If you’re going through a divorce and are alone for Christmas and News Years, here are some words of encouragement for you: Go do something! Don’t sit around and say “Woe is me!” Get off the couch and get out of the house! Go help someone – call someone – encourage someone! If you’re sitting in a chair and watching old reruns of “It’s a Wonderful life” or “Miracle On 34th Street” and you expect your life to change, forget it – it won’t! It’s time to change that kind of behavior.

It’s a fact that helping others will do you a world of good. You can’t focus on your own worries and troubles when you’re helping others. I can personally testify to this! When my world was caving in on me a few years ago I didn’t have the energy to get out of bed much less off the couch! I was hurting so bad I didn’t eat a solid meal for several weeks. Everything changed the Christmas of 2005 when I met a young family near my home that was experiencing a world of hurt. They had little food and no presents under the tree for their children. That’s when, in my own personal misery, I decided to buy them some groceries and a few, small presents. Most of the fun was planning how I would deliver the goodies to this hurting family. I decided to place everything on the doorstep with a card wishing them a wonderful Christmas. I rang the door bell and ran like a track star to a hedgerow not too far from the house so they wouldn’t see who had delivered Christmas that cold December night!

The porch light came on and the front door slowly opened. I watched one of the young children and his father come out and stare in disbelief at the bags of groceries and gifts. They looked down the street and then in my direction; fortunately they didn’t see me and continued to stand in wonderment at the sight of Christmas on their front porch. A few minutes later the rest of the family came out to see what the excitement was all about! They were thrilled as they picked everything up and went back into the house. I had a warm feeling of accomplishment and knew I had made a difference in the lives of this family and new memories that would last a lifetime. I went home thrilled that a needy family would have food and presents on Christmas Day. My own pain and loneliness was a faded memory as I fell asleep with a heart filled with joy! That night I slept soundly and with a smile on my face.

Helping others will help ease the pain of divorce, separation or loss of a loved one especially around the holidays. Are you willing to go out on a limb and help someone in need? I promise you it will change your life as others lives are changed by your random acts of kindness.

If you’re one of those who just can’t motivate yourself to get off the couch and need someone to talk to then call me! That’s what I am here for. The Christmas and New Year’s holidays may be a difficult time of the year for you. From time to time we all need someone to talk to who will listen and help us navigate through the pain. Call Dr. Mike and set up an appointment for a free consultation. Let’s make this Christmas and New Year a better one for you!

Death of a Marriage

As I listened to my friend, Jim, share his broken-heart experience I couldn’t help but think how much of his pain was self-inflicted. I asked him how long his heart had been broken. He replied, “Several years”. His is wife of 14 years could no longer take the misery they were living in.

I looked at him and asked a very serious question, “Let’s just say your cell phone rang right now and on the other end was a police officer informing you that your wife had just been killed in a car accident. How would you feel?” He stared at me, taking in the moment, and stammered, “I would feel awful and would feel like my heart might break in two! The pain that that news would cause would be unbearable. My children would be hurt and confused by such news”. Then he asked me, “Dr. Mike, why would you ask such a question?”

“Well Jim, the heartache of a tragic loss is what you are going through right now. You are experiencing the beginning stages of the death of a marriage, but this death is a living death. You will be haunted by memories of past and future events with your ex-wife and children. You will have to see your ex at graduations, at the marriages of your children, and special events like birthdays and baby dedications. If your ex remarries, it will drive you crazy seeing her with her new husband. Listen, I have been there!” I told him.

For some reason, many people think they can skip through seeing their ex-spouse and not be bothered by it. Whoever thinks that way is in for a big surprise. When my daughter got married a few years back my ex-wife planned the wedding. I had no say in it whatsoever. When I went to the wedding I felt so out of place. My ex managed to invite her entire family to the wedding and none of mine! I sat at her table with her husband and her best friends. The slide show of my daughter growing up featured only 3 out of 40 pictures of my daughter and me. I knew my ex’s husband had put the slide show together and as I sat and watched I was completely embarrassed but realized it was his shameful attempt to humiliate me. As I was leaving the reception my ex-wife’s new husband walked up to me and shook my hand. I was shocked at the unkind words he muttered to me! Even though it was his intent to hurt me I found the courage to smile and simply walk away. This is the type of uncomfortable situations you will encounter, and believe me, it will not be easy to face your ex and their new spouse.

