There is much to consider when going through a divorce in California. As you worry about how important issues will be handled, there are other concerns beyond your settlement. In some cases, downsizing may be necessary.
Why downsize?
No one ever wants to downsize during a divorce, but you might have no choice. During your marriage, you and your spouse no doubt amassed a lot of items together. However, when you split, it can leave you dealing with too much while you already have a lot on your plate. Downsizing can help you eliminate some of those excess things; in some cases, it can also help you let go of some painful memories.
How to downsize
One of the first parts of downsizing before or during a divorce is to find a new place to live. If you and your spouse share a house, you might want to consider selling and then finding a smaller place to live. In many cases of divorce, it’s logical to do this for the sake of your finances.
Divorce usually means downsizing your spending, especially when paying alimony or child support. Going through your financial records and determining what’s yours alone and what’s jointly held between you and your spouse can give you an idea of your future financial situation as a single person. This can help you determine a new budget for your spending; you may have to cut out certain expenses to accommodate that new budget.
Sell or give away belongings that you no longer want or need. You can even donate some of those things to charity to help those less fortunate. If you can’t part with some items, consider placing them in storage.