Money biggest factor in arguments says survey
Almost one in four couples have arguments about money, a new study has found.
Research from Hfs Loans says that while finances cause friction in relationships, less than one in three people work out how to combine their finances before they move in together.
Even after taking the big step of setting up home with a loved one, 44 per cent still say that they keep separate bank accounts, and one in five confessed that if they received a bonus at work, they would keep it for themselves rather than contribute it towards the home.
Breaking a routine of financial independence proves difficult for some people, with 33 per cent of people admitting they do not tell their partners about their spending habits.
Arguments about how to manage the household budget were particularly rife, with nearly a quarter of couples saying that they could not agree on household spending.
Mila Bhatkar, research manager at Hfs asserted that it could be reassuring for couples to know their financial picture, and that sorting out finances provided the opportunity to demonstrate responsibility to a partner.
"By discussing how best to combine finances before moving in together and taking simple steps ... couples could save themselves money and avoid unnecessary agro," she said. | 
