Learn how divorce can reshape your finances and what steps to take when legal fees and child support strain your budget.
What does divorce mean for your financial life? How do you rebuild when child support and rent are already eating up half your income? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola are joined by personal finance Nerd Kim Palmer to tackle a listener's question about surviving the financial reality of a split. Kim walks through what to prioritize when a marriage ends, the real cost of divorce, and how to find room in your budget when housing, child support, and legal fees are all competing for the same paycheck. Elizabeth shares her own experience navigating divorce as a first-time parent, and Sean reflects on the major financial turning points in his life, discussing how big changes can become unexpected opportunities to reset your goals and rebuild on your own terms.
Best Debt Settlement Companies of 2026: Compare Fees and Savings https://www.nerdwallet.com/personal-loans/learn/best-debt-settlement-companies
National Debt Relief https://www.nationaldebtrelief.com/
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