When I was struggling following my divorce, I still had a Lexus. Why? It was paid off and fuel efficient. Buying a cheaper car would have been more expensive in the long run, between what I would have had to shell out to buy it combined with the cost of potential repairs.

Wow! Fantastic perspective—thanks! The closest I came to your situation was after my husband and I split. I had a fledgling freelancing career and two preteen girls. I really depended on the child support and alimony he was paying. Suddenly, six months into our separation but before the official divorce, he just…