It can be difficult to agree with your spouse about issues relating to money and how much to spend and/or save. Inability to agree on financial matters is often listed as a top reason for divorce. According to a recent study by researchers at the University of California-San Diego, couples that cannot agree on financial risk are two times more likely to divorce.
Researchers studied the results of a survey conducted annually as part of the German Socio-Economic panel, which asked German couples about their willingness to take risks in various areas of their lives. Approximately 5,300 German couples were surveyed between 2004 and 2017.
How do views on financial risk impact a divorce?
The study, which appears in The Economic Journal, showed that people who share similar outlooks when it comes to financial risk are more likely to go the distance than those with dissimilar views. However, it is important to remember that people’s financial outlooks constantly change, so it is possible for couples with different perspectives to compromise eventually. The survey also revealed that financial risk was the strongest predictor of a couple’s divorce, above all other risk categories.
Researchers also found that two sources of income can often cause tension in a marriage, particularly if one spouse’s income is less reliable than the other.
If you find that you and your spouse cannot stop arguing about financial matters, you may make the difficult decision to file for divorce. A family law attorney can advise you on what to do once you have made your decision and be at your side throughout the process.