The death of a marriage can be like the death of a friend. It’s a slow process as you watch and hear things that alarm you. There are attitude changes, mood swings, and spiteful words that will break your heart. You may be hoping the problems in your marriage will eventually work themselves out but many times they don’t! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to avoid talking about the problems in your marriage and may even snap at each other and ultimately feel relieved when you walk away from confrontation. Some find reasons to stay away from home and run unnecessary errands, volunteer to work longer hours, and hang out with friends just to avoid confrontation. It becomes a pattern and once conflict is avoided many will see nothing wrong with that. These are the beginning stages of the death of your marriage.

The next mistake many people make is confiding with their close friends and co-workers about their marital problems. This is a big mistake! Even though those with whom you confide in are well-meaning, many become a self-proclaimed “Dr. Phil” of marriage counseling. They are not! More often than not, they give very bad advice. Many will use their past heartaches to get even with the opposite sex. Your marriage is even more exposed to the deadly Failed Marriage Virus (FMV). You have 2 options at this point: either give up and get a divorce or start working to save your marriage.

Following are some questions you should ask yourself.
1)    Are you willing to try one more time to save your marriage with proper coaching and counseling?
2)    Do you need guidance to learn how to save a dying marriage?
3)    Does your marriage need someone who can help you discover how to communicate better?
4)    Are you having a difficult time in forgiving your partner?
5)    Do you know your partner’s “love language”?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, call Dr. Mike and schedule a free consultation. He has helped many couples save their marriage and he can help you too!

You can go to Mike’s blog and comment on today’s article at: https://applicablecoaching.com/blog/

Dr. Mike also has a new website devoted to those who are considering divorce or are going through a divorce. You can find it at:  http://idontwantthisdivorce.com/

Dr. Michael Brooks is founder of Master Life Coaching. It is affordable, accessible, anonymous and available by appointment from the privacy of your own home. To avoid travel time and the comfort of home, many clients prefer to meet with Dr. Mike over the phone or via Skype. The convenience of this type of coaching is the most effective means of Life Coaching for those who live out of the Denver-metro area. Give Dr. Mike a call! You’ll be glad you did!

Deciding to Divorce, Does reconciliation mean we have to get back together? By Dr. Michael Brooks

The thought of reconciling with your former spouse may be a scary proposition. Many marriages successfully reconcile but it takes a lot of hard work. We will address those who might be interested in restoring the marriage later in the article. The aspect of reconciliation that I want to talk about is not necessarily restoring your marriage, but rather how to be friends with your former spouse. If you have children it will be in their best interest and will take a great deal of pressure off of them if they can see that you are friends. Many divorced people will opt for being friends with their former spouse when they realize there simply is no chance of marital reconciliation. After my divorce I could not have imagined being friends with my ex-wife. If someone had suggested that I should consider being friends with her I would have thought they were crazy! I’ve since learned that time really does heal old wounds and I can now say we are friends today.

I was counseling a client who was pouring her heart out about how her ex-husband was difficult to talk to. He was always saying unkind things to her and she really wanted nothing to do with him. I told her I understood and asked her what she thought her children were seeing when they looked at her reaction to him. She hesitated then slowly admitted they were seeing her anger and bad attitude. I then asked her how she handled her anger when it came to dealing with her children. Reluctantly, she said she treated them the same way she treated her ex-husband – not very well. Finally I asked the million dollar question, “Do you want your children to be involved in your war with your ex spouse?” “Of course not”, she responded. Then she asked a simple question, ‘Ok Doc, what should I do?”

I asked her to keep an open mind as I presented the idea of reconciliation and how she and her children would ultimately benefit. I went into great detail how it works and the time frame in which she could expect results. When I was done she just stared at the ceiling. She was deep in thought and asked me to go over the plan again. I explained how reconciliation works and the step-by-step process she would need to go through to make the plan work. I explained that to begin a friendship with her former spouse she would need to begin slowly and learn to communicate again. This step applies to both parties and both need to agree they are willing to work together to create the friendship or in some cases even reconcile the marriage. If the friendship is to grow, the trust issue must be resolved one way or another but always proceed with caution. If your intention is to restore the marriage then at some point the relationship must go to a deeper level beyond just friendship. This is where you must decide that you want to go to the next level, begin dating each other again, or just stay as friends! If you want to restore your marriage and need help, let me know, I can help you with that!

As I have said in many of my articles, often men and women are talked into a divorce. It can be as innocent as a well meaning friend suggesting you see a lawyer for legal advice. That starts the ball rolling and the next thing you know you’re in the middle of a divorce. If you’re really not sure you want a divorce then consider counseling. Don’t get talked into something you will later regret.

Over the years I have had clients tell me that they wished they had never filed for a divorce. The pain it caused and the uncertainty it created made them ask the question “What if I had just waited for complete healing of my marriage? My children would be happy. I would be happy and I would be in my home. I’d be going to the kid’s games and having dinner with them”. This is the part of divorce you rarely see. It’s heartbreaking and pain that never goes away. Some marriages cannot be reconciled and I understand that. The key here is getting your children through it. They should be on your “radar” when it comes to priorities between you and your spouse.

As I looked back at my own divorce I could see the pain I had caused my daughter and my former spouse. I realized I was part of the problem and I knew I shared the responsibility of the broken relationship. In order to have a healthy reconciliation, I realized I needed to do a few things to make that happen. I didn’t expect others to fix things for me, so I took my share of the blame and began working on correcting my mistakes. If you are the one who has been wronged I challenge you need to do something very bold and courageous – forgive. If you hold on to the pain you will have a long and very bitter life. I see many bitter people come through my office! They are in ill health, unhappy and very pessimistic. It’s obvious they need to forgive but they have to be willing to let go of their anger and move on.

A few years ago I was counseling a man in my office. He wanted to reconcile with his wife but she wanted nothing to do with him. He asked me what he should do. I told him to consider her complaints and if he thought they were legitimate then I suggested he work on those things and clean up his act. He got to work on them and before long his wife saw that he was making an effort to be a better man. That was a step in the right direction. Patience is the key and don’t force things. Move slowly then wait and see what happens. If you have any questions about reconciling as a friend or restoring your marriage call me! I can help you!

In this series, I will help you examine the process of getting divorced. We’ll take a close look at what to expect and will share critical information you need to know. If you or your spouse is considering divorce, prior to making that final, life-changing decision, please call me. I can help you prepare for your divorce.

Are you experiencing a difficult time in your marriage and need help? Is your spouse avoiding talking with you about the problems in your marriage? Are you struggling with the execution and planning of your divorce? Would you like to learn communication tools that are helpful when talking with your spouse about repairing your marriage? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I can help you. Give me a call today!

Master Life Coaching is affordable, accessible, anonymous and available by appointment from the privacy of your own home. Avoid travel time and never leave the comfort of your home to meet with me. I have many out-of-state clients who prefer to meet over the phone or via Skype. The convenience of this type of coaching is the most effective means of Life Coaching for those who live out of the Denver-metro area or are out of the state of Colorado. Your privacy is guaranteed.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call or email me at 303.456.0555 or mike@applicablecoaching.com. All calls are confidential and your privacy is guaranteed.

You can go to Mike’s blog and comment on today’s article at https://applicablecoaching.com/blog/

Deciding to Divorce, I want to forgive, but I don’t know how!

When I found out that my wife was cheating on me with a man 22 years younger than her, I was shocked! My pain was incredible! The lies and her affair just about sent me over the edge. I told myself I would never forgive her. What she had done to me was pure hate! I told people how bitter I was and every person I told was sympathetic towards my pain.

Then it hit me, what was my daughter seeing? On one hand, I was teaching her about forgiving people who hurt her, and yet on the other hand I wasn’t being a good example of showing forgiveness. I have clients who have been bitter every day since their divorce. If you can’t find forgiveness you’ll encounter more problems down the road. Many people will go through bouts of depression and will find that long lasting depression has its consequences. Eventually your friends will see you as a victim and someone to avoid. When you become so negative and that’s all people hear from you, look out! You can become so critical that you may not realize that you’re hurting the people around you. Being down and depressed can make you ill physically, emotionally and even spiritually for that matter.

When you seek to forgive someone that has wronged you, many good things begin to happen including emotional and spiritual healing. Letting go of the bitterness can help you move on and find a better place for you and your children. I had a client that was so bitter and hateful she couldn’t see straight. Whenever she thought of her ex-spouse she would get physically ill. It disrupted her way of life. We talked about her bitterness and her reluctance to forgive many times. Once she let go of those negative emotions she began to regain control of her life. When she finally realized he didn’t care that she was bitter or unforgiving she was able to heal.

Physical pain can be treated by medications. Emotional pain is treated by time, patience and forgiveness. Forgiveness is not instant. Yes, you can forgive and move on, but for many, they will never forget the pain they went through. Forgiveness is not a feeling, it’s an act. It’s about making a conscious decision to release unwanted feelings that you carry around with you about another person. Basically, it’s allowing the other person to step out of your life so you can move on with yours! It’s important to be very careful when you forgive someone that you don’t open up the door for them to hurt you again. I see several people a month who have been divorced and yet they open up the doors of being hurt again by trusting the very person that hurt them in the first place! Lost trust must be regained and earned over a period of time. Forgiving someone means not expecting them to say they’re sorry. You might be able to coerce an apology but it won’t be sincere. When I talked to my ex-wife about her affair I would ask her if she was sorry for what she had done to our family. She would laugh and say, “Ok, I am sorry, do you feel better now?” I eventually realized that I was forcing her to apologize and her apology wasn’t from her heart. To this day she still hasn’t apologized but I have moved on and have forgiven her.

The one who forgives is the one who shows maturity. When you forgive it doesn’t mean you want to reconcile. It means you’re just releasing the one who wronged you from your life. You don’t need to carry the guilt and pain caused by your divorce. If you’re ready forgive and need help learning how to forgive then call me. I can help you find freedom and peace in forgiveness.

In this series, I will help you examine the process of getting divorced. We’ll take a close look at what to expect and will share critical information you need to know. If you or your spouse is considering divorce, prior to making that final, life-changing decision, please call me. I can help you prepare for your divorce.

Are you experiencing a difficult time in your marriage and need help? Is your spouse avoiding talking with you about the problems in your marriage? Are you struggling with the execution and planning of your divorce? Would you like to learn communication tools that are helpful when talking with your spouse about repairing your marriage? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I can help you. Give me a call today!

Master Life Coaching is affordable, accessible, anonymous and available by appointment from the privacy of your own home. Avoid travel time and never leave the comfort of your home to meet with me. I have many out-of-state clients who prefer to meet over the phone or via Skype. The convenience of this type of coaching is the most effective means of Life Coaching for those who live out of the Denver-metro area or are out of the state of Colorado. Your privacy is guaranteed.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call or email me at 303.456.0555 or mike@applicablecoaching.com. All calls are confidential and your privacy is guaranteed.

You can go to Mike’s blog and comment on today’s article at https://applicablecoaching.com/blog/

Deciding to Divorce by Dr. Michael Brooks
(Part Ten)

I miss the physical intimacy of being married. What can I do?

