How do couples deal with the topic of finances?

How much room does love leave for money matters? This question was explored by the interest platform Raisin in a recent study. Participants were asked how couples talk about finances, what role income plays in dating, and how people assess debt in a partner. The findings are quite interesting.

Content

Mid February is approaching, and Valentine’s Day is drawing near. Whether this day of love is merely a commercial event or truly romantic is not the focus here. Instead, we examine love and money, and how couples talk about their finances.

For the second time, the interest platform Raisin, together with the market research institute Innofact, examined the role finances play in relationships. Only individuals in committed relationships were surveyed. The result: couples in Germany are growing financially closer, and finances are becoming more transparent.

More financial transparency in relationships

72% of respondents regularly discuss salaries and finances with their partner, almost unchanged compared to 71% the previous year. Conversely, this means nearly 30% rarely or never talk about finances.
People aged 30 to 39 discuss their salaries and financial situation most frequently. This is not surprising, as many in this age group are planning their future and possibly buying a home together.

Knowledge about debts and assets has increased: 80% fully know their partner’s financial situation, four percentage points more than in 2025. For Katharina Lüth, financial expert and board member at Raisin, this is a positive sign: “Financial openness builds trust. Only when there is transparency in a relationship can couples plan their finances together in the long term.”
Joint financial goals in more than half of relationships
55% of couples pursue specific shared financial goals, the same as in the previous year. Another 31% have discussed the topic but have not yet made concrete decisions, compared to 29% in 2025. Only 14% report having no joint plans, compared to 15% the year before. It is questionable how couples can shape their future together without also planning financially.

Less separated accounts

This year, more couples manage their money jointly compared to last year. Only 35% manage their finances separately and share only common expenses, a decrease of five percentage points from the previous year. Accordingly, the share of joint or mixed financial models has increased.

Income is losing importance in partner selection

Those who believe account balances play a major role in choosing a partner may not necessarily be correct. Around half of respondents state that income plays no role in their partner selection. This figure remains stable compared to the previous year. For 35%, income is a factor but not a decisive one, compared to 31% in 2025.

The proportion of those who consider income to be central has declined significantly. Only 11% now view it as important, four percentage points fewer than the previous year.

Debt increasingly becoming a dealbreaker

The saying “Love fades, debt remains” seems to resonate as a warning for many. While more couples are sharing accounts compared to last year, caution regarding debt is increasing. 22% of respondents would not date someone with high levels of debt, up three percentage points from 19% the previous year. Another 47% say their decision depends on the reason for the debt. Roughly one third, 31%, would date someone with debt if the person openly discusses it and is working on resolving it.

Women in particular are skeptical about a partner’s debt. For 28% of female respondents, debt is a dealbreaker in dating, compared to 16% of male respondents.

Katharina Lüth comments on the results: “Decisions made as a couple often have long term financial consequences. For example, someone who reduces working hours to raise children will receive less pension later on. Add to this different income levels, shared expenses, or obligations such as loans. Over time, these cannot realistically be viewed separately. It is therefore encouraging that couples in Germany are clearly growing financially closer.”

Survey methodology

For this study, Raisin commissioned the market research institute Innofact. Between January 11 and January 13, 2026, 1,001 individuals aged 18 to 79 were surveyed online, all of whom stated they were in a committed relationship. The results are representative of the population living in partnerships in Germany. The comparison data from the previous year stem from a similarly representative survey of 1,000 individuals. For the year to year comparison, responses from the 681 individuals who indicated at that time that they were in a committed relationship were evaluated.

Foto: Canva (2026)

Charts: Raisin (2025)

Related articles: