They’ve got 99 problems — and rent is one.
Nearly one in four Americans say they’re stuck in a relationship they can’t afford to leave, according to a new national survey from Self Financial.
Turns out, love isn’t what’s keeping some couples together — it’s the shared Wi-Fi bill.
The poll of more than 1,000 people found that 24% of respondents admitted they’d like to break up with their current partner — if only it wouldn’t break the bank.
Rising rent, sky-high grocery bills and inflation have made coupling up more of a financial strategy than a romantic one.
“While no one likes the idea of having to stay with a partner for financial reasons, for some this may be the only way to financially keep their head above water,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told 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.
