Last updated: 6 February 2023
Money.com.au surveyed 1010 Australians, 66 per cent (662 respondents) of which are in a relationship. The survey sought to gauge whether financial stress has negatively impacted relationships and which financial stressors have had the biggest negative impacts.
The pool of survey respondents matches the age and geographical spread of the Australian population.
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Money.com.au sought to discover whether Australian couples have experienced stress surrounding their finances in the last year. Nearly half (41 per cent) of respondents admitted they, or their partner, experienced such stress.
The survey found that more women have experienced financial stress in the last year, compared with their male counterparts. The results show:
Compared with:
Money.com.au found that younger Australian couples are more likely to have grappled with financial stress over the last year. More than half (57 per cent) of under-30s admitted they or their partner had been stressed over money. This compares with:
Similar proportions of respondents across the States had experienced financial stress in the last year. Specifically, 45 per cent of NSW and WA respondents had stress over money. This was followed by:
Response | NSW (%) | VIC (%) | QLD (%) | SA (%) | WA (%) | ACT (%) |
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Yes | 45 | 35 | 36 | 44 | 45 | 36 |
No | 55 | 65 | 64 | 56 | 55 | 64 |
Among the survey respondents who had experienced financial stress in the last year, nearly half (45 per cent) admitted it had negatively impacted their relationship. Specifically, a third (34 per cent) admitted their relationship had been negatively impacted, while 11 per cent indicated it had not only had a negative impact but had caused them to discuss breaking up with their partner.
Interestingly, the survey found that more men than women felt their relationships had been impacted negatively by financial stress. More than half (51 per cent) of male respondents said their relationship has been impacted. Specifically:
This compares with:
Money.com.au uncovered that the younger the respondent the more likely their relationship had suffered due to financial stress. Forty (40) per cent of under-30s admitted their relationship had been negatively impacted. This compares with:
More younger respondents had also discussed breaking up with their partners due to financial stress:
Compared with:
A higher proportion of West Australians (47 per cent) than respondents in any other State have suffered the negative impacts of financial stress on their relationships. This compares with:
Similar proportions of respondents across the States had discussed breaking up with their partners due to the negative impact of financial stress on their relationship. Specifically, 18 per cent of NSW respondents had discussed breaking up with their partner. This was followed by:
Response | NSW (%) | VIC (%) | QLD (%) | SA (%) | WA (%) | ACT (%) |
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Yes, it has negatively impacted our relationship | 29 | 39 | 34 | 33 | 47 | 0 |
Yes, it has negatively impacted our relationship and we have discussed breaking up | 18 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
No | 53 | 52 | 61 | 54 | 50 | 100 |
Money.com.au asked the survey respondents to identify the financial area that has impacted their relationships the most. Unexpected expenses topped the list, chosen by more than a quarter (27 per cent) of respondents. Other areas respondents identified as having the most impact included:
Money.com.au found differing perceptions of financial stressors across genders. Specifically, more men than women indicated unexpected expenses had the biggest impact on their relationship, at 31 per cent. This compared with:
More men also identified overspending as a major financial stressor on their relationship, by a small margin. Nearly a fifth (18 per cent) of men identified this area as having the most impact. This compared with:
In contrast, a higher proportion of women admitted low or no income earned by themselves, their partner or their children had the most impact on their relationship, at 24 per cent. This compared with:
Money.com.au found that overspending had the most impact on the relationships of younger respondents – a fifth (21 per cent) of under-30s identified this as a major financial stressor. This compares with:
A higher proportion of younger respondents also indicated that a lack of income, or no income, had the most impact on their relationship – a quarter (25 per cent) of under-30s chose this financial stressor. This compares with:
In contrast, more older respondents had grappled with unexpected expenses and admitted this had impacted their relationship the most:
Compared with:
Unexpected expenses emerged as a top financial stressor impacting respondents’ relationships across the States. Specifically, a third (34 per cent) of West Australians indicated unexpected expenses had impacted their relationship the most. This compares with:
A higher proportion of West Australians had also grappled with overspending and its impact on their relationship, at 28 per cent. This compares with:
In contrast, higher proportions of respondents in Victoria and Queensland indicated that fears around not being able to pay for everyday expenses had impacted their relationship the most, by a small margin. Fourteen (14) per cent of Victorians and Queenslanders selected this financial stressor. This compares with:
Response | NSW (%) | VIC (%) | QLD (%) | SA (%) | WA (%) | ACT (%) |
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Overspending (by me, or my partner, or our kids) | 13 | 18 | 18 | 8 | 28 | 0 |
Low or no income earned (by me, or my partner, or our kids) | 21 | 21 | 27 | 21 | 9 | 25 |
Unexpected expenses | 29 | 16 | 23 | 33 | 35 | 75 |
When bills, loan repayments, rent or other expenses are due | 9 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 3 | 0 |
Having to talk about money | 8 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 0 |
The state of our bank account/s | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fear around not being able to pay for everyday expenses | 6 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
Not having enough money for ‘big ticket’ items such as holidays | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 0 |