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These days, finances are front and center for single Americans.
According to a recent Harris Poll survey of 2,177 U.S. adults, 74% say financial stability is one of the most attractive traits when dating. Meanwhile, 60% report that compatibility, specifically practical alignment around money, matters more than chemistry in today’s economy.
“Historically, dating was emotion first — sparks, excitement, romance,” says Tim Osiecki, director of thought leadership and trends at the Harris Poll.
“What we’re seeing now is almost the reverse,” he says. “People are leading with stability and letting the sparks come second.”
Americans are also singling out specific behaviors as red flags. The following are their four biggest dating dealbreakers:
- Someone who expects you to pay most of the time (45%)
- Someone with unstable employment (42%)
- Someone with bad spending habits (42%)
- Someone with credit card debt (34%)
Osiecki lists various economic reasons for this emphasis on money habits, including rising housing costs, rising costs of everyday essentials like groceries and utilities, student loan and credit card debt.
In November 2025, coffee prices were up almost 19% from the previous year and the cost of beef was up around 15%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Housing costs also rose more than 14% between September 2023 and September 2025, according to BLS.
“Being with a financially stable partner increasingly feels like the difference between security and constant stress,” he says.
Matrimonial and family law attorney at Blank Rome Jackie Combs has seen the subject of finances come up often for her clients, whether during divorce or prenups.
Ultimately, finding the right partner “is about alignment,” she says. It’s critical to know what you want and have open and honest conversations with your partner or potential partner.
Whether it’s a person you’re going on a date with tomorrow or one you’ll meet next year, “who you marry is the biggest financial decision in your life,” she says.
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