How life would change, if you or your spouse would die tomorrow.  

Hi!
I completely understand where you are coming from! I am in the same position; stay at home mom, no recent work experience, three kids and tons of debt.
Your article made me realize just how off balance it is. While I would be horrified and completely unable to deal with the loss of my husband, I would also be hit with the immediate need to support my family. I have no idea how I would go about that; since I have no degree, and have spent so many years as a mother and outside of the work force.
Scary thought. Insurance will only cover so much, for so long.
You have me panicing now! haha
What will I do!?!

I use to wonder what would happen if my husband were to die. We have separated a few months ago, and I know now that I can make it on my own. Up until recently I ran a day care service from my home and was able to make all the bill payments without using the child support he gives me each month. I have saved enough up as I knew this time would come when I would be no longer running the child care service. I have a minor surgery to be done in March and after that I will be looking at re-entering the work force as my children are older now (not really old, only 12, 8 and 7) but they don't need me to be here 24-7 anymore. It's a nice feeling to know you can be independent. I think it crosses all our minds as stay at home moms what we would do it we were to suddenly lose the income our husbands or significant others provide, but when the time comes, most of us are able to do it. We're capable of so much more than we realize.

Hi sylvie, are you ok? Not like you to sound so miserable, I'm a bit worried about you now, you're usually quite bubbly.
I'm sure everyting will be just fien, get those insurances checked out if you are worried about you financial stability if you were alone.
If Shrek died I would have enough money to pay the mortgage off and probably to bury him, through his insurances I think but then the boys and I would probably struggle to make ends meet but we'd still have our home.
If I died the mortgage would be paid off and my pre-Shrek debts would probably still hang around. He would get friends and family to manage childcare and work part time till Roo is in full time school. I just hope he'd go out and meet someone really quickly as my boys need a constant person around so he'd have to get them a new mum pretty quick.

the life will be of no means

Like you, I'm also a housewife for 8 years now. Just taking good care of my girls and doing household chores. Every month, my husband will give me an allowance. Before I got married, I was a real workaholic like I'm working 3 jobs at a time. Its fortunate that I was able to save money and placed in a long term contract. about 4 years ago, I began pestering my husband that I like to work so I can earn my money. I also told him that what if he suddenly die or unexpected events happen, I will not know where to begin or start. Aside from our insurance, we were able to save money for my 2 girls which are also placed in the bank. But I hate to think that I'm still not prepared for such things like that. That's why, sylviekitty, I think that we should begin to make plans for our future. It's not easy but better prepared than nothing. Take courage and continue to persevere. Good luck!!!

related resource: long-term care

if i died my husband would have to put our son in school and hire a housekeeper and he would get very little insurance. if he died i would have to work more from home to earn more income put my son in school hire a housekeeper, sell some property and use his insurance to pay off our main home and car and invest the remainder in something with compound interest. i have thought of this many times. one thing i would not do is date or remarry.

What a sad story. Anyway,its better to have the mother stay,than to die first. This is what i have observed here in my country Philippines that when the mother was first to die,most of the husband leave their children to their relatives coz they would be living a single life again searching for other girl,or replacing their wife before the wife die. Usually when the mother stays and the father die,its the mother who portrays the role of the father. And the mother works hard to meet the needs of the kids and herself.I dont know if this also happens to other country.Maybe we should make a study on this because it is the reality.

having a spouse or family member die would be awful, everything changes, your thoughts of life, your whole world changes and you stop worrying so much aboutt small things, you live life as much as possible cause you dont know who will be next

I can't believe the majority mentioned financial trouble first. What about losing the love of your life?

You would not probably have to sell the house. Most mortgages have a clause for pay off upon the death of the major breadwinner. The hardest part of the scenario you just played out for us is the emotional toll. You are thinking about money -remember you cant buy love. Since he was military you would get SS for the kids, you have life insurance which if used properly can take you a long time, you have a degree-you would be ok financially. He on the other hand would still have to pay for the house (most likely).