Married under 3 years · Money · Divorced
Job loss or business failure in year 3 of our marriage: what we learned
We have been married for less than 3 years. Ours is a church marriage. We have one child together. We live in Rift Valley.
Job loss and business failure: keeping a marriage together
When income stops, pride, fear and blame come in. Couples who got through a job loss or a failed business share what helped.
What couples told us
How many named this challenge
10%
Based on 529 responses · updated 13 November 2026 · How we count
What helped most
Show the numbers
| Answer | People | % |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing helped | 11 | 20.8% |
| Pastor, imam or faith leader | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| Friends | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| My family | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| Professional counsellor | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| Mentor or older couple | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| My spouse's family | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| Elders | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| Online groups or social media | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| A book, course or seminar | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| No one | 0 | 0% |
| Other | 0 | 0% |
Based on 53 responses · updated 13 November 2026 · How we count
What did not help
Show the numbers
| Answer | People | % |
|---|---|---|
| Silent treatment | 32 | 60.4% |
| Involving too many people | 18 | 34% |
| Friends or family taking sides | 18 | 34% |
| Threatening divorce | 14 | 26.4% |
| Leaving home | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| Social media | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| Revenge | - | Hidden (fewer than 10) |
| Other | 0 | 0% |
Based on 53 responses · updated 13 November 2026 · How we count
How they built through it
Married 11-20 years · We keep fighting · Together today
Job loss or business failure nearly ended our marriage in year 14. Here's how we built it back
We have been married for 11 to 20 years. Ours is a church marriage. We have two children together. We live in Coast.
Married under 3 years · Money · Divorced
Job loss or business failure in year 3 of our marriage: what we learned
We have been married for less than 3 years. Ours is a church marriage. We have one child together. We live in Rift Valley.
Married 21+ years · We keep fighting · Separated now
Communication or constant fighting in year 3 of our marriage: what we learned
We have been married for more than 20 years. Ours is a come-we-stay, later formalised marriage. We have three or more children. We live in Rift Valley.
Both spouses' sides
Fight fair on this
- 1Losing a job is not losing worth. Say it out loud to each other.
- 2Make a short-term plan together: what to cut, who can earn what, how long savings last.
- 3Keep blame out of it. The enemy is the situation, not your spouse.
If you are not safe
Being hit, threatened or controlled is not a rough patch - it is abuse, and it is never your fault. Help is free and confidential, for women and men.