On Your Own: A Widow's Passage to Emotional & Financial Well-Being by Alexandra Armstrong, Mary R. Donahue

From the Publisher

This fourth updated and revised edition of On Your Own provides practical advice to the recent widow to help her achieve emotional and financial stability. This classic best-selling book for widows is coauthored by Alexandra Armstrong, a nationally recognized financial planner who has worked with many widows over the years, and Dr. Mary Donahue, a psychologist who is experienced in grief counseling. The authors firmly believe there is a strong connection between the widow's emotional and financial recovery from the pain of widowhood. They think that to focus on one to the exclusion of the other prevents successful recovery since the two issues are intertwined. When the widow gains control of her financial situation, then it makes it easier to heal emotionally and vice versa. On Your Own leads the widow through the recovery process step by step, providing practical advice which should help her move forward to achieve emotional and financial stability. In this book they show the widow how to: Cope with your loss; Deal with your emotional needs; Organize your finances; Construct a realistic budget; Understand your investments; and Develop a long-term financial plan. The book is made more interesting and meaningful as the reader follows the stories of four widows ages 40 to 80 as they move in each chapter through the various stages of recovery. Although the book is written primarily for widows, any adult woman who wishes to take control of her life would benefit from reading this book. As one widow said after reading the book: "Yours is the only book that truly approaches it from the woman's viewpoint and clarifies what is a mass of strange and threatening terms and tasks. You havedone an important thing in a beautiful way. Thank you from my heart and my checkbook!"

Associated Press

On Your Own can be a valuable guide book for the newly widowed. This book has much excellent information. A gift of this book could be the biggest favor you can do for a newly widowed friend.

Washington Post

On Your Own aims to provide a financial and emotional guide to women rebuilding their lives alone. While the book is useful for widows, the lesson of understanding the financial situation is even more valuable to couples. Even simple things like understanding each other's filing system and knowing where financial records are kept can be a tremendous help.

Bureau of National Affairs

On Your Own is more than a financial planning guide. It is also a guide for surviving the emotional rite of passage that surviving spouses must endure. On Your Own is a sensitive and practical work about a necessary but painful period in the life of a widow. Widowers should read it also.

Modern Maturity

On Your Own confronts the subject with intelligence and compassion. From facing your initial reactions through rebuilding your life, the authors deal with difficult issues clearly and realistically. This is a thoughtful and reliable book to help anyone through the shock and confusion of widowhood.

Smart Money

Their advice is sound and could stop you from irrevocable actions.

What People Are Saying

Terry Savage
"If someone you care about is widowed, don't send flowers-send this book!"--(Terry Savage, Author and Columnist Chicago Sun-Times)

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