Survey Highlights Financial Bullying and Control in Relationships
A survey of about 1,000 Americans found that 10% would describe their partner as a financial bully, reflecting concerns about control within relationships. However, some Guardian readers argue that the label may sometimes be used to describe financial responsibility or strict budgeting rather than true bullying. Many readers emphasized that budgeting and shared financial monitoring can be prudent practices, with issues mainly arising when spending exceeds agreed-upon budgets.
Accounts range widely, from cases of sensible financial management to more severe forms of money control. An Arkansas reader recounted experiencing long-term financial bullying by her husband, including debt accumulation and drug use, which eventually led to divorce and significantly damaged her credit. Similarly, a New York-based reader described extreme money control in an arranged marriage, illustrating a spectrum that spans from budgeting and financial monitoring to financial abuse and the struggle for eventual independence.
Data from a Credit Repair survey adds another dimension to the complexity of financial dynamics in relationships, revealing that 24% of men and 43% of women hide clothing purchases from their partners, indicating underlying tensions about money and spending habits.
