If you argue about money with your significant other, you’re not alone.
A United States study by Quicken,
maker of the leading personal finance management software from Intuit
Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), reveals that money can drive a wedge between
many couples. Of those surveyed:
One in three argued with their significant other about finances.
One in 10 lied to their significant other about money.
One in 10 has slept on the couch after arguing about money.
Trust is another significant issue facing many couples when it comes to
money. One in five respondents said they monitor their partner’s
spending, while three percent of those surveyed said they have an
account they hide from their significant other. Hiding purchases in the
trunk of the car is not uncommon for five percent of those surveyed.
“Smart money management between couples starts with creating a budget
together or making joint financial decisions,” said Holly Perez,
personal finance advocate for Quicken. “Knowing exactly where your money
is going and staying on top of it can strengthen your relationship and
your bank account.”
It’s Not You, It’s Me
Money woes can stop a relationship before it starts. Of those surveyed,
33 percent have skipped a night out because of their own finances. An
additional four percent of respondents have broken up with someone
because their potential partner had too much debt.
“Having mystery in a relationship can be important, but it doesn’t have
to be surrounding finances,” said Michael Neal, a Quicken user from
Fort-Worth, Texas. “Each week, my wife and I review our Quicken reports.
It helps keep us on track and avoid arguments over money. We’ve even
made Quicken a family affair, helping teach our kids about money so that
they’re prepared for financial bumps in the road.”
Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $4.15 billion in its
fiscal year 2012. The company has approximately 8,500 employees with
major offices in the United
States, Canada,
the United
Kingdom, India and
other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.
About the survey
Findings are from an Ipsos Observer poll conducted on Sept. 11-19 on
behalf of Quicken. For this survey, a sample of 1,015 Americans from
Ipsos’ American online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was
then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's
composition reflects that of the adult population according to census
data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe.