This story is the latest installment in a series on all things love and money. Read the first story in the series, “Why coupling up doesn't have to mean sharing a bank account,” here. You can read more personal finance content here.

Would you break up with your partner if you found out they had a secret bank account they never told you about? What about if they had tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt they were hiding from you? Or, what if they were just cheap?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above, you’re not alone. According to findings from a recent TD survey, many Canadians have financial deal breakers when it comes to their romantic relationships.

The survey found that 71% of Canadians polled would consider breaking up with their partner if they discovered their partner was being dishonest about their finances, and 65% would contemplate calling it quits if their other half never offered to pay for anything.

What’s more, more than half – 56% – of those surveyed said they might split from a partner who had bad spending habits.

“Our survey shows that Canadians have strong feelings around their partner’s financial behaviours and choices with money,” said Nicole Ewing, Principal, Wealth Planning Office, TD Wealth.

“The way one partner manages their finances can have an impact on how the other person views the future of their relationship. Love and money are often really intertwined because if you can’t trust your partner on money matters, you may want to reassess whether that relationship is the right fit for you.”

Net worth and financial transparency are important to Canadians in relationships

The TD survey found that there’s a bit of a generational divide when it comes to feelings around money in relationships.

Gen Z had the strongest feelings about finances as 65% of respondents in this cohort said their partner's net worth is important to them when starting a relationship, compared to the national average of 57%.

One in four Gen Z respondents also admitted they likely wouldn't date someone who earns less money than they do.

Being open with your partner about your personal financial situation is important to many Canadians: 70% of those surveyed agreed that financial transparency and responsibility were crucial factors in a relationship. Nearly half of surveyed Canadians also believed having money conversations once or twice a month was ideal.

“Because financial situations and circumstances can change with time, having regular conversations with your partner about your saving, investing, and retirement goals can be very important,” said Ewing.

“Especially if you’re splitting costs such as household expenses and bills – it's always wise to revisit how you’re managing your money independently and as a couple.”

The importance of talking about money in a relationship

Money might not be the most romantic topic, but according to the survey it can be an important one when it comes to maintaining a healthy relationship.

Even though seven out of 10 Canadians surveyed agreed that financial transparency was important in a relationship, only 41% of couples had the "money talk" with their partner after they had moved in together, or around the time they got married or became common-law.

This discrepancy shows that while Canadians value discussions about finances, not everyone agrees when to have them. And other research has found the financial state someone is in can impact how they feel about money talks, too.

Research published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology found that when people experience high financial stress – meaning they feel overwhelmed with spending, are struggling to meet financial obligations, or are worried about managing their money – they are less likely to communicate with their partner due to greater anticipated conflict.

And research out of Carleton University and the University of Western Ontario found that financial stress in a relationship can affect how supportive a partner perceives the other one to be. When there are disagreements about money, for example, the research found that people report feeling more neglected or distrustful and say they are less satisfied in their relationship.

While it is a largely personal choice, Ewing said that starting money talks early on can help couples get on the same page when it comes to their finances. For example, conversations about how your partner likes to save, invest, or spend will allow you to better understand their financial habits and whether they align with yours.

(For advice on how to merge finances with your partner, check out this TD Stories article.)

“There’s lots of resources for Canadians looking to have open, honest, and productive conversations with their partners about money,” Ewing said.

“For couples who want the help of a professional, TD customers can access TD Personal Bankers and TD Wealth Advisors who are available across the country to offer financial advice and help with decisions around money matters, personal finances, and investments. Canadians don’t have to navigate financial conversations alone.”

About the TD survey

This Maru Public Opinion survey conducted on behalf of TD Bank Group was undertaken by the sample and data collection experts at Maru/Blue. 1,534 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Maru Voice Canada online panelists were surveyed overnight on January 21, 2025. The results of this study have been weighted by education, age, gender, and region (and in Quebec, language) to match the population, according to Census data. This is to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Canada. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals when compared to the data tables are due to rounding.