Breaking Up Is Hard To Do...And Expensive

New research from Experian finds that the average breakup costs a couple $1,287. That’s a whole lot of money and the expense actually forces some couples to stay together.

But the research shows that money is also the cause of two-thirds of breakups, with 62% of couples ending things over finances. The thing is, when you’re in a long-term relationship, you end up sharing a lot, possibly even a bank account. Maybe one partner pays the bills while the other covers rent, but however you divide it up, your finances are probably entwined, which can make things even trickier when you break up.

In fact, nearly half (47%) of people who have ended a long-term relationship admit they don’t know how to financially break up with their ex. So how do you do it? Pearl Akintola, consumer finance expert at Experian explains, “When going through the breakup checklist, blocking exes on socials is always top of the the list, but figuring out how to cut financial ties is usually at the bottom.”

She says this is how to navigate the three stages of a financial breakup:

• Stage one: The breakup - Emotions are running high, but this is when you need to figure out how to split your savings, who’s responsible for the rent or mortgage, who will pay which bills, and close any shared accounts.
• Stage two: The glow up - If you had joint credit, ask a credit reference agency, like Experian, to remove your ex from your report. You’ll need to have paid off and closed joint accounts first. Also, make a list of all websites where your login details are in your name or linked to your card and change the password.
• Stage three: Get back out there - This is when you work on building up your finances independently, like finding a better savings account or a cheaper credit card. And maybe think twice about getting financially involved with a new partner in the future.