Who really divorces over money

It’s no secret that money woes can poison a successful partnership, but a recent study on the causes of divorce finds that differences in a couple’s perception of their financial well-being can be even more damaging than the reality of a couple doing it tough financially.

According to the Australian National University research titled “What’s love got to do with it?” the divorce rate is about 9 percent among couples where both partners consider themselves as financially comfortable.

The rate of separation climbs to 15 percent among couples who agreed they were “poor” or “very poor”.

Oddly, though, it’s when husbands and wives hold conflicting views of their financial situation that the rate of marriage failure is highest.

The divorce rate soars to 17 percent among couples where the husband believes the family is only just making ends meet while the wife thinks the household is reasonably well-off.

Findings like these underpin the importance of communication and honesty in a relationship.

Many couples disagree about money matters at some stage, but knowing where the household stands financially is a good starting point to achieve shared goals.

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