When
on dating, we may ask: "Do you plan on getting married one day?" or "Do
you want children?" Perhaps, the question we should ask is "How much student
loan debt do you have?" According
to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, about 37 million Americans are paying off
student loans, and 27% of them have overdue payments.
An article
from the San Antonio Express-News
emphasizes the connection between student loan debt and relationships. Claudia
Feldman reports that some singles could be staying single because of their
financial debt, while couples report money is the subject that they argue about
the most. While paying off loans can be stressful, it is important to remember
that doing so is the responsible thing and an investment for the future.
It
is important to know to how much debt the person you are dating has because it
can help with future financial decisions that are made. For instance, where will
the two of you be going on dates (movies or park)? What type of gifts you will
be receiving and giving (store bought or homemade)? It can also help to build
trust in the relationship by communicating about financial situations in order
to reduce arguments over money.
Ultimately,
the choice is yours to decide who you date. But here are some questions to
think about before starting an relationship with someone.
·
Does
this person have any debt?
·
Can
this person pay off that debt?
·
How
long will this person be in debt for?
·
Are
you willing to add that person’s debt to your own expenses?
Readers, what do you think?
- Would you choose not to date someone if he/she had amassed a huge amount of student loan debt?
- Would you break up with someone because of their student loans?
*Shakayle Raney is an undergraduate student with UK Department of Family Sciences
Reference
Feldman, C. (2012, August 06). Does student loan debt put a damper
on your relationship?. San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved September 2012, from http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Does-student-loan-debt-put-a-damper-on-your-3761199.php
I found your questions very thought-provoking… I believe it depends on the circumstances surrounding the individual in debt. If he or she exhibits the will and dedication to become immersed in their career and pay off their loans in a timely fashion then I do not view this as a deal breaker. In regards to breaking up with someone due to their financial debt from student loans, I could see ending a relationship if he or she had no intention or thought-out proposals for paying it all back.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth K.