You Won’t Believe How Much Credit Card Debt Makes You Undateable

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Struggling to find a romantic partner? Your debt could be to blame. 

If you’re considering dating, you may want to consider how your personal finances could impact your dating experience. Debt can be a major turn-off for some adults looking to partner up. A recent study found that some American adults would reconsider a romantic relationship due to someone’s debt, so if you have credit card debt, it could limit your dating prospects.

Your debt could make it harder to find a romantic partner

According to a recent study by Finder, 37% of American adults would reconsider a romantic relationship because of someone’s debt. However, it turns out that many adults find some types of debt to be more concerning. Respondents were asked what type of debt would be a red flag when considering whether to date a potential partner.

Here are some notable findings of the study:

43% said that credit card debt would be a deal breaker.43% noted that a potential partner having payday loan debt would be an issue.46% said that someone owing money to friends or family would be a concern.

Payday loan and credit card debt are likely big issues for daters because these types of debts tend to have high interest rates. If you have credit card debt, you should pay off your debt as soon as possible to avoid accumulating additional interest charges.

One option to explore is transferring your outstanding card balance to a balance transfer credit card with a 0% interest rate, as this can save you on interest charges. Many balance transfer credit cards offer 0% APR for a set time.

Significant debt could be a problem

How much debt you have could make a difference. If you’re re-entering the dating world with a small amount of credit card debt, you may not struggle too much to find a partner. But if you have more debt, that may be a major red flag to potential romantic partners.

The same study looked at the amount of debt that daters considered to be “too much,” which would make them reconsider a relationship with a potential partner. Regarding credit card debt, respondents noted that $12,601 in credit card debt would be a deal breaker.

It turns out that the amount of credit card debt that is considered unacceptable varies between men and women. Women said a potential partner with $10,628 in credit card debt would make them reconsider going on a date. Men were more forgiving. A potential romantic partner with $14,646 in outstanding credit card debt would be a concern for men.

While the results of this study may be disappointing, it’s a good reminder that your current financial situation impacts many areas of your life. Having a lot of debt can negatively impact your credit score and make it more challenging to tackle other financial goals.

Your financial struggles can also be a concern to potential dating partners. At The Ascent, we recently discussed how your salary could make you undateable. Debt can be a problem for daters, too. If someone is dating you with the hopes of building a future together, they may be turned off by you having a massive amount of debt — especially if they have little or no debt.

Should you discuss your finances with a potential partner?

You may be wondering whether you should discuss your finances with potential partners. You get to decide how open you will be about your money. Talking about existing debt, future financial goals, and how you manage money with people you’re considering dating may be an excellent idea. Together, you can decide if you’re a good match for each other.

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