I got lucky and was able to book a really nice inexpensive condo on the north shore of Kauai for 3 weeks vacation this summer. It will be G40, myself and 3 kids. The place we are staying at is right by this awesome hole:
Me 55; XW 47; 2 kids (S13, D11) Bomb 05/19/06 Original thread http://tinyurl.com/yg2ou2t Last anniversary 04/25/10, Divorced 5/12/10 Status: Loving father of 2 beautiful children;
My warm vacation is still so far away - in the meantime, I will just have to tolerate the cold Oregon beaches.
I did my taxes yesterday and am having to pay big because of capital gains on a mutual fund that was liquidated for X. Also, I am filing as single but had my witholding of last year as married.
So I decided that since my budget is stretched, that X needs to help take on some of the kids extra curricular activity expenses. I wrote her an email breaking down those expenses and that she will be responsible for S8's piano and chinese lessons and D6's violin lessons (all about $280 a month). I also proposed that we share equally for things like kids haircuts and clothes of which she has been doing most of that (she is a shopper). We have it agreed that the kids clothes are not kept track of between the houses.
I have heard no response yet, but if she refuses then she has no leg to stand on as there is nothing in the divorce judgment saying that I had to pay for everything. She will most likely use the excuse that she only works part time and hardly makes any money. Too bad - she can work a side job as a waitress that pays well or she can use some of the huge settlement payoff. I am leaving it up to her if she wants to let the kids continue with those specific lessons that she wants the kids to do so badly.
Hi John - she just stopped by my office to get some of the kids stuff (her weekend coming up). I asked her if she got my email. With her tight faced frown she said "Yes, I need to think about it. Thank you".
It will indeed be interesting to see if she decides to continue those activities now that she has to pay.
Wtg. My W pays for my D5's piano lessons. Only fair since I pay soccer, lacrosse, little league, mortgage.......need I go on??????? FIB
Me 55; XW 47; 2 kids (S13, D11) Bomb 05/19/06 Original thread http://tinyurl.com/yg2ou2t Last anniversary 04/25/10, Divorced 5/12/10 Status: Loving father of 2 beautiful children;
Good for you, Kerry! I'm glad you sent XW the message on the expenses. They should be split and if they aren't then she'll need to explain to the kids why their activities have been reduced.
Great work! That is exactly what I do w/my XW and she really doesn't have a leg to stand on either as it says we have to split expenses in our decree.
The Hawaii vacation sounds awesome! I too am jealous, but after this summer, I should be able to vacation again and I'm looking forward to it.
