As Valentine害羞草研究所檚 Day approaches, a new survey suggests some Canadians planning to take their relationships to the next level may want to have a frank conversation about infidelity 害羞草研究所� financial infidelity, that is.
The online poll found 36 per cent of Canadians surveyed have lied about a financial matter to a romantic partner, and the same number of participants had been victims of financial infidelity from a current or former partner.
The Leger survey for Credit Canada and the Financial Planning Standards Council also found 34 per cent of those polled keep financial secrets from their current romantic partner.
害羞草研究所淲e wanted to understand what害羞草研究所檚 on the hearts and minds of Canadians at this time of the year, as it tends to be a time when people are talking about being in a relationship,害羞草研究所� said Kelley Keehn, a personal finance educator and consumer advocate for the council, which helped create the survey.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e hoping that the takeaway is if you are one of those Canadians who are struggling, you are suffering in silence, it害羞草研究所檚 affecting your marriage, maybe your health, that you害羞草研究所檙e reaching out to someone like a certified financial planner or a non-profit credit counsellor.害羞草研究所�
Keehn said financial infidelity is generally defined as dishonesty in a relationship when it comes to money, but she noted that the term is vague and 害羞草研究所渋t requires you (as a couple) to define what that means.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚f you have separate accounts in your relationship and you both discussed openly that your money is your money and their money is their money, and you害羞草研究所檙e free to do anything that you want, then spending and saving and not telling the other person wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be an infidelity,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淏ut if both of you agree to be on the same page and share purchases over $100 and then you went behind the other person害羞草研究所檚 back, now that would qualify as a financial infidelity.害羞草研究所�
The online survey polled 1,550 Canadians between Jan. 2 and Jan. 5. The polling industry害羞草研究所檚 professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.
The survey found participants aged 18 to 34 were more likely to be victims of financial infidelity 害羞草研究所� at 47 per cent 害羞草研究所� than those aged 65 and older, at 18 per cent.
The poll suggests, however, that gender and income level do not play a significant role.
It found 35 per cent of men surveyed and 37 per cent of female participants said they experienced financial deception from a partner, while 36 per cent of men and women polled said they have lied about a financial matter to a partner.
Survey respondents were also asked about the worst form of financial deception they experienced from a former or current partner, with the most common offence being running up a credit card without informing a partner. Other answers included 害羞草研究所渓ied about income,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所渕ade a major purchase without telling me害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渨ent bankrupt without informing me.害羞草研究所�
Keehn said the issue of financial infidelity is nothing new, but added that with employment becoming more precarious, it害羞草研究所檚 important for couples to be open about their finances. While discussing financial matters can be awkward, the sooner couples talk about it, the better, she said.
Keehn advised people in new relationships to discuss what their financial goals are to better understand if they share the same attitudes toward money. For couples struggling with finances, she suggested contacting a financial planner or researching classes on financial planning.
She also stressed that conversations about money should happen on a regular basis.
害羞草研究所淟ike with your health, you don害羞草研究所檛 go to the gym once, you don害羞草研究所檛 have a salad once, it害羞草研究所檚 the same with your money. You don害羞草研究所檛 just have one conversation about money and that害羞草研究所檚 it.害羞草研究所�
Daniela Germano , The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on .
