People who go through a divorce have to deal with a lot of impacts from the split. It’s imperative that you prepare yourself for some of the ones that you might not realize are coming. The more you know when you’re in this position, the more you can help your children. You may also be in better shape to make decisions that improve your future.

Even if you wanted to divorce, you may still feel a sense of loss. You don’t have someone to greet you when you come home from work. There isn’t a person around to share in your triumphs or help you through your struggles. This alone can lead you to grieve the loss of the companionship even if you couldn’t stand your ex.

Financial loss

You probably already realize that you’re going to have to live off of only your income. This is going to be a big change because your expenses might not change much. Many people who are going through a divorce have to set a budget so that they can make ends meet. You may have to cut back on luxuries to which you’re accustomed.

Remember, you don’t have to think only about your usual bills. You also have to think about the bills that are related to the divorce. An average divorce in this country can cost $15,000 to $20,000. On top of that, you may have relocation costs and the cost to get some of the necessities that your ex got to hold onto. For example, you may need to find a new house and buy many of the furnishings and appliances.

Friendship loss

You may not realize it when you start the divorce process, but you might lose some friends in the process. Some people might think they have to choose sides and others might not be able to handle the potential awkwardness of remaining friends with you and your ex. They may decide to just end the friendship to avoid any future issues. This can make the situation more difficult than it already was, but you should be able to find new friends over time.

Try not to let your emotions and the stress of ending the marriage determine what decisions you make during this process. Instead, think carefully about what you need to improve your future. This may help you as you make decisions about property division and custody of the kids.