This Might Be The Key To A Successful Relationship

Forget a relationship full of romance, it seems the secret to making love last is keeping separate bank accounts.

According to a recent study into Britain’s spending habits, couples are increasingly reluctant to lose their financial independence, with one in four believing that pooling their funds would end in break-up or divorce. 

And while the majority of the 2,005 people surveyed accepted that amalgamating income would lead to greater trust and openness, only 34 per cent of married and cohabitating couples opted to do so.

“The results of this research appear to suggest that more people than ever before are choosing to keep their finances separate after getting married or moving in together,” Moneymagpie.com founder and consumer affairs expert, Jasmine Birtles explained.

“For a considerable number of people, it seems, the decision to retain financial autonomy is not based upon money at all but rather upon the long-term health of their relationship. “

Perhaps unsurprisingly, older couples who had been together for more than 30 years were the most likely to have a joint account at 80 percent, with the number dropping markedly among those who had been together for less than six years to just 52 percent.

Fewer still were those dating for three years or less at 40 percent.

Many of those with shared finances admitted to feeling too “guilty” to use the combined funds for their own personal use, with 34 per cent of those surveyed agreeing that having individual accounts was fairer on their partner.

“There has clearly been a trend among younger couples, or couples in young relationships, to move away from joint bank accounts,” Birtles said.

“In the view of some respondents, doing so will prevent the inevitable rows – which in some extreme cases may be divorce-inducing – that excessive spending will cause.”

Birtles also noted that joint accounts are far easier to manage and access in the event of a death of a spouse.  

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