Coach, DNO, Thanks for your advice. I don't know what I could do differently to help with family finances. I work full-time, I spend very little, I watch the checking accounts and make sure bills are paid, I help my W with her part-time cooking job. She was talking about fear of bankruptcy, which is not an issue. We have equity in a house, which I've only tapped into twice for kitchen remodeling and home improvements.
We've met with a financial planner three times over the past ten years. We are on a good path for retirment. He set up her inheritance in an income account to generate extra cash for her, so she would rely on the credit cards less. We do have too much credit card debt, which won't be addressed until she returns to work. She complains about raiding her income fund, but she's the one who wants to pursue vacations and dance lessons. She's done a good job of keeping our next vacation on a budget.
I have not in her two months of unemployment nagged her to return to work. I have also not nagged her about spending on the vacation and dance lessons. I've decided that she needs these positives to hold onto during her unemployment, and the debt accrued will be temporary and managable. I want it to be her idea (as you say), and to return in the form that suits her. I agree that this is not completely my problem to solve, nor should I overextend myself looking for work I won't enjoy or working extra hours while she sits at home. I'm thinking that once she returns to work, we should meet again with a financial planner to have him keep us on-track.
CL
CL 53 W 54 M 20 yrs. 03'-09' Separation + Old Patterns + GAL 10-14' Piecing
"The Master allows things to happen. She shapes events as they come."