I think all of us who have been married crave the physical intimacy marriage brings. Let’s face it – God put those desires in our wiring. This is an area that many struggle with during their divorce. Over the years I have counseled many couples who were dealing with the fallout from infidelity. This is a major reason why divorces happen. Broken trust! There are many reasons why people cheat on their spouse. Here are a few reasons I have heard:

• I was talked into it.
• I didn’t hurt anyone.
• I wanted to see if people are still attracted to me.
• Everybody is doing it.
• If I don’t have sex, he/she will not like me.
• It will help me forget about my ex.

If you have an attitude like some of these folks, you’re bound to get into serious trouble. Sex without being in a long term commitment has negative consequences:• Health risks including HIV/AIDS and STDs.
• Unplanned pregnancy.
• Your children seeing you in a non-committed relationship.
• Pain and guilt experienced when the sexual relationship is over.
• Rape

After your divorce, I highly recommend abstaining from sex and focus on building a healthy relationship that’s built on trust, understanding, compromise, love and faith. Have boundaries when you start dating and make sure you both agree on the boundaries. Have a plan and know what to do when things get intense. If you are meeting people on the internet, be very careful. Many wonderful relationships begin on Match.com or eHarmony, but one word of caution, the internet has stalkers and meeting someone there can be very dangerous. If you need help with internet dating contact me. I’ll give you tips on staying safe. In this series, I will help you examine the process of getting divorced. We’ll take a close look at what to expect and will share critical information you need to know.

If you or your spouse is considering divorce, prior to making that final, life-changing decision, please call me. I can help you prepare for your divorce.

Are you experiencing a difficult time in your marriage and need help? Is your spouse avoiding talking with you about the problems in your marriage? Are you struggling with the execution and planning of your divorce? Would you like to learn communication tools that are helpful when talking with your spouse about repairing your marriage? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I can help you. Give me a call today!

Master Life Coaching is affordable, accessible, anonymous and available by appointment from the privacy of your own home. Avoid travel time and never leave the comfort of your home to meet with me. I have many out-of-state clients who prefer to meet over the phone or via Skype. The convenience of this type of coaching is the most effective means of Life Coaching for those who live out of the Denver-metro area or are out of the state of Colorado. Your privacy is guaranteed.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call or email me at 303.456.0555 or mike@applicablecoaching.com. All calls are confidential and your privacy is guaranteed.

You can go to Mike’s blog and comment on today’s article at https://applicablecoaching.com/blog/

Deciding to Divorce
(Part Nine)
What will the divorce do to my children?

When my daughter found out that her mother and I were getting a divorce, she didn’t know what to say. She was hurt and didn’t understand the reasons why. Even though she was young she had a lot of questions. Whatever the reasons it’s important to keep your children out of your personal business. It’s important to speak positively about your spouse to your children. Unfortunately, many parents use their children as a sounding board and share personal information about their divorce or separation. I promised myself I would not say anything negative about my soon-to-be ex-wife. On a few occasions I caught myself starting to say something negative but stopped myself before I said too much. Kids need to be kids during this time and not forced to take sides. Yet, it happens all the time. Last Christmas my now 30-year-old daughter called me and wanted to talk about some things that were bothering her about her mother’s and my divorce. Even though we’ve been divorced 22 years my daughter told me that her mother verbally ran me down and wanted to know why. Although I didn’t have an answer for her, she thanked me for not talking negatively about her mother. That statement said a lot to me. Being above-board does have its benefits.

Your children will experience many of the same emotions you have. They will go through depression, anger, low self-esteem and guilt. Allow them time to grieve. They will feel a great deal of pain through your divorce. I hear many parents in my office tell me that their children are fine with the divorce! The reality is, they are not. You may want to believe they are and try to convince yourself they are, but the truth is, this will be one of the most painful times in their lives. Your children will dream about having their parents back together. They long to have a mother and father in the same house. They might even ask what they did to cause the divorce.

