Survey Reveals 1 in 4 People Remain in Relationships Due to Financial Constraints

They’ve got 99 problems — and rent is one.

According to a recent national survey by Self Financial, almost 25% of Americans feel trapped in a relationship they financially can’t afford to leave. 

Turns out, love isn’t what’s keeping some couples together — it’s the shared Wi-Fi bill.

The survey, which involved over 1,000 participants, revealed that 24% of those surveyed confessed they would prefer to end their relationship with their current partner—if it weren’t for the financial implications.

Rising rent, sky-high grocery bills and inflation have made coupling up more of a financial strategy than a romantic one.

“Although the idea of remaining with a partner due to financial constraints is unappealing, for some individuals it might be their only option to stay financially afloat,” explained Alex Beene, who teaches financial literacy at the University of Tennessee at Martin, in an interview with Newsweek.

“Whether it’s sharing the rent, utility bills, groceries or any other expenses, couples are increasingly having to lean on each other financially to manage the cost of living,” he added.

It’s a trend that’s especially brutal in high-cost cities like New York, where data analyzed by the finance app Frich earlier this year indicated that Manhattan couples can save over $50,000 per year by shacking up — instead of splitting up. 

That so-called “singles tax” has soared 40% in the last three years.

For Gen Z, breaking up is especially expensive. 

According to the recent Frich survey, the average cost of a breakup for a Zoomer is $3,862, thanks to post-split spending on retail therapy, rebound trips, and, of course, suddenly footing solo rent.

A “single girl’s night out” costs the average person about $92, while one in five Gen Z-ers admit to dropping nearly $2,000 on a post-breakup vacation to heal their broken hearts — and bank accounts.

It’s no wonder, then, that 18% of Gen Z told Frich they stayed in relationships they weren’t happy in, and nearly 40% said they’d move in with a partner before they were ready just to save on housing costs.

Not surprisingly, the aforementioned Self Financial survey found 86% of respondents had argued with their partner over money — and in many cases, it led to a breakup. Roughly 41% said finances were a factor in their split.

And delaying the inevitable might only make things worse.

“While that may seem like a smart move at the moment, the longer the separation can be kicked down the road, it can actually produce bigger, more complicated financial issues,” Beene told the outlet.

“The economic outlook of both individuals gets more intertwined.”

Bottom line? Love may not cost a thing — but a breakup sure does.