Balancing Act
After Shelly Robertson’s nine-year marriage ended in 2006, she quickly adjusted her lifestyle. As part of a two-income household bringing in more than $250,000 each year, Robertson and her ex-husband took spur-of-the-moment vacations to the Caribbean and had the resources to purchase whatever they wanted. But once Robertson became a divorcée in charge of taking care of the couple’s 10-year-old son, she had less money to work with. The changes forced her to become more aware of her financial decisions. Robertson now has a household income of $106,200, which includes monthly court-ordered child support payments of $1,100. Still, the senior program manager at a finance company now maps out all her purchases. The adjustment has been difficult, but the 38-year-old Upper Marlboro, Maryland, resident says she’s up to the challenge.
