You are concerned about your spouse’s spending habits. You knew that they would spend more money than you before the two of you got married, but they also earned more money, so you did not think it would be a problem. Now that the two of you are together, though, you can see just how problematic it is.
But could it be a serious enough issue that it eventually leads to a divorce? This can happen, depending on exactly how the situation plays out. Let’s look at two examples below.
Financial infidelity
First and foremost, financial infidelity is when one person lies to the other about their spending habits. For instance, maybe your spouse has an online gambling addiction. They have slowly been depleting funds that you believed were being saved for retirement, and they have been lying to you about it. If this comes to light, it certainly could lead to divorce and a breakdown of trust in the relationship.
Different financial goals
Additionally, couples sometimes find themselves in conflict when they have different goals. If your spouse wants to spend money and you want to save money, it is inevitable that one of you will feel like the other person is working against them. If the two of you can’t compromise and find common ground, this difference of opinion could lead to a divorce.
The financial side of a divorce can be complex, especially if issues like financial infidelity were involved. It is important to understand all the legal steps that you can take as you move through the divorce process.