Before getting serious with a new partner, you may want to check their paystubs. According to new research, relationships are incompatible if there’s a $36,000 disparity in salary.
The fascinating new statistic emerged in a new study of 2,000 single Americans examining all things dating including the role finances play when entering into a new relationship.
Respondents were asked to assess where they feel a disparity in income actually leads to incompatibility. A nearly $40,000 difference in earnings was named as the point at which such a difference in earning becomes problematic while dating.
And earnings do seem to play a fairly significant role, it turns out, as over half of Americans (53 percent) studied feel it’s important to be on the same level financially as a romantic partner.
The new survey, conducted by online dating service Millionaire Match, also uncovered that 38 percent of Americans have actually had a had a relationship end because they weren’t on the same page financially with their partner
But compatibility doesn’t start and stop at money, of course.
The survey went on to reveal the biggest reasons relationships come to end was that the people in the relationship had different expectations, with 45 percent of respondents saying a previous relationship has ended for that reason.
Unfortunately, cheating was the second biggest reason with 41 percent of Americans having a relationship end because of some unfaithfulness. Not having time for each other (39 percent) rounded out the top three, with realizing the love was gone coming in fourth (39 percent).
The post-break-up blues is very real, it appears, as 69 percent of Americans say they go through a period of “hopelessness” directly after a relationship ends. The average length of that hopelessness stretch was also revealed to be five weeks.
“When you know the main reason for a relationship ending, it is especially important to be mindful of who you choose to date next,” said Katherine Zhang of Millionaire Match. “Millionaire Match’s successful membership model proves this. Similar economic conditions and mutually agreed upon values can tremendously help both sides get along.”
Dating can be rough, and according to the survey, an amazing 38 percent of single Americans have actually “given up” on dating.