I love you, but: 2 in 5 Aussie couples don’t fully combine their finances
Two-fifths of Australian couples keep their cash separated, according to new research by Finder.
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A Finder survey of 559 respondents with a partner revealed half (41%) – equivalent to 4.8 million people – don't share their finances fully.
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The research found that half (59%) say they share finances equally, while 25% admit to having both personal and shared bank accounts.
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In total, more than 5 in 6 (84%) couples have at least one shared account.
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However, more than 1 in 10 (12%) keep their finances separate and are happy with that arrangement, and 5% keep money separate but admit they would prefer to have shared accounts.
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Rebecca Pike, money expert at Finder, said for many couples, opening a joint bank account has long been considered a key relationship milestone.
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"While joint accounts offer benefits such as reduced fees and easier budgeting, couples should first assess their financial compatibility.
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"Before opening a shared account, it's crucial to ensure you both have similar approaches to money management, as financial disagreements can be a major source of tension in relationships."
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Women are more likely to admit they keep finances separate, with 14% of women in relationships choosing not to merge money compared to 10% of men in relationships.
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Pike stresses the importance of transparency when managing joint finances.
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"The key to a successful shared account is honesty – there should be no financial secrets or unexpected surprises, which can lead to conflict.
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"Before taking the plunge, have a frank discussion about your individual financial goals, spending patterns, and attitudes towards saving.
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"Does your partner have a shopping or gambling addiction? Does your partner monitor every dollar you spend?
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"If something is bothering you, speak up. Resentment can build quickly if financial issues are left unaddressed."
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Baby boomers (77%) were the most likely to share finances equally, compared to gen X (61%), gen Y (58%) and gen Z (31%).
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Generation Z were most likely to hedge their bets by having joint and separate accounts (37%).
Do you combine finances with your partner?
| Yes, we share finances equally | 59% |
| Yes, we share some finances but also have our own accounts | 25% |
| No, we keep our finances separate and I'm happy with that | 12% |
| No, we keep our finances separate, but I'd like them combined | 5% |
| Source: Finder survey of 559 respondents with a partner, January 2025 |  |
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Sources
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 559 respondents with a partner from January 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
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