13 years ago, Véronique Cyr agreed with her partner that she was leaving her job to take care of their children. A decision that gave a better quality of life to the whole family. But her little ones grew up, then her relationship started to struggle and she separated in January. She had to gather courage and return to the job market full time to regain her financial independence. Eight months later, she can say to herself: mission accomplished! She is even preparing to buy her ex-partner’s share of their Tremblant condo.
However, it would have been difficult for Véronique to imagine herself in this situation not so long ago. “It was my partner who took care of the couple’s finances, so whether it was the mortgage or the insurance, I didn’t ask questions and I trusted him,” she says. By separating, I was going to have to bear my expenses alone and take care of everything. There were nights when I didn’t sleep, I had a ball of anxiety in my stomach, I told myself that I wouldn’t make it. »
Fortunately, the two former common-law partners have great mutual respect and had a deep desire that their separation go well so that the children suffer as little as possible. Then, he wanted to stay in their house in the suburbs and she wanted to live in their condo in Tremblant. She then made a plan that began with finding a full-time job in her new living environment. She found it quickly and, what’s more, it’s a job that offers her new challenges and gives her good conditions.
“I think what helped me was that I had already been working part-time as a receptionist at a chiropractic clinic near my home for a few years, so that kept me from being too rusty,” says -she laughing. Then, I had no problem with the gap in my resume: in the interview, I explained in complete transparency what I had done. The years when children are young, they don’t go back! »
Take concrete control of your finances
At 45, Véronique finds herself embarking on a new chapter in her life with her full-time job and caring for her children who are now going to a new school. At the same time, she had to learn how to manage her personal finances with, fortunately, help from her brother. She had to tame several elements at once. In addition to having to pay all her bills, she shopped around for her insurance and soon, she will have to prepare to buy back her ex-spouse’s share of the condo.
“My ex-spouse and I agreed that we would begin paying the mortgage payments in full on the residence where we live, but that we would wait until the time of renewing the mortgage loans in 2025 to repurchase our share of the property. other, she explains. I will then have to find a mortgage broker. »
This is all new to me. But I like it, because I know exactly everything I’m spending and why.
Véronique Cyr
Then she started saving more. “When I got my government single parent benefits retroactive, I invested them in a high-interest, tax-free savings account,” she says.
Additionally, she has no debts. “I’ve always been very careful about credit cards. I don’t go on a spending spree. I’m now going to build an emergency fund and eventually I want to travel. I will continue to put my financial plan into motion over the next four or five years. But already, I can say that I am proud to have succeeded in taking control of my finances. »