Deciding to end a relationship isn’t always easy. The emotional and practical cost of a breakup can be high because your lives have become so intertwined. Shared friends, possessions, pets and children can make the decision even more difficult. But what happens when you want to call time on a relationship and realize that you can’t afford to do so? According to a study commissioned by the Debt Advisory Centre, nearly one in five people – a fifth of the population – have remained in a romantic relationship because financial concerns have prevented them from leaving. Women are also more likely to stay in relationships because they can’t afford to leave than men. Even if you’re not married, breakups aren’t cheap. One of you will usually want to leave the place where you both live, bills will no longer be split, and any financial help you receive from your partner will likely come to an end. Staying in a relationship where you’re unhappy can have a detrimental effect on your health and happiness. According to a recent statistic, people in unhappy or unsupportive relationships are three times more likely to suffer from depression. If the relationship is abusive, the stakes are even higher.
Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Financial worries can be a major barrier for women when leaving an abusive partner. ‘Our study with the TUC found that 52% of survivors living with an abuser said that they had no money of their own, so could not leave. ‘Financial abuse is widely misunderstood and rarely talked about, yet it is a key part of the controlling behavior of perpetrators. ‘It has a long-lasting and devastating impact on survivors, often leaving women without the money they need for basic essentials such as food and clothing.’ Although women are more likely to stay in relationships due to financial worries and more likely to be the victims of domestic violence, men can also find themselves trapped in abusive relationships.
In an abusive situation, where coercion, control, financial abuse, physical violence or emotional abuse is occurring, there are local organizations that can support you. If you’re unhappy in a relationship, you might want to try a counseling service or a therapist. In an ideal world, no one would stay in a relationship because they can’t afford to leave. However, if you’re struggling to afford basic accommodation together (and haven’t got a hope of doing so alone) or you think that leaving would jeopardize the financial comfort of your children, staying can feel like the only option.
For the full article, visit metro.co.uk.
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