Survey: Half of Canadian Couples Who Fight Over Money, Lose Sleep

CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With rising cost of living and economic uncertainty putting financial pressure on Canadian households, money fights are keeping Canadian couples up at night. According to the 2025 Love and Money survey issued by Money Mentors, an Alberta-based non-profit credit counseling agency, found that 47% of Canadians have had financial disagreements with their partner. Among them, 53% didn’t sleep well after their "money fights."

The survey highlights the mounting financial pressures on Canadians revealing trends when it comes to financial hardship in relationships. This further underscores the impact that finances have on relationships, with one in 10 Canadians stating their financial situation has led them to consider breaking up, separating, or divorcing their partner.

The survey released today finds that:

EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS:

• 47% of Canadians have had financial disagreements with their partner that impacted them negatively
• Among those who have had financial disagreements and experienced a negative impact,
  • 66% said it makes them more anxious and/or depressed.
  • 53% lose sleep after a financial fight.
  • 26% feel less patient with important people in their lives after arguing about money.
  • 23% report being less productive at work the next day
• 11% of couples have considered breaking up, separating, or divorcing due to financial stress. Millennials and Gen X are most likely to consider it (13% and 14% respectively), compared to Boomers (9%), and Gen Z (6%).
• 10% of Millennials admit they’ve lied to their partner about their financial situation to avoid conflict, followed by Gen X (8%), Boomers (7%), and Gen Z (3%).

SPENDING AND TRANSPARENCY IN RELATIONSHIPS:

• Of the 47% of Canadians reporting they have financial disagreements with their partner, nearly half (48%) reveal they disagree over day-to-day spending, followed by lack of savings (38%), seasonal and irregular spending (34%), and overuse of credit (27%).
• 90% of Canadians are open about their finances with their partner, with 52% saying they share everything including a joint bank account, while 38% only share important information and have separate bank accounts.
• 10% of Canadians are more private about their finances in their relationship and say it depends on the situation, or that they don’t discuss finances at all with their partner

“Money stress can feel overwhelming, especially with the current state of our economic client and the rising cost of living. This survey shows just how deeply financial struggles impact relationships, mental health, and overall well-being,” says Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy, CEO of Money Mentors. “At Money Mentors, we believe that financial security shouldn’t come at the cost of your relationships. Through free financial counseling, we help Albertans take control of their finances and reduce stress, so money doesn’t stand in the way of you, your loved ones, or your future.”

As Canadians continue to face financial barriers due to inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty, Money Mentors is here to help. As the exclusive provider of the Orderly Payment of Debt (OPD) program, managed on behalf of the Government of Alberta, Money Mentors provide free financial debt solutions to support individuals, couples, and families on the path to a more secure financial future.

For more information, visit moneymentors.ca.

About Money Mentors:

Money Mentors is the only Alberta-based non-profit credit counselling agency. For more than 25 years, our experienced team of accredited Counsellors has been working with Albertans to help them get out of debt, manage their money, and plan for retirement.

Our mission is to educate Albertans in personal money management and the wise use of credit and to provide alternatives for families and individuals facing financial crises. For more information, visit www.moneymentors.ca to contact an accredited Counsellor.

Methodology:

These findings are from a survey conducted by Money Mentors from February 4^th to February 5^th, 2025, among a representative sample of 1,502 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-2.53 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.