In an online poll conducted by YouGov, creditcards.com asked people how open and honest they are with their spouses and partners about money. The survey discovered financial infidelity is not uncommon. Respondents cheat financially in a variety of ways, including:
- 34% have spent more than their spouse/partner would approve
- 12% have secret debt
- 10% have secret credit card accounts
- 9% have secret savings accounts
- 8% have secret checking accounts
Respondents had a variety of reasons for secretive financial dealings:
- 36% said privacy and control were important
- 27% said they never felt the need to share
- 26% were embarrassed by the way they handle money (frequently cited by wealthiest respondents)
Janice Wood of PsychCentral wrote, “Financial infidelity can take as big a toll on relationships as sexual infidelity and emotional dishonesty…A few things that couples can do to prevent financial infidelity is to talk more, get on the same page regarding both joint and individual goals they might have, and also budget for some occasional indulgences along the way of achieving their long-term financial goals…”
Talking with your spouse or partner about money is a choice that could deliver long-term rewards.
Kevin Theissen is the owner of HWC Financial in Ludlow.
