Right up there with losing some weight, getting a divorce is high on the New Years Resolution list for many. Is it for you?

January represents a new start, a renewed chance to improve your life, set and achieve your goals, find happiness or just end the misery of a bad relationship.

Christmas fun is over, as is the pressure to put on a brave face for the in-laws and the kids. Holiday overspending bills come in, and maybe you didn’t get anything you really wanted. Financial pressure rises.

It’s also a grey and cold month up here in the north. SADD and cabin fever set in when it’s too cold to go outside, and too-much togetherness can enhance conflict when it’s already brewing.

As we start 2023, the economy is in an interesting place, with high inflation, and lots of job opportunities. Is this the perfect time to salvage the increased value of your house, or maybe to buy it out while the value is dropping? Will an end of year work bonus provide some additional cash for legal and other expenses?

No wonder they call January ‘Divorce Month’.

Is this resonating with you? Let’s talk and see if we can help you find some clarity as you think about the 2 big questions: 

Should I stay or should I go?  And- Will I Be ok?

Schedule a free Financial Clarity session with me at: www.calendly.com/contactAGrace and we’ll tackle this new year together.

Take on a dream

Move out of an unfulfilling relationship

Lose weight

Gain control of finances

Get a divorce

And I’m all in favor of that. I believe in setting goals. After all, if you don’t know where you are going, it’s super hard to get there!

You’ve overcome some extraordinary things this year, and grown stronger in the process. I know that YOU’RE stronger and more powerful than you know.

I’m Adrienne Rothstein Grace, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA). I inspire women in divorce to overcome the overwhelm of the finances of divorce, so they can move on with ease, confidence and security.

Let’s take a moment, and consider your last year, 2020. You can take any challenges, heartache, conflict or “failures” from 2020 and turn them into fuel to propel you forward.

I invite you to consider these questions: 

• What were the greatest challenges or setbacks you overcame in this past year?
• What capacities within yourself did you tap into?
• How have you expanded or grown stronger through this process?

I invite you to take a moment to appreciate yourself for having succeeded and survived these new challenges

I invite you to acknowledge the grace, power, resilience, strength and courage it took you to surmount these circumstances.

Where do you see yourself at this time next year? Let’s work together to help you get there.

Because marriage is about love; divorce is about money, and you don’t have to go thru this alone.

I’d like to gift you a Financial Clarity session, to help outline what you’ll need to do financially to get where you want to go, and see if we can work together from there. Just click on the link below and we’ll talk soon.

https://calendly.com/contactagrace/financial-clarity-session

 Whether you’re ready to move forward or still trying to heal from the disruption of the chaotic year that was, a new calendar means a new start. It’s an opportunity to make this year better than the last. 

Some ideas for making this New Year better than the last: 

• The past is over. Leave it there.The symbolic flipping of a page on the calendar from one year to the next is worth noting. What did you learn from the events of the past year? What can you do differently this year, for a better outcome?  What changes do you want to make?

• Take the time to learn, understand and gain control of your finances. Does the thought of this scare you?  We understand. Take a deep breath and move past it.  Do you run out of money before you run out of month? Are the checkbook and investment portfolio handled by your (possibly) soon-to-be-ex?  As the new year begins, start to familiarize yourself with the finances of your marriage. How much do you make? How much do you spend? Does the investment account statement make any sense at all?  Do you have a lot of debt? Stressful? It can be. But it’s so much better to know where you stand so you can make informed decisions when you need to. You don’t have to do this alone. Work with a financial advisor or Certified Divorce Financial Analyst to see what you may need to do to get on a solid financial footing.  If you plan changes, this will be critical.

• Keep a journal. There’s something so powerful about writing important things down.   Sometimes, just writing down feelings can help you clear anger, resentment and other negativity.    Did you ever keep a diary or journal? Mine as a child was pink and had a lock that was more for show than security. Now I choose beautiful journals with handmade paper, or just a notebook with a cover I like.  Doesn’t matter. It’s a great practice for clearing your head and working through problems. Keeping a journal is a safe, private way to be honest while moving forward. Going through my own divorce, I can’t count the number of nights when I couldn’t sleep, my brain racing with doubts and fears that I couldn’t share with  my young daughter. Writing all that out brought some solace, and some sleep, as well.

• Set goals and Write them Down.  Yes, journaling again. Oddly enough, the same system of journaling or keeping a diary works just as well for goal setting and achievement.  Despite our continual use of laptops, iPads and cellphones, there is still something impactful about picking up a pen and putting words on paper.  There’s brain science that confirms that a goal that you set in vivid and careful detail, so clear that someone else reading it would know exactly what you want, is better retained in your memory.  When you remember it- you can act on it. Take some time to create your goals, for this new year, for five years, or longer.  When you decide what inspires you, describe it in vividly, cut out pictures that show it, and post them in places you can easily see. Craft the steps you need to achieve these goals, and note  your progress regularly in your journal. Go for it!

• Try something new. Whether it’s deciding to finally separate, date again, take a trip, face a fear or move to a new place, be bold and try something you wouldn’t have done before. Push the boundaries of your comfort zone! It’s also a way to assert control over your life again and do something the “old” you might not have done.  Start the new year with something you have always wanted to do — but didn’t because of your spouse. This is YOUR year!

If you’d like to discuss any of these helpful tips, schedule a Financial Clarity session with me at www.calendly.com/contactAGrace.