Till debt do you part, looking for love in all the wrong places?

By NextHome Staff
March 16, 2019
Dating can be complicated, especially later in life. You’re probably carrying some extra baggage, which can come in many forms. And, there still might be an ex in the faded picture, as well as children and grandchildren. It can be a difficult world to navigate.When you’re younger there are any number of reasons of why you might fall for someone. But, when you’re older, you’re hopefully a lot wiser too. In addition to emotional baggage, financial baggage could be holding you back from finding the perfect partner. A personal finance website called Finder, found that 68.5 per cent of Canadian adults say that they would reconsider a relationship based on a person’s financial debt. Baby boomers might be a tad more savvy, as 70 per cent of those surveyed would consider their partner’s debt unacceptable and a roadblock for the relationship to continue.

Deal breaker

Some debt is considered worse than others. The Finder survey found that payday loans were viewed as the least acceptable form of debt. More than 58 per cent of Canadians said that if they found out that their partner was carrying this type of liability, then it would be a deal breaker for them. Pay day loans have notoriously high interest rates, and are often used as a last option to get funds.Other types of debt that may have your love interest rethinking, also include credit card debt, and money owed to family and friends.

Acceptable debt

Angus Kidman is the editor-in-chief at Finder and he says, “The uncomfortable truth is that the majority of Canadians are turned off by personal debt. Given so many people in relationships aspire to share finances, it’s not surprising that individuals view partner debt unfavourably. In saying that, not all types of debt are equal. Prospective partners are more likely to accept mortgages or business loans.”These types of loans don’t evoke the same feeling as high-interest debts do. Mortgages or business loans are viewed as ‘good’ debt, as they relate to assets and the potential of increasing your earning capacity.

Indebted romantics

If you’re searching for love, and think that your debt might be holding you back, then your first step is to figure out how you are going to pay it down. Make a plan to cut out the variable spending, and commit to the plan.Also, sit down and have a serious talk about money with your love interest. If your debt is hindering your relationship, it’s better to find out now, rather than later. You may learn that they, too, have some debt issues that they haven’t been able to discuss, or that they’re very supportive. While honesty is always the best policy, it’s never more important than when dealing with personal finances.“While it can be difficult to talk about debt, it’s important to have open and honest conversations about the state of your finances to minimize relationship friction,” says Kidman. “You should also have frank discussions about the level of debt you’re willing take on in the future, and the circumstances under which it’s acceptable.”One of the most common reasons that couples split up has to do with their relationship with money. To get your new relationship off to a good start, it’s best to be open and direct, and make a plan to become debt-free.Rubina Ahmed-Haq is a journalist, personal finance expert and HPG’s finance editor. She appears on CBC TV and radio, CTV Your Morning, Global Toronto, and writes for ratesupermarket.ca. Follow her @alwayssavemoney. AlwaysSaveMoney.ca

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