According to a new survey that’s about to drop from freecreditscore.com, it definitely does :) But mainly to you women vs us male species, haha… (as if that’s ever ground breaking).
But more interestingly than that really, is that a large chunk of women there (96%) found *financial responsibility* as a whole more important than *physical attractiveness*. A lot of men too (91%), if you can believe that. (I don’t know how much I do since it was commissioned by a finance site!).
Regardless, it’s all music to my fiscal ears :) And everything was ranked below *personal compatibility* at least which is good – I’d be worried if money ruled the #1 spot for what’s important in a relationship! (Now I ain’t sayin’ she a gold digger… but she ain’t messin’ with no broke…)
Here are some other key highlights from the survey (I’d link to it but it’s not out yet, so you should feel kinda special that you’re one of the first in the world to see this ;)):
- 88% of women find “spending beyond your means” and “having debt” the least attractive (as does 52% of men)
- 75% of women find credit scores important vs 57% of men
- 48% of respondents discuss their credit score with their partner, and 39% within the first year
- 30% of women indicated they wouldn’t marry someone with a poor credit score vs 20% of men
I don’t know how many of you were around when we blogged about that dating site that revolved around credit scores, but apparently a nice trend is forming here. I wonder what our dear friend Brad from Enemy Of Debt who doesn’t believe in credit scores would think too? Do you think it would decrease your chance of scoring a hot date/relationship if you had a big fat 0 for a score? There should be a poll on how sexy paying cash for everything is vs. credit cards too, haha… though I’d skew the results being a master credit card budgeter myself ;)
Anywho, thought this was some good food for thought on this crisp early morning… It’s too bad I’m not single anymore or else I’d take my own scientific polls during our next happy hour and share ’em with you! Haha… “Excuse me ladies, do you find me or my finances sexier?” Can you imagine?
All joking aside though, where would YOU rank financial responsibility on the list with relationships? How about credit scores? It’s probably a #3 and a #20 respectively on mine, haha… I’m not gonna lie. Compatibility and attractiveness better come first or we’ll never even make it to the finance talk! Which can all be learned/improved btw – unlike that first spark you need.
What say you?
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(Photo © 2006-2013 Pink Sherbet Photography)
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I knew I should have brought out my credit score when I was dating. Although now that I am married, my wife really doesn’t care. Maybe she wouldn’t have cared anyway as she doesn’t find it very sexy. ;-)
I wouldn’t be concerned with some one who has a 0 credit score. I could possibly be jealous, though. “You’ve NEVER had ANY debt???? ughh… I hate you.” That’s how that date would go.
BAD credit is another story.
Why it’s bad, and how they’re handling it is the most important thing to know. People can fall on hard times and that’s just how things have gone in the past 5 years. If a person loses their job for a long period of time they may make several late payments. Who am I to judge? Are they back on their feet with a job now? Have they reassessed how they use debt? Did they do everything they could to be money conscious when they were down on their luck?
The red-flag-run-far-away person is one who has boat loads of debt, some of it even in collections, doesn’t open bills… ever, never has any idea how much money is in their bank account, overdraws ALL THE TIME, and spends a lot of money (often to impress people or appear cool or wealthy). I dated a guy like this. It took a while for all of it to unfold, but when it did it was bad. It was one of those things where he spent all of his money (and then some) out with the guys to look cool and then when I wanted to do something he tells me he’s broke. When he realized I wasn’t impressed by his situation he didn’t want to spend any money with me, which meant we could only watch TV. I don’t even like TV.
The guy I’m with now doesn’t care about money, but he’s responsible. He makes fun of my budget spreadsheet regularly, but when I paid off my Sallie Mae debt he recognized the merits of my budget. He doesn’t budget outside from taking 30 seconds to think about bills he has to pay before making a big purchase, but at least he does that!
I rank:
1. Lifestyle Compatability
2. Personality Compatability
3. Financial Compatability
Although their is a ranking order, all 3 must be present.
Wow I didn’t realize I wrote a book hahaha!
It was a fun book to read though ;) There are wayyyy too many people out there like your ex-bf unfortunately, but at least you now snagged a good one! And even better that you budget with spreadsheets – my fave!
I wonder how someone would bring up a topic like this? I’ll show you mine if you show me yours? For a lot of people it might be a more uncomfortable discussion than asking if someone has been tested for STDs.
HAH! Agreed :) I know the STD talk was always the hardest of the group… I could talk about money all day long no problem (obviously).
“Your ability to really leverage up your consumption with easy access to cheap credit is what really made me choose to spend the rest of my life with you”
Or something like that. HA!
The “easy access” part being the most important of the relationship, haha…. (ZING!)
Phew, thats a large % interested in the bottom score! I think compatibility, understanding and friendship would rank way high even before we get to discussing matters financial. Getting someone with a good credit score would sure be nice, but I don’t think I would let a lesser than healthy credit score stop me in the tracks with someone I find compatibility with.
I know, same here. Def. important, but also not a deal breaker.
I think how someone deals with money is extremely important, but it isn’t #1 for me. I’m probably with you that it’s somewhere in the #3-#4 range. Thankfully my wife has a great credit score, so we have that one covered!
And hopefully the other areas too! ;)
1) compatibility with my schedule
2) compatibility with my life in general
3) personality / fun to be with
4) good job/ good credit score/ debt
5) looks
At least this is what I found since I started dating again. Looks may draw me in, but profile and personality is much more important. :)
Schedule???? HAHA….. now THAT is a first. I mean, I guess it makes sense though cuz if you can never hang out and spend quality time together then what does it matter, eh? Though I’d imagine you can fix those parts over some others.
3 and 1,000,000 would be about right for me. I don’t care about credit scores. Credit scores basically just show how well you can game the FICO algorithm.
Yeah but you know what they say about women who can game the FICO system… ;)
Haha pretty interesting way to look at dating. Dating wouldn’t be much of an issue, it’s when you get to the relationship part. Don’t really bring up financial stuff and credit scores on a first date. Plus when you’re dating I feel like everyone tends to spend more money than normal. It’s when you get to the relationship status that it matters a lot more. You’ll start seeing what their financial habits are like and probably start guessing at what their financial state is.
I’m married now so it doesn’t matter. Bad financial habits and credit scores can be fixed eventually, but finding the right person to be with for the rest of my life not so simple. I just got lucky my husband has a good credit score and financial habits!
That’s true about spending more earlier on – especially when it comes to dates and getting to know each other. Which reminds me, I should probably take my wife out on one soon as it’s been a while! :)
J. Too funny. Yes my schedule. I work Friday and Saturday nights, so if a guy only wants go out at that time then we can’t go out. Seriously, you wouldn’t believe how many guys want to go out until they figure out it is EVERY weekend. Idk I guess guys just think my job is negotiable or something haha.
They all think you’ll change for them ;) As if they’re THAT cool!
Being compatible is critical in a relationship… this would include financial compatibility. However, it is far from number one. Either that article is lying or 91% of men are.
Haha… I’d go w/ the latter ;)
It was really high on my list. Like:
1. Humor
2. Financial Compatibility
3. Physical Attraction
Those are the necessaries for me…
Could you figure out #2 though before #3? Or were you guys already friends first?