Songs From Your Ex Girlfriend

Bad Economy=Increase in Divorce

It’s no secret to everyone that the economy has not only been one of the biggest news stories over the past several months, but it’s also putting an extreme amount of stress on relationships all over the world.

Truthfully, it is hard enough for a relationship to survive under normal circumstances. If you add in not being able to pay the rent/mortgage, worrying that the bank will repo your car for non-payment, gas money to get to work, how to put food on the table and not being able to afford the simplest necessities, the relationship survival rate drops quite quickly.

It’s easy to say that we love our partner and that we will stick by them no matter what. It is also easy to say that money does not have an influence on our relationships, but as usual, it’s easier said than done. Does anyone ever get divorced simply because the economy is bad and they have no money? Probably not. I don’t think I have ever heard anyone say that they left their partner because their partner only made ten bucks an hour at the retail store that they had to take due to losing their high end paying job. However, if the change in financial circumstances prevents the couple from being able to live stress free, separation might be in the near forecast.

Lack of money does not just prevent a person from buying the latest fall clothing line. It prevents people from putting food on the table, paying for things they already own, losing their home and not being able to put gas in their cars to get back and forth to work. The situation has become so severe that one of two things are happening all over the place.

Not only does the bad economy mean that divorce is on the rise, it also means that people are staying together for the wrong reasons. I know a person who has stayed with their partner for years for the sole reason of finances. Neither person in that relationship feels that they can leave because it will mean that they cannot survive financially apart. Of course it sounds silly and most people wonder why a person would give up their happiness for money, but lets look at it realistically. Would you rather lose your home that you have owned for many years or would you rather seek out another person who may or may not make you happier than who you are with now? I guess it’s preference, but some hold on to physical belongings more than they hold on to relationships.

Of course the second issue, is the rise in divorce due to the lacking economy. You come home from work, the bills are piled up on the kitchen table, the fridge is empty, the phone got shut off and you got another decline notice from an agency stating that they cannot help you because you make too much money. You and your partner consider bankruptcy, but you also know that the attorney fees for a joint bankruptcy can run thousands of dollars. You have to tell the kids that they cannot sign up for sports or dance classes this year and there will be no family vacation.

It’s no surprise that divorce has been on the increase over the past several years. It’s also no surprise that money has been one of the number one leading causes of divorce.

Next on songsfromyourexgirlfriend: 10 ways to keep your relationship strong in bad financial times.