16/10/2026
How much should you know about somebody’s finances before you marry them?
An article we read recently looked at survey data on unmarried men aged 18 to 29 in the US. Many still wanted to marry one day, but financial instability and fear of divorce were among the reasons some felt hesitant. (Source: Institute for Family Studies/YouGov, reported by AOL, September 2026).
We would not assume those findings represent every young man, or that US research translates directly to the UK, but it did raise a much bigger question about the money conversations we have before marriage.
💵How do you each feel about debt?
💵What does being financially secure mean to you?
💵Do you want to buy a home?
💵If you have children, would either of you reduce your working hours?
💵How would you manage things if one person earned considerably more?
💵What happens to the individual plans you each bring into the relationship?
None of that sounds particularly romantic, but neither is discovering five years into a marriage that you have completely different ideas about spending, saving, debt, careers or what you are trying to build together.
You do not need identical attitudes towards money to have a strong relationship. But understanding how the other person thinks about it gives you the chance to talk about those differences before you are making some of life's biggest financial decisions together.
What money conversation do you think couples should have before getting married?