What can you do to make it easier for your children during these stressful times? As I mentioned earlier in this article, don’t talk about your spouse in a negative way. It’s also important not to use your children as messengers between you and your spouse. My ex-wife would use my daughter to spy on me. After weekend visits, she would ask my daughter who I was talking to, what kind of friends I had, who I was dating and what kind of things was I buying. My daughter told me she hated it when her mother asked those questions. Keep the lines of communication open between you and your spouse. If your questions are not related to your children or the divorce, then don’t ask them. Why put any more stress on your children? They will learn to resent you if you put them in these uncomfortable situations.

Another thing to avoid is using your children as pawns. Some parents will restrict their children from seeing the other parent in an attempt to get even with them. This is not in the best interest of your children. They need the love and support from both parents during this very difficult time.

Several years ago while living in Wisconsin my daughter, who was 12 years old at the time, and I planned a trip to Central City and Blackhawk. We both loved history and all it had to offer in Colorado. We wanted to see gold mines, pan for gold, and tour the historical sites in the area. We had planned to leave on a Thursday morning at 3:00 a.m. Her mother and I agreed weeks prior to the trip that I would pick her up at that time. The day before our trip I got a call from my ex-wife that she didn’t feel like getting up that early in the morning to get my daughter ready. I explained that I had rented a motor home and that we were stopping at a friend’s home in Nebraska for dinner later that day and would be late if we didn’t leave at our planned time. She didn’t care! I was told that she and my daughter were going to drive down to Chicago and would be back on Saturday afternoon and that I could pick my daughter up upon their return. Unfortunately, our daughter was used as a pawn in my ex-wife’s anger toward me. There was nothing I could do about it at the time. My daughter was so disappointed with her mother. Even at a young age, she knew what was going on. Avoid these types of situations. It only hurts your children in the long run.

Whatever you do, do not ask your children to take sides in your divorce! Leave them out of it! Let your kids be kids! Let me say that again, “Let your kids be kids!” Be open when you talk to your children about their feelings about who they are going to live with. Don’t use guilt to manipulate their feelings.

Another important element is keeping your word with your children. If you say you’re going to do something with them, then do it! Do not break your promises. This is one of the biggest complaints I hear when I counsel children of divorce. If you plan to pick up your children on a Saturday at 2:00 p.m. make sure you do and be on time! If you promise to buy your kids something, follow through with that promise.

For those of you who don’t have primary custody, keep in mind your responsibility for providing a home away from home. Make sure your children are involved in finding a place to live. Helping with the chores at home and running errands will give them a sense of normalcy. Avoiding being “Santa Claus” by always buying gifts or being the parent that never hands out discipline. It’s important to remain active in their lives and continue to do things that create new memories. Go to museums, ballgames and the library together. Help them find hobbies that promote growth in the sciences or art. Your children will love getting out of the house and doing some fun things with you!

In this series, I will help you examine the process of getting divorced. We’ll take a close look at what to expect and will share critical information you need to know. If you or your spouse is considering divorce, prior to making that final, life-changing decision, please call me. I can help you prepare for your divorce.

Are you experiencing a difficult time in your marriage and need help? Is your spouse avoiding talking with you about the problems in your marriage? Are you struggling with the execution and planning of your divorce? Would you like to learn communication tools that are helpful when talking with your spouse about repairing your marriage? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I can help you. Give me a call today!

Master Life Coaching is affordable, accessible, anonymous and available by appointment from the privacy of your own home. Avoid travel time and never leave the comfort of your home to meet with me. I have many out-of-state clients who prefer to meet over the phone or via Skype. The convenience of this type of coaching is the most effective means of Life Coaching for those who live out of the Denver-metro area or are out of the state of Colorado. Your privacy is guaranteed.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call or email me at 303.456.0555 or mike@applicablecoaching.com. All calls are confidential and your privacy is guaranteed.

You can go to Mike’s blog and comment on today’s article at https://applicablecoaching.com/blog/

Deciding to Divorce
 (Part Eight)
How am I going to make it with my finances?

