Exploring Financial Bullying in Intimate Relationships
An article from The Guardian examines the issue of financial bullying within intimate relationships by presenting first-person stories alongside reader comments. A survey of about 1,000 Americans found that one in ten would describe their partner as a financial bully.
Despite this, many readers resist labeling certain behaviors as bullying, instead viewing practices like expense tracking and budgeting as responsible financial management. Some comments argue that budgeting and financial vigilance are natural parts of relationships rather than forms of control.
However, anecdotes shared highlight tensions arising from budgeting conflicts. For example, one partner overspending on meals and drinks while the other closely monitors finances.
An Arkansas reader recounts experiencing years of financial bullying connected to their spouse's debt and drug use, leading to long-term credit damage and eventually divorce. These accounts often reveal unequal control over funds and a division between “our money” and “my money” that can fuel abusive dynamics.
A New York reader in an arranged marriage describes extreme financial control over basic needs like food, clothing, and energy usage. After gaining earnings, this individual continued to hide purchases from their partner. Supporting this, a Credit Repair survey noted that 24% of men and 43% of women hide clothing purchases from their partners.
The article invites further discussion on where responsible budgeting ends and financial bullying begins, highlighting the complexity of financial dynamics in relationships.
