Financial Control and Bullying in Relationships: Reader Experiences and Survey Findings
A Guardian US Money Blog piece from August 14, 2014, compiles reader experiences on financial control and bullying within relationships and cites a survey conducted among about 1,000 Americans. The survey found that one in ten Americans would describe their partner as a financial bully. Many readers highlighted that tracking expenses and budgeting are responsible financial behaviors rather than bullying, emphasizing that financial dynamics exist along a spectrum.
Some anecdotes describe budgeting-driven tensions, including managing joint accounts and frequent discussions about what purchases are appropriate. One reader recounted a situation where a spouse would choose taxis over lunches due to budget constraints, raising questions about who was exercising control or bullying. An Arkansas reader shared an experience of years of financial bullying involving debt accumulation and a drug problem, which ultimately led to divorce and a damaged credit record lasting seven years.
The article also cited a separate survey indicating that 24% of men and 43% of women hide clothing purchases from their partners. The piece underlines that the distinction between responsible budgeting and financial abuse or bullying can be thin and easily crossed, encouraging readers to consider what constitutes bullying in intimate financial relationships.
