How Men (and Anyone Really) Can Get Financially Screwed In Divorce

You may have read my one piece about women who get financially screwed in divorce. You may even have read a critique that I got on Medium, which changed everything. It really made me think. I didn't want to upset anyone, so I decided to write an article to show that anyone can get screwed during a divorce. Both parties are going through this difficult time, and nobody ever really wins by the time that they are on the other side. 

Here are some reasons why men (and almost anyone really) can find themselves financially screwed after a divorce. 

They may lose their business while they are going through a divorce. There are times when a business will need to be sold in order to divide assets appropriately. Even if both parties (or just one partner) were involved with the business, it may need to be sold. One may not have the capital to buy out the other one. 

This can be hard, especially if you have worked so hard for your business. Not only will you lose your livelihood, but you are also going to have to start over and find new employment. Financially, you could be back to struggling for months or even years. 

Many people find out that they have to adjust to a new lifestyle once they are divorced. Going from two incomes to one can be a big change. You may be used to having some spending money. Now, all of your money may be put toward the essentials (a roof over your head and food in your belly). 

If you were staying home with the children, you may be forced to get a job to support yourself and your family. Though you may get some sort of child support, it may not be enough to continue to stay at home! 

Whether man or woman, the primary breadwinner, may be forced to pay your ex money every month. Though you may understand if you have to pay child support, it can be hard to hand over your hard-earned money to support your ex-spouse. 

However, if he or she wasn't working in order to take care of the children or focus on education, you may need to continue to support your ex for several months (or even years). That being said, you will be supporting two households, instead of just one. 

That being said, usually, one partner is in charge of the money and the other one may be quite unprepared to deal with the finances on their own. It can be hard to manage your money and pay your bills when you are not used to doing it. Budgeting can be hard to pick up when you aren't the one who always did it. 

That being said, many people also make quick financial decisions during and right after the divorce. They may be so excited that they don't have to consult someone else, that they may buy a huge television or a new car. Then, they might realize that they don't have any way to pay for it! 

Both men and women can be overwhelmed through the divorce process. Instead of fighting for what you want (and need), you may just want to get through it, no matter what that entails for your future. 

Many people don't fight for their family home or any of their belongings, just to get it over with. However, that means that they could be starting over without any possessions, a place to go, or even any money to get their life started again. 

When children are involved, many parents try to save their home so that their children can continue to grow up in it. In time, they may find out that it is simply too expensive to try to keep the family home, and they may find themselves in a bad financial situation because of it. 

Though many people think women are the only ones who can get financially screwed, the truth is that anyone can. They may lose their business and their livelihood. They may also have to pay spousal support and support two homes instead of one. Not only that, but they may also be ill-equipped to deal with finances, and realize that they never learned how to handle their money!

Previously published on Medium.