How Much Cash Should You Have Saved Up

Getting a divorce can be extremely scary. This is especially true if you have been married for a long time. Going back to living on your own (and supporting yourself) can feel scary. Financially, it can ruin a person if you are not careful. Most people (and lawyers) recommend stashing money away if you are worried about a divorce.

Here are some reasons why you need to have some extra cash saved up during your divorce?

If you are a stay-at-home mom (or only work part-time), you are going to need to have some money to get you through your divorce. You will no longer be able to rely on your husband's income, which could really affect you financially. You are going to have to support yourself (and possibly your children) without your husband helping.

There are times when you won't be able to use the money that you have. Some divorce lawyers find a way to freeze your accounts so that you won't be able to access your credit cards and any bank accounts that you have together. For this reason, you are going to want to have some money that you can use to get you through this time, until your divorce is settled.

So, how much cash should you have in savings during your divorce?

Most people recommend having enough money to live on for a few months. You are going to want to have enough to pay your living expenses for a few months. Three would be the minimum, but depending on your divorce, you could be living in limbo for up to a year! If your divorce gets complicated, you may feel like it can take even longer.

When determining how much money you need, you need to consider whether or not you are keeping the house (and who is paying for it). If you decide to move into a smaller place, you are going to be financially in charge of it. You are going to have to pay all of the bills for this, including electricity, phones, and groceries. If you have children, you may not be able to rely on your husband to help foot their bill either!

You also need to have money to help you get your new life started. Once your divorce is finalized, and you are ready to move on, you are going to need to find a way to start over. Whether you are going to continue to live in your home and pay the mortgage or you need to find a new place to live, you are going to need to have enough saved up to help you get started. This is especially true if you haven't worked much over the last few years. You are going to need time to find a job and get back on your feet financially.

You should also have some money to help you pay for the divorce. Divorces aren't cheap. This is even more true if you can't settle your divorce amicably through mediation. If you spend months in the courtroom, you are going to end up paying more. If you truly feel like your spouse is going to go after you for everything, you are going to want to have even more money saved up.

The average divorce costs around fifteen thousand dollars. However, some have been able to do it for much cheaper. Some have done it quickly through mediation for a fraction of that cost. That being said, nasty divorces that take years to get through can cost a whole lot more!

Though you may be worried about the future, it is important to start saving some money to have in case you need it. You may not be able to rely on your spouse while you go through the divorce. In fact, some even find a way to freeze your accounts so that you can't use any of your money! You are going to want to have a few thousand dollars saved to help you get through this time, plus you also need money to help you pay for the divorce.

Previously published for Medium and/or Newsbreak.