Spenders and Tightwads Among Newlyweds: Perceptions of Partner Financial Behaviors and Relational Well-Being

Finances, and how couples manage their finances, can have important implications for couples’ relational well-being. Using data from 1,585 that participated in the CREATE study (a nationally representative dyadic dataset of U.S. newlywed couples), we examined perceiving one’s spouse as a financial spender (i.e., spending more than they ideally would) or tightwad less was associated with several measures well-being satisfaction, commitment, power) through actor-partner interdependence structural equation models. Results showed partner detrimental both individual’s partner’s marital power. Perceiving commitment The findings suggest interventions focused on perceptions management behaviors may help strengthen among newlyweds.