When people think of “money issues and divorce” they usually think about income-strapped couples whose financial distress simply tears them apart.
What if just the opposite is true? Believe it or not, the saying “more money, more problems,” may be based in reality. Here’s why having a lot of money can actually increase the chances that you’ll end up divorced:
You have less economic reason to work things out
Sometimes, having a lot of money just makes it easier to walk away from a relationship than it would be if you had much less. There’s an uptick in divorces during good economic times, and that may be directly related to the confidence couples have that they can financially recover from whatever damage a divorce brings. When times are financially tough, couples may simply try harder to work things out because they don’t feel like they can afford to split.
Expectations around gender roles may drive you apart
While both women and men usually have careers these days, that doesn’t mean that all the old notions of gender norms have died away. A lot of couples still divide up the household labor around gender lines. That can leave women with careers feeling resentful if they see their share of the load, including housework and childcare, as unfair. That resentment can cause them to question why they need a partner in the first place.
A power imbalance can create marital strain
In some affluent households, one spouse may have all the income while the other spouse supports their career and/or raises the children. If the wage-earning spouse and the stay-at-home spouse aren’t on the same page when it comes to the household budget and personal expenditures, that can create a lot of frustration and anger on both sides.
The process of earning that money can create a rift
If one or both spouses are “workaholics” who prize earning money over time with their family, that can cause a couple to simply emotionally drift apart over time. If you don’t see each other very often, the bonds between you may simply fade away.
If you’re contemplating a divorce, it may be time to look for more information about how the process works and what rights you have. That’s the best way to start planning for your future, regardless of how it may unfold.