Cry a river, build a bridge, and get over it

[ImprovedRomeo]

That 720/yr is just the cost difference that could go towards my 401k which since the temp support orders I no longer have. I've had 401k since my first job, I was always a saver.

CG, she used to work in IT as a project manager then got laid off. She was unemployed for over a year and then she filed. A couple of months after filing she found a front-desk position somewhere. Can she earn more? yes but remember it's always someone else's fault so her excuse is 'there are no jobs' - yes the economy is tough but not impossible. I drive 120-130 miles to and from work every day which is really screwing up my lower back but you do what you gotta do to support your family and yourself.

Kerry, the L doesn't have much to say. She said we can go to court and they'll favor the public school. stbxw threatened that if I pushed for a public school then she'll push for the one near her which is about 40mins out of the way for me.

NM, spending more money is fruitless because you can't change the laws. More money to the lawyers means less retirement and college funds for me and DD. And this is just the begining there's the division of all the assets in the way too, the house, the cars, accounts, all the big stuff. Overall she'll come out great financially- free money to her. Where as I'll be handing over half of everything I saved. I was really upset about it in the begining because I had big dreams of retiring early, having a few toys and traveling- things that I wanted us to enjoy later in life you know? but these days I just say 'I only need a few bucks to feed myself and a place to sleep to survive if it really came down to it' lol I was always proud of how 'we' start from pretty much nothing to having good comfortable living and could afford just about anything but now things are/will be very different.

Once the dust settles and I know what's left to salvage I do have a lot of pent up strength and dreams to rebuild myself again- bigger, better and stronger. If the luck is with me I know I'll achieve my goals and dreams again.