Sarah lived her entire married life saving pennies.  Married at 19, she got used to saving money doing everything from clipping coupons to cutting her own hair.  While saving money was necessary at first, after time she and her husband could afford more.  She was a stay at home mother with no access to funds, so she never felt like she could demand money her husband made at his job.  After 42 years of marriage, she got tired of the constant verbal abuse and cruel treatment from a husband that called her stupid.  Getting her out of the marriage was more of a benefit to her than just avoiding the abuse.  In the division of assets, I got her property division and alimony that allows her to live comfortably.  The most meaningful part of that was not the money, but the freedom she now had.  Sarah proudly reported to me that she went to the salon without begging anyone for money, that one small thing being an emblem of her newfound freedom.