- Over a quarter (28%) of couples surveyed fight about money in their relationship at least monthly, rising to 39% of Millennials
- Nearly a quarter of all respondents signed a prenup or plan to sign a prenup before marriage (24%), rising to 42% among respondents with a household income of $100K or more.
- 58% of married couples report having a separate bank account from their partner. The leading reason for this is that it feels simpler to manage money separately (44%), followed by valuing financial independence (40%).
Money may not be the foundation of love, but it’s often at the center of modern relationships. From financial attraction to financial infidelity, today’s couples are navigating a mix of independence, transparency, and sometimes tension when it comes to money matters.
According to new data from Intuit Credit Karma, more than one in four couples surveyed admit they argue about finances at least monthly (28%), a number that jumps to 39% among Millennials. In fact, 31% of respondents say they’ve broken up or considered breaking up with a partner over money, climbing to 50% among Millennials. The issue isn’t just disagreements, but also secrecy: 39% admit to experiencing financial infidelity, such as purposefully hiding certain monetary issues or being dishonest about debt and spending, and 44% say they’ve hidden a purchase from their partner, a behavior more common in men than women (51% compared to 38%).
Separate accounts reflect a shift toward independence
Traditionally, combining money after marriage has been standard practice, but couples today are maintaining some separation when it comes to their finances and exploring other options. Among married couples, more than one in three (36%) say they have both separate and joint accounts, while 22% keep their finances entirely separate and only use individual accounts.
Among both married and unmarried couples, the motivation behind keeping finances separate varies. The top drivers include valuing financial independence (39%) and finding it simpler to manage money separately (39%). Others cite differences in spending habits (32%) and say it helps them avoid conflict (30%).
When it comes to managing shared expenses, couples use a range of strategies. Unmarried couples either take turns covering expenses without tracking exactly (24%), split everything 50/50 (24%), or divide up expenses proportionally based on income (24%).
With married couples, 43% pay shared expenses from a joint account. Others say one partner pays most or all shared expenses (26%), while some split expenses by category, such as one partner paying rent and the other paying groceries and utilities (24%).
Prenups are gaining acceptance, but not without tension
Once considered taboo, prenuptial agreements are moving into the mainstream. Nearly a quarter of respondents have signed or plan to sign a prenup (24%), a figure that rises to 42% among households earning $100,000 or more. Of those who signed a prenup before marriage or plan to, the most common reason cited is to protect assets acquired before marriage (43%), though many simply say they view it as a practical financial protection tool (37%). Others seek prenups to safeguard inheritance (37%), avoid disputes later (33%), or prevent liability for a partner’s debt (35%).
However, prenups can still be sensitive, with more than 70% of people saying they felt awkward bringing up the subject of a prenup and 66% claiming it sparked a major disagreement with their partner, increasing to 80% among Millennials.
While 40% of couples say the decision to sign a prenup was mutual, others point to family pressure (20%).
Income gaps add pressure and shape roles
Who makes more money in a partnership often dictates not just financial contributions, but also relationship dynamics. Among respondents who earn more money than their partner, 76% contribute more to shared expenses than their partners and 67% also handle all the finances in their relationship. Among these higher earners, more than half (56%) feel significant pressure as the primary earner, and 40% sometimes resent their partners for making less money than them. In fact, 42% of higher earners admit to sometimes questioning whether their partner is with them for financial stability – which isn’t totally unfounded, given that 32% admit they’ve stayed in an unhappy relationship because they were financially dependent on their partner.
For those earning less, the strain is different. 41% say they sometimes feel inadequate because of their lower income, with Millennials (63%) and Gen Z (54%) most likely to feel this emotional struggle.
Gender also continues to play a significant role in finances within relationships. Among male respondents, financial dynamics appear even more pronounced. A significant 72% of men report earning more than their partner, and of those, 70% handle all the finances in their relationship, while 79% contribute more to shared expenses. Interestingly, of those who earn less than their partner, men are more likely than women to feel inadequate because of it (65% to 34% comparatively).
Despite financial imbalances, many couples find ways to share responsibilities, with 67% of higher earners noting their partner takes on more responsibility in other ways, like childcare, scheduling, or household management.
Building financial harmony together
Despite the conflicts, most couples are actively trying to build financial trust. Nearly three-quarters (73%) say they have had detailed conversations about their financial standing and individual debt, including 64% of unmarried couples. Additionally, 70% say they have full confidence in their partner’s financial decisions, and among married couples, more than three-quarters (76%) have full visibility into their partner’s finances.
“Open and honest communication about money is vital for couples, especially when navigating big financial decisions like getting married, buying a home, or planning for the future,” said Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate at Intuit Credit Karma. “I recommend establishing regular financial check-ins, perhaps quarterly or monthly, to review finances and ensure your priorities align with your partner’s. Approaching these conversations as a team, with transparency and a focus on shared financial goals can help strengthen a relationship, while avoiding them often creates strain and resentment.”
Credit Karma’s tools can help couples make those conversations easier. From monitoring credit scores separately to using the budget calculator to plan shared expenses, couples can work together to reach their financial goals, whether they choose joint accounts, separate accounts, or both.
Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Intuit Credit Karma on August 29, 2025, to September 2, 2025, among 1,005 adults ages 18 and older.