Sexually transmitted debt

When picking a long-term partner, we all have our dating red flags and deal breakers. While some are obvious, like bad behaviour or poor communication, others can take longer to uncover. There’s one red flag you really ought to consider before you shack up. It’s not the number of people they’ve slept with or their crazy ex-partner – it’s actually the amount of debt they could potentially offload.

Sexually transmitted debt (STD) is a reality for just under a third of Canadians. According to a new Finder survey, 31% of respondents say they’ve taken on some form of debt from a partner. We’re not talking about spare change, either. The average amount of debt Canadians have “caught” from their partners is $17,417, equating to an estimated national toll of $160 billion.

How are people acquiring sexually transmitted debt?

Thinking of combining your bank accounts? You might want to think again. The most common way people acquire sexually transmitted debt is from purchases made via a joint bank account. Over a third of Canadians who’ve inherited a debt say the joint bank account is to blame (34%), followed closely by people who’ve had purchases made specifically in their name (32%). Others say their debt was the result of a divorce settlement (12%) or their partner passing away (5%).

Another 18% of people surveyed say they inherited debt for other reasons, such as a family debt owed to in-laws. One man simply put “long story”. Enough said!

Most common types of sexually transmitted debt

Credit card debt tops the list, with more than half of inflicted Canadians (52%) taking on debt from their partner swiping and tapping away. Personal loans (20%), borrowing from family and friends (16%), auto loans (13%) and mortgages (12%) are also common forms of partner debt to take on.

Other forms of debt acquired from romantic partners include payday loans (9%), student loans (9%), home equity loans (5%), medical bills (4%), and business loans (3%).

Who’s most likely to catch a sexually transmitted debt?

Gender

Men and women are equally likely to take on a sexually transmitted debt, but the similarities end there. Women take on significantly more debt than men – on average, women take on a whopping $23,557, while men take on less than half that, at just $10,972.

Generation

Younger generations have inherited the least amount of debt. On average, generation Z has contracted a debt of $1,982, while baby boomers have acquired the highest average debt, at $28,277.

It’s not all bad news for boomers though, as they’re actually the least likely generation to take on debt from a partner. Just one in five boomers admit to STD compared to two in five people from generation Y (43%).

Region

Across the country, British Columbians have caught the most amount of debt ($26,607), followed closely by Albertans ($26,077), Ontarians ($14,968) and Quebecers ($8,044).

How does Canada’s sexually transmitted debt compare to the United States?

A similar survey in the United States found that fewer Americans have taken on a debt from their partner than Canadians. Just 16% of