Personal Finance For Dummies®, 6th Edition

Chapter 21. Survival Guide for Ten Life Changes

In This Chapter

• Handling the financial challenges that arise during life changes

• Minimizing financial worries so you can focus on what matters most

Some of life's changes come unexpectedly, like earthquakes. Others you can see coming when they're still far off, like a big storm moving in off the horizon. Whether a life change is predictable or not, your ability to navigate successfully through its challenges and adjust quickly to new circumstances depends largely on your degree of preparedness.

Perhaps you find my comparison of life changes to natural disasters to be a bit negative. After all, some of the changes I discuss in this chapter should be occasions for joy. But understand that what one defines as a "disaster" has everything to do with preparedness. To the person who has stored no emergency rations in her basement, the big snowstorm that traps her in her home can lead to problems. But to the prepared person with plenty of food and water, that same storm may mean a vacation from work and some relaxing days in the midst of a winter wonderland.

First, here are some general tips that apply to all types of life changes:

• Stay in financial shape. An athlete is best able to withstand physical adversities during competition by training and eating well in advance. Likewise, the sounder your finances are to begin with, the better you'll be able to deal with life changes.

• Changes require change. Even if your financial house is in order, a major ...