Love Or Liability? How Romantic Relationships Really Impact Your Wallet

Two incomes are better than one. According to a survey by Self Financial shared this month, having a partner may not just be good for your heart, it could also be good for your wallet. The survey, which gathered responses from 1,048 American adults, explored how romantic relationships affect personal finances and revealed that couples are four times more likely to see their net worth grow rather than shrink (47.2% vs. 11.5%).

Money, finances, Self Financial, relationship, survey, relationship — Source: Prostock-Studio

The data is clear. When couples join financial forces, their combined efforts and income often lead to significant wealth-building. Nearly half of the respondents said their relationships had a positive impact on their financial health. Another 41.2% reported a neutral effect, while just 11.5% said their romantic involvement had hurt their finances.

Among those who saw financial benefits from their relationship, the top perk was cost-sharing, particularly for major expenses like rent or mortgage payments, utilities, transportation, and even shared streaming subscriptions (45.7%). This was followed by the security of having two incomes (40.5%) and advantages from marriage-related tax breaks (32.8%).

For many, the financial upside has been significant: over 83% of those who saw a positive impact estimated that their relationship had boosted their net worth by more than a whopping $10,000. Nearly 1 in 4 (23.8%) reported gains between $100,000 and $249,999 thanks to joint finances, according to the Self Financial survey.

Poor finances and bad money habits can break a relationship.

Shot of a young couple making a heart shaped gesture in bed at home — Source: PeopleImages

Sadly, not all relationships result in financial gains. Among those who said their romantic partnerships had a negative impact on their finances, the top issue was unequal contributions and regularly covering a partner’s expenses (55.3%). Others reported adopting poor money habits from their partner. Notably, 46.6% said their significant other negatively influenced their spending or saving behavior, such as being late on bills or splurging on luxuries.

Dependence was another pain point: 35.5% said their partner relied on them financially, with that number climbing to 46.5% among men.

Money problems can also be relationship dealbreakers. About 41.4% of respondents said financial issues had contributed to a breakup in the past. And nearly half (46.2%) admitted they would be more likely to end their relationship if there were no financial consequences, suggesting that, for many, a breakup could lead to financial ruin in their personal lives.

Finances can make or break a relationship. What do you think of this latest study? Tell us in the comments section.

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Study: How Romantic Relationships Impact Your Finances