Yes, you can enjoy your single life and not break the bank. Here are 7 strategies to help you save money post-divorce.
By Chanize Thorpe
Millie, a content program about women and money, is licensed from Dotdash Meredith, publisher of Real Simple, InStyle, Investopedia, The Balance and more.
After my 22-year marriage ended, I had to revamp my life—and revise my spending habits. It took a while to adjust, but I hit my stride by making some simple changes. As I experienced first-hand, going through a divorce can be expensive. But you can get back on track financially, and keep the fun in your life, with these money-saving tips.
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Furnish your new place on the cheap—or even for free
When I moved into a studio apartment, I left most of my furniture behind in my marital home. To furnish my new place, I turned to resale stores, which sells gently used home goods and more, and I found an Ethan Allen loveseat in great condition for $15 and other inexpensive furniture. Often, resale stores donate a portion of profits to charities too—so you’re getting a deal and helping others.
You can also get goods for free via online market places or by connecting with groups like the Buy Nothing Project, a community of more than five million people worldwide who give, receive and lend a plethora of goods and services—with no money ever exchanged.
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Consider prepared meals
Tired of wasting money and not always in the mood to cook for one, I turned to meal delivery programs that offered single-serving meals, starting at $12.99, that don’t require any prep. I found a variety of options for specific diets, such as a Keto mushroom burger, vegan Korean tofu veggie bowl and pescatarian-friendly sweet chili shrimp. HelloFresh, for example, offers recipes and ingredients for two-serving meals (leftovers!) for the days I do decide to use my kitchen.
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Learn to DIY repairs
If you have a place with a landlord, you’ll likely be able to contact them when you need repairs. However, if you bought a new home, you’ll discover just how expensive certain maintenance jobs can be. Become handy-dandy by taking free or low-cost virtual classes to help you learn how to unclog toilets or even install a new one. You can check out YouTube for tutorials.
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Cut the (cable) cord
For many, the idea of getting rid of cable is scary. However, investing in a smart TV which has many network channels included, can be a better deal. (I got my 43-inch Roku on sale at BJ’s Wholesale Club for $219. The original price was $289.) Streaming television is where it’s at—and can be cheaper than the average cable bill.
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Choose a cost-efficient car
As you make life changes, you might want to consider switching out your car. For 50-year-old Kari O’Driscoll, a post-divorce move from Seattle to a smaller home in Southern California with her children prompted an automotive adjustment. She sold her Nissan Leaf and invested in a Tesla electric car. “It was more expensive, but with the tax incentives and rebates, plus the fact gas is nearly $5 a gallon here, I’ve saved a ton of money,” she says. “There are free charging ports all over, I’m driving less than I ever did before and I’m not contributing to more pollution.”
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Get higher learning for less
Want to take a few courses for fun or to enhance your professional education? Check your local library. Some of my computer skills needed refreshing, so I signed up for free classes in Microsoft Word, Excel and website building. You can also take free or low-cost online classes in many subjects at top-tier universities such as Harvard and Yale through massive open online courses, also known as MOOCs. These are offered by a wide range of colleges, companies and trade groups.
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Expand your horizons
Getting out of the house can bolster your mental health and improve your quality of life. There are online social clubs that list thousands of daily in-person and virtual events and are a terrific resource. You can join a free group to learn a new language or meet up with other singles for concerts, sporting games and more. Or consider solo travel: You can book a trip with an affordable, single-friendly tour operator. Sometimes, they’ll waive the solo supplement fee.
Chanize Thorpe is an African American lifestyle writer and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Her work has appeared in dozens of national publications and websites for more than 20 years.
Three things to do:
- Read this article on achieving financial independence after divorce.
- Review checklist on preparing your finances for divorce.
- Learn how divorce and other major life events can impact your taxes.
