What resources helped you make good decisions?

[adinva]

I work during the school hours so I can be home when they're home from school. I purchased the consulting firm I work for. We've had only one client since I went part time 13 years ago. I planned to expand when they go to college. I make significantly less hourly than my husband. My company has no health benefits, and I've thought about starting a retirement savings plan but haven't had one up to now (we just contribute double to H's).

I've thought about the issues of starting a new relationship in a home that H half-owns and agree that could make things complicated unless the details are spelled out very clearly at the outset.

I've heard that it can be better if possible to take a lump sum instead of alimony to avoid the issues of incentive to not work or incentive to hide relationships. I plan to meet with a financial planner who specializes in divorce.

I would rather the kids live with their dad sometimes rather than getting more money for child support, which is why I'm hoping that he's taking into account having them sometimes when he makes his decisions about where he'll live.

I plan to rent out the extra bedroom in hopes of having savings to put toward retirement, and I would not like that to become an issue of cohabiting or whatever.