Money Fights That Kill Marriages (And How to Stop Having Them)

Here's something that might surprise you: 40-42% of people in committed relationships have engaged in what researchers call "financial infidelity"—hiding spending, debt, or financial accounts from their partner (Bankrate, 2025; NEFE, 2021).

Financial infidelity is defined as "engaging in any financial behavior expected to be disapproved of by one's romantic partner and intentionally failing to disclose this behavior to them" (Rick et al., 2020). It doesn't have to involve massive amounts—sometimes it's just hiding that daily coffee run or that impulse Amazon purchase.