or a financial planner for help getting started.

You can get back on track financially and start looking forward to the future with a little effort.

It’s important to do everything possible to keep your finances in check.

Please note that the information here is for informational purposes only.  Seeing divorce lawyers or financial advisors is highly advised.  Seek proper legal advice.

These budgeting tips should help you get back on your feet financially after divorce. These ten simple steps will help you regain financial stability, from creating a budget to paying down debts.