(InvestigateTV) — A recent NerdWallet study shows debt doesn’t necessarily scare people away when it comes to dating.
According to NerdWallet credit cards expert Sara Rathner, only 10% of Americans said they would never date a person with credit card debt. The study found that credit card debt exceeding $20,000 is considered a relationship deal breaker.
“Having debt is not a red flag for a lot of daters but lying about your financial situation and your debt is that big waving red flag that you want to avoid,” Rathner shared. “You want to be honest about your own financial situation and you also want to seek out somebody who is also able to be honest about their own situation.”
She explained that the longer couples are together, the more they begin making plans for a shared future—so it’s essential for both partners to be transparent about their finances before making those decisions.
“A lot of people try to make positive changes in their life to attract potential partners,” Rathner said. “Everyone does it, you go to the gym, you change the way you dress, you try to develop interesting hobbies and make friendships and have this beautiful rich life so when a potential partner comes along you have somebody you can bring into that life.”
She said that while improving yourself to attract a partner is positive, paying off debt shouldn’t be something you do just to seem more dateable—it should be a gift to yourself.
Rathner added that becoming debt-free opens up numerous opportunities, encouraging people to pay off their debt for their own benefit, so it can reward them in other aspects of life too.
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