Dear Abby: I want to leave angry husband, but not sure I can afford it

DEAR ABBY:

After 30 years, I’m considering filing for divorce. My husband has always had anger problems, which I’ve put up with all this time. I’m not sure I want to go on dealing with this issue for the rest of my life. What stopped me before was our two children. I was afraid to be a single mother because my mom was a widow with four children, and I saw what she went through financially and emotionally without a husband.

Now that my children are grown and on their own, there’s nothing stopping me but fear of not being able to support myself. My husband makes more than I do, and I have bills I need to pay. If I rent an apartment, I’m not sure I can swing it. I know the first step is to find a lawyer and discuss my options, but I’m afraid my husband will beg me to stay, which he has done in the past. Please help me decide what to do. — MAYBE READY TO GO IN INDIANA

DEAR MAYBE READY:

I’m glad to offer you a suggestion. Talk to an attorney now and find out what your options may be if you don’t stay with an abusive, bad-tempered husband. Once you know where you stand, you can then decide whether your husband’s begging is enough incentive to spend the rest of your life being treated the way he has treated you.

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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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