You’ve been served with divorce papers. How do you salvage your finances? When you’re in the heat of the battle you’ll have several fires to deal with. Your finances are what keep you alive. Most will be living on half the income they’re accustomed to. Everything, including debt, is usually split in half. So if you were living in a house with a payment of $1,400.00 per month, you can expect on moving out and paying rent at $700 per month. After my divorce I thought I would stay in my home, pay the utilities, auto and health insurance, and a few groceries each week. I was in for a huge surprise when I realized I couldn’t afford the basics and I didn’t have money left over for the fun things! I had to move out and find a less expensive place to live. It wasn’t easy. The first reaction I had was to fight! My wife wasn’t going to make me move! She’s the one that wanted the divorce, I didn’t! I thought I deserved to live in our house since I had made all the payments and maintained it.

Well my friends, in the real world, most of you will be moving out of the house you’re living in. If you have been taking care of the children as a stay-at-home mother you’ll probably be looking for a job to take care of your children and pay the bills. Keep in mind that you may have to buy a car which will require maintenance. Be sure to add that to your budget! I recommend cutting up your credit cards even if you have a good job and earn a decent income.

The first thing you will need to do is set up a budget. How will the divorce be paid for? The average cost can be as high as $18,000. Once you have that information then you’ll be ready to prepare a budget that will require immediate attention. If you need someone to help you set up a budget, do it now and don’t wait!

The biggest budget-buster is housing! If you’re hoping to stay in your home, you might consider a roommate to help you with your expenses. I rented a room to help pay my housing costs. I lost some of my privacy but I had money to pay the rest of my bills. Having affordable housing was key to balancing my budget! Housing should be number one on your list! Once you find a place to live then you can move on to other decisions that need to be made.

Did you know that 15% of your money will go to your auto expenses? Gas, insurance and car repairs all need to be considered. If you have children you’ll need to include medical, food, clothing, school, sports, etc. in your budget. Be prepared for confrontation with your spouse regarding these issues. It will happen! But if you prepare you won’t be caught off guard. Finally, don’t forget to budget for your children’s college education!

Food, debt and child support. Food is getting more expensive every day! Prices are up 26% since last year! If you were accustomed to eating most of your meals out you’ll need to adjust that to once or twice a month. The average family will spend $200 dollars eating out each month. Most single-income households can’t afford to do that! Watch what you buy at the grocery store and use coupons. Learn how to prepare your own food. It will save you hundreds of dollars each year. If you have a lot of debt, then you and your spouse will have to decide who will be responsible for paying it off. Child support will be setup by the court. If you have limited funds and the child support doesn’t cover your basic needs, you’ll most likely have to enter the work force. You may need to consider going back to college or a technical school to make yourself more marketable. If you need help in any of these areas, call me! I can help you find resources you need to start your new life.

In this series, I will help you examine the process of getting divorced. We’ll take a close look at what to expect and will share critical information you need to know. If you or your spouse is considering divorce, prior to making that final, life-changing decision, please call me. I can help you prepare for your divorce.

Are you experiencing a difficult time in your marriage and need help? Is your spouse avoiding talking with you about the problems in your marriage? Are you struggling with the execution and planning of your divorce? Would you like to learn communication tools that are helpful when talking with your spouse about repairing your marriage? If you answered yes to any of these questions, I can help you. Give me a call today!

You can go to Mike’s blog and comment on today’s article at https://applicablecoaching.com/blog/
Master Life Coaching is affordable, accessible, anonymous and available by appointment from the privacy of your own home. Avoid travel time and never leave the comfort of your home to meet with me. I have many out-of-state clients who prefer to meet over the phone or via Skype. The convenience of this type of coaching is the most effective means of Life Coaching for those who live out of the Denver-metro area or are out of the state of Colorado. Your privacy is guaranteed.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call or email me at 303.456.0555 or mike@applicablecoaching.com. All calls are confidential and your privacy is guaranteed.