Joint Accounts
When Unemployment Is Killing Your Relationship
Tying your self-worth to your job can backfire
Dear Joint Accounts,
I have been married to my husband for two years. After our wedding, I gave up my job as a corporate lawyer so we could move abroad to be near my in-laws. Ever since the move, I’ve been trying to figure out a new career plan, but being in a foreign country makes it extremely difficult for me to get a job.
We get by on my husband’s income, and I try to keep my expenses as low as possible — I almost never go out, and I keep groceries as basic as possible. My husband has said that I’m going overboard and that I’m going to make myself miserable. To be honest, I’m already miserable, but I feel uncomfortable spending any money we have on anything besides necessities, because it doesn’t feel like mine. My lack of personal income has created a lot of issues for my self-esteem and a lot of tension for our marriage. How do I get out of this downward spiral?
Sincerely,
Jobless in a New City
A job loss can be a tough thing to cope with, even when it’s voluntary. It’s totally normal to go through a period of grieving that loss.
