Now that Valentine’s Day is over, it’s the perfect time to step back and ask: has love blinded us to financial warning signs? Financial red flags in relationships are on the rise – and they’re not always easy to spot. Celebrities and relationship experts are stepping in to raise awareness of the issue, with Experian once again joining forces with Celebs Go Dating star and qualified therapist Anna Williamson for season two of The Cost of Loving podcast to help listeners recognise and tackle toxic habits when it comes to money.
A key finding from Experian’s new study reveals that 71% of Brits wouldn’t feel confident spotting a financial red flag in their own relationship, with Gen Z being particularly vulnerable. While being a generation that is well-versed in emotional red flags, financial ones frequently go unaddressed, with almost three-quarters admitting they’ve previously overlooked one, often because they felt overwhelmed or were simply in denial.
To help tackle this issue, The Cost of Loving podcast will feature key voices, including women’s safety advocate and TV personality Sharon Gaffka, Love Island couple Jessie Wynter and Will Young, and financial expert Rotimi Merriman-Johnson (@mrmoneyjar). Hosted by Anna Williamson, the series will explore financial red flags, how to spot them, and the impact of financial compatibility on relationships. Anna will also highlight the green flags to look for when it comes to a financially healthy partnership.
Among the most common financial red flags, 32% of Brits said their partner avoids talking about money, while 21% reported feeling guilty when they spent money on themselves. Another 17% revealed that their partner hides information about household bills. Yet, despite these concerns, over half of Brits (54%) say they find it difficult to discuss finances in their relationships, proving just how tricky these conversations can be to raise.
Economic abuse is a serious issue, with 4.1 million UK women having experienced it in the last 12 months. This form of abuse involves controlling a partner’s money, access to resources, or financial independence, leaving victims feeling trapped. Given how widespread and damaging it can be, conversations like those happening on The Cost of Loving podcast and research conducted by Experian are crucial to raising awareness, and ultimately helping people protect themselves.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing economic abuse, support can be found at Surviving Economic Abuse here.
The Cost of Loving podcast is now available on Spotify, Apple, and other major streaming platforms. You can visit Experian for more information on financial health improvement and support.
