Thursday, December 11, 2014

IS SECRET SPENDING CONTRIBUTING TO DIVORCE IN MINNESOTA?

On behalf of Askvig & Johnson, PLLP 

When a married couple decides to call it quits, it could be for any number of reasons. In many cases multiple reasons have combined to cause a struggling couple to decide that divorce is the best next step. But research studies have shown that financial disagreements are one of the main drivers of disputes in marriage that often lead to divorce.

A research study conducted in 2011 by the National Endowment for Financial Education showed that financial infidelity has a negative impact on relationships 68 percent of the time. This study also showed that 16 percent of marriages end because of it. In addition, a study conducted by researchers at Kansas State University in 2013 showed that arguing about money is the best way to predict divorce. Another recent study shows something very similar: secret credit card spending can lead to divorce.

According to this new study, one in ten people admit that their spouse's or their own secret credit card spending played some part in their separation or divorce. Of the 1,000 men and women polled in the study, 36 percent said they keep their purchases a secret because they know their spouse will be mad and 35 percent keep them a secret simply because they know their spouse will disapprove.

Arguably the most interesting finds in this survey were the following: some people were actually using their credit cards on necessary living expenses and while women were 60 percent more likely than men to hide their purchases, men actually spent more.

Money problems and financial disputes may just be the tip of the iceberg for some couples who have decided a marital dissolution is the only way to go. However, if one or both of the individuals have a tendency to keep secrets, then division of property could become more difficult. It is always helpful to have an experienced Minnesota divorce attorney on one's side.


Source: Huffington Post, "Secret Credit Card Spending And Divorce Linked In New Survey," Oct. 14, 2013

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