Why Not Discussing Money Could Spell Trouble For Your Marriage

Forget sexual and intellectual compatibility -- it's how you mesh financially that could determine whether or not your marriage survives.

In a new survey of 1,061 married and divorced U.S. adults, 51 percent of divorced participants said money played a major role in their split. Indeed, when comparing the financial habits of married participants versus their divorced counterparts, it's clear that debt, credit scores and how people manage their money greatly affects their relationships.

Half of the married adults surveyed said their credit scores are similar to their partners', but only 26 percent of divorced participants said the same of their exes. Married participants also reported more communication regarding finances; 54 percent said managing money was a joint effort with their partner, while only 34 percent of divorcés said the same was true in their marriages.

And 28 percent of divorced participants said that they regret not discussing credit and financial habits before getting married, versus 10 percent of married participants who said the same.

The survey was conducted by Credit.com using Survey Monkey. Participants came from different financial, racial and educational backgrounds, but were not completely representative of the entire U.S. population demographic.

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