Does the heavy dependence on debt of American families play a role in the increasing rate of divorce in the US

Question

madtyga2002 - So you're saying getting married is not about love, but supporting each other financially?

Answer 1

Maybe "money can't buy love" and maybe "the best things in life are free." That said, I notice that my wife and I are a lot less stressed and closer now that we're in our early 40s, with stable careers and very little debt. By the end of next month, we will have no credit card debt, one of our two vehicles paid off (and the other only a year and a half away from it), and no more student loans. We don't live extravagantly, by any means, but it sure is nice that our special night to eat out no longer consists of the Wendy's mega bar.

Answer 2

Yes it does. I just watched something about that. Apparently finances/money is the #1 cause of divorce in this country. I just don't get it. My wife and I have had financial problems since the beginning almost. My wife became disabled shortly after I met her 6 yrs ago and this summer I had to go out on disability so you can imagine our struggle to make ends meet. It has actually brought us closer together though. When times are tough for us we turn towards each other for support. If more people did this, the divorce rate would decline. I also think part of the problem is couples trying to keep up with the Jones so to speak. Everyone seems to get married and want the big house, the right car,etc and get themselves into debt over their heads. It's very sad to me that more people can't be happy living a simpler life that is within their means. Good question!

Answer 3

No.

This is confusing financial burden and stress with 'debt'

I am a single parent and do fine on my own. When I get seriously involved with a woman...twice now since raising my 9 y/o daughter alone. I struggle very much and fall behind on payments, struggle etc.

Of course most of that has to do with my selection of women. I ignore education level and abilities in a financial manner because I don't like confusing how I feel with status.

What does play a large financial part of divorce is:

In many relationships where financial burdens play a major role:

One or both marriage partners spend more than he/she makes. The one that makes more...and sometimes could support both of them if money is managed wisely...feels disrespected and abused for the extra work and effort to bring in more money and then have it squandered on excesses.

It's not the dependence on debt at all...debt is the smoke...why the debt is there is the fire. The fire is the problem.

Answer 4

I would say it plays a big part. It takes 2 and all you've got to survive nowadays. If you let it get between you and separate you instead of sticking together as a team, it could ruin your marriage. We have stayed together for 15 yrs. through the financial hardships by talking about the money issues and working it out together instead of blaming each other and letting it split us up. We both work hard and keep the bills paid. Then celebrate on the weekends! You have to have something to look forward to after the long work week!

Answer 5

I don't think it's the main issue, but it's high on the list. Bad finances puts alot of strain on a marriage. I am divorced with custody of my 2 kids, I feel like I have money coming out of my a** now and with only my income. Plus like one poster stated, ex had racked up credit card bills and had some hidden ones that I found out about during the divorce.

Answer 6

where i live, there are people on section 8 who claim they can't afford anything, yet when you get into their house they have digital cable and top of the line washers and dryers and all this other epxensive crap they can find the money to afford but they can't afford rent. it makes me sick. these people never get anywhere but they have more than a hardworking family out in the suburbs that can't get help because they make too much but it's still not enough to get by. like my family. when we were growing up, my dad worked and my mom stayed at home. he made a lot of money, but it still wasn't enough. there were 4 kids, they had to get a new house because of the lack of room in the other one so there was a huge mortgage, car loans (had to get a van because no one could fit in the car) and water, electric, and all that other stuff. i don't know how they managed it. i do know we ate hamburger helper and kielbasa from the dollar store for a good 4 years at least. my mom now hates hamburger helper and my brother hates kielbasa.

it was hard, they fought all the time. my mom walked out on him several times in the middle of the night (they don't know we know but we do, they get loud when they fight). if we had some kind of help from the state or something it would have been easier but my dad made too much and didn't qualify for anything.

so i think your answer is yes. it puts too much stress on people and they can't handle it. it's not their fault, its just the fact that they have to get through life somehow and end up fighting about everything because the money stresses them out so bad. it's hard, but that's the way it is.

like me for example. i qualify for section 8, i actually signed up for it once and i should be getting it soon, but i am going to turn it down. i don't need it. i can afford rent, yeah it's a little tough, but i feel better about myself at the end of the day.

Answer 7

I think it has a lot to do with it.

We went through it - but we worked it out together and things are great now.

We have many friends who were not able to do that and they got divorced. Ironically, they still had to pay off the debt....

Now we save up for what we need and just to vehicle and home loans. We sleep much better at night now that we are off the credit card merry go round.

Answer 8

yeah people in america have a major problem with spending more than they make,and running up credit card debt with 20 and 30% intrest and they can't even make the payments every month.Why would someone even want a credit card other than emergencies because you are paying more for things than you have to because of intrest and that money is still gonna have to come out of your pocket for the month so why not pay cash.If you don't need it don't buy it.My husband's last wife ran up so much debt and when he divorce her he was out about 25 to 30,000 he had to pay.I promised him I would never do that and I havent and in turn my marriage is great.When I do want something big I can get it because I havent went on shopping sprees every weekend spending on small things.I don't know why people do this because they know it causes problems and stress and worry constantly.They are always asking themselves can I pay the bills at the end of the month....its digging a hole for yourself because you want to impress people and have the best of the best and you can't even afford it......People who can afford it go way overboard with spending too.....

Answer 9

The union of marriage is a gift given by God but only if accepted as such. To seek such as a financial gift is selfish and will only bring pain. search for love and peace in your heart; only then will you be happy. Yes, the government does emphasize too much therefore thwarting the the one thing in life that can give serenity as well as security.

Answer 10

I think it does.

Financial problems are a huge source of stress. Then the couple blames each other. The fighting and strain are too much for some.