Breaking up with your partner is never easy. But it can be much more difficult when you are sharing finances with your partner. Whether you have been dating for two years or married for twenty when you share a life with someone, it just makes more sense to share many of your finances. But this also means that there is much more to consider when you split.

It is easy to let your emotions get the best of you during a breakup. But staying smart and levelheaded is the best way to manage your finances through a difficult time. Here are a few things to consider as you transition back to single life and its finances.

Close joint accounts immediately.

This is the first thing you should take care of. Remove your ex from any accounts or credit cards that were yours, to begin with. If you have a joint account, you created together, split the money evenly and fairly. Make sure any bills that you share that are withdrawn automatically are taken care of in a fair manner as well.

Figure out your living situation.

Breaking up with a partner with whom you share a living space can be extra tricky. Especially if one of you owns the house and the other doesn’t. It may seem as if you are kicking out your ex (or maybe they are the one kicking you out), which can feel tumultuous. But this way is actually a lot easier than selling a shared house, buying one or the other out of their part of the lease, or figuring out how to break your renter’s lease, together or separately. Again, staying fair while dealing with this will make for the most peaceful unpairing.

Make sure your bills are accounted for.

There is nothing worse than crying over a breakup than crying over a breakup while your power is getting shut off because you and your ex did not figure out who would keep paying the bills. When your plate is already full, it is best not to add another annoyance or chore to the pile. Instead, have a straightforward conversation with your ex regarding what bills you share and how to split or cancel everything from homeowner’s insurance to your Netflix account.

Going through a breakup is never going to be easy. But by following a few simple steps, unpairing from a partner with who you have shared your finances with doesn’t have to be more difficult. If you are struggling with accomplishing this task, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. A mediator is an affordable option to help you divide assets evenly. And a financial advisor can help with more nuanced finances. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to friends, family, or a therapist to talk through the hard things as you take care of your finances.