No one wants to fight with their partner, which makes some of us avoid talking about certain topics and money is at the top of that list. A new survey shows that one in three Americans are uncomfortable discussing finances in their relationship. And it turns out, many feel that way based on prior experience.
According to the poll of 2-thousand Americans in a relationship:
- The average couple reports having 58 money-related arguments a year.
- It’s even more for those with a partner currently living in another country, they average 72 of those money spats a year.
- Younger couples tend to disagree more often over finances, with millennials having around six arguments a month, compared to three for baby boomers.
- For all respondents, the top topics for these heated talks focus on what’s considered a “necessity” to spend on each month (43%), how much to spend on “non-essentials” like streaming subscriptions and vacations (36%), and how much money should be saved (34%).
- But it’s not just the fear of a fight that keeps couples from feeling comfortable discussing finances.
- Nearly a third say these conversations are challenging because they have different ideas about how much to spend and save (32%), while a quarter (26%) think their partner is less responsible with money than they are.
- While 82% of respondents believe couples having a similar philosophy about money is important for a healthy relationship, only 69% feel they’re aligned with their partner when it comes to finances.
- Some people are afraid to talk to their partner about money because they’re worried they’ll be judged (18%), while others admit they’re concerned about their debt and don’t want to discuss it (17%).
Source: Talker
