Poll reveals how money can drive couples apart

There’s a saying related to the notion that money makes the world go round. In some respects, this saying rings true as money is certainly something you need to afford life’s basic and, not-so-basic, necessities. There’s also, however, a saying related to the belief that money is the root of all evil and, when it comes to the relationship between spouses, the results of a recent national poll confirm that money is often the source of marital strife.

In a recent poll conducted by GOBankingRates, 5,000 Americans were asked to select the “money-related issues” that they “dislike most in a partner.” Respondents were asked to make their selection from the following problem financial behaviors:

• Poor credit
• Being overly secretive about finances
• Too much debt
• Overspending
• Not making enough money
• Being overly frugal

Massachusetts respondents were among those in 19 other states who listed overspending as being their number one financial deal breaker. Coming in second, respondents in 17 states listed being too secretive about money as being the biggest money-related deal breaker, followed by having too much debt and poor credit.

Studies indicate that, regardless of income, virtually all couples argue about money. Research also confirms that couples who fight about money are more likely to divorce and this, according to a 2013 study by Kansas State University, appears to be especially true when couples argue “about money early on in their relationships.”

Often arguments about money are related to or mask other problems within a marriage. In cases where an individual plans to file for divorce and is concerned about a spouse’s overspending, financial infidelity or secretiveness about financial matters; it’s important to address those concerns with a divorce attorney.

Source: The Huffington Post, “The Money Issues That Drive Couples Apart In Every State,” Brittany Wong, Feb. 3, 2016