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According to Love and Money – a survey from TD exploring the financial behaviours of more than 3,000 married, in-a-relationship or divorced North Americans – half of Canadians surveyed (49%) believe it’s easier to find true love than financial success.
However, that’s not to say those Canadian couples surveyed aren’t feeling cautiously optimistic about their future financial goals.
Despite challenges from the pandemic, nearly nine in ten (88%) respondents are currently saving for something. For those already in committed relationships, the survey also reveals that for most couples (45%) it has been easy to talk about money during COVID-19.
Nearly half (49%) say the pandemic has led to more open and constructive conversations about their finances, including the need to adjust spending habits by reducing spending on non-essential items (62%) and delaying larger purchases (36%).
With Love and Money revealing that six out of ten (60%) couples surveyed are having trouble meeting their financial goals during the COVID pandemic, it’s clear that having conversations about money are critical. In fact, “not talking about money with my partner on a regular basis” is the top financial mistake noted amongst Canadian respondents.
Fortunately:
- 77% of Canadian couples surveyed say they typically open up about their finances within the first year of their relationship: including 56% who get very candid within the first six months.
- Among Canadian married couples and those in a committed relationship, 85% say they talk about money every month.
But even though it seems most Canadians aren’t shying away from the (financial) “talk,” the TD Love and Money survey also shows that some Canadian respondents may be more likely to ask for forgiveness than permission.
- Among the 8% of who admit to keeping financial secrets from their partner, 62% don’t ever plan to disclose them. Canadian couples surveyed admit to hiding a secret bank account (29%) or significant credit-card debt (22%).
- Only 53% of Canadian Millennials say they agree with their partner on what expenses constitute a ‘want’ or a ‘need’.
- 81% of Millennials admit to making unreasonable financial decisions, and one quarter (25%) say excessive and frivolous spending was one of them.
Tying the knot: Insights from both sides of the border
As expected, walking down the aisle looks very different during the pandemic, as many North American couples deal with the impact of lockdowns, gathering restrictions and reduced income. Consequently, Love and Money reveals that of the engaged Canadian couples surveyed whose wedding planning was impacted by the pandemic, more than half (56%) either postponed or downsized their nuptials.
When it comes to the big day, the TD survey also shows:
- 53% of Millennial respondents in Canada think it’s okay to take financial risks when planning a wedding, versus 63% in the U.S.
- 46% of Canadian respondents say the couple should pay for all wedding expenses, versus 35% in the U.S.
- 49% of married Canadian respondents spent less than $5,000 on their wedding and 31% spent between $5,000 and $15,000, versus 49% and 20% respectively in the U.S.
- 14% of married and engaged Canadians and 11% of their U.S. counterparts did not buy an engagement ring nor see it as necessary.
Biggest concern is not being able to retire
In terms of financial worries, the TD Love and Money survey also reveals that the greatest financial concern among Canadians is the fear of not being able to retire. Despite this concern, only one third (32%) of Canadians say they meet with a financial advisor on an annual basis.
“Candid and frequent conversations about money are an essential part of establishing and maintaining a successful financial relationship,” says Frank Psoras, TD’s SVP, Customer Strategy, Innovation and Acquisition. “From moving in together, to planning a wedding, buying a home, having a family or saving for education and retirement: every couple has a unique situation. Seeking personalized, financial advice from a professional and developing a plan could help you achieve your financial goals.”
According to Love and Money, 17% of Canadian couples surveyed say they need advice on investments, 14% on paying off debts, 13% need advice on retirement, and 11% on budgeting.
“While how much, why and how you save, spend and invest your money is your personal choice, the results show that many Canadians surveyed are looking for professional advice to inform their decision-making. Whether it’s saving or investing, planning for today or for tomorrow, TD is ready to help customers feel confident about their finances,” says Psoras.
For a variety of online tools to help navigate these uncertain times, try these links:
- TD Ready Advice provides information and articles from how to keep track of day-to-day expenses to how to navigate the first-time homebuying process.
- TD MySpend is a mobile app that can help you track your purchases and transactions made from your personal TD Canadian dollar savings, chequing and credit card accounts and automatically groups them into categories, to help you understand how you spend your money.
- 6,600+ TD advisors are available across the country to help provide personalized financial advice and help customers with their financial goals.
- TD Stories provides a range of informative articles about personal finances, budgeting and fraud prevention.
About TD Love and Money Survey
Research company MARU/Matchbox (formerly the Research & Consulting division of Vision Critical) conducted the survey among a nationally representative sample of Canadian and U.S. consumers focused on couples and money; 1748 in Canada and 1709 in the U.S.
