I've been trying so very hard to work the numbers so that it all fits. So that the spreadsheet magically makes it all happen. And because I've been doing that, I've been stuck. It hit me today that it's not working because it's not going to work.

On the other side of divorce, the same amount of income exists but you add another rent payment, another set of utility bills, another Netflix subscription, higher taxes, and the list goes on.

If you have to refinance, chances are you will be refinancing into a higher interest rate. Inflation is up, the price of just about everything is up. Even under the best of circumstances, it is all just going up.

So, when you start your spreadsheet, keep the income the same and figure out how to cram a few thousand dollars more in expenses into it. Might as well go ahead and tack on another 10 working years before retirement. That about sums it up.

Sounds depressing, but when you accept that reality you can actually start figuring out a plan.

I'm hoping this is a short-term problem. In the longer run, I do see hope for increased income, recoupling, and other things that will help the financial situation. But none of those are guarantees, and the likelihood of regaining our current standard of living is slim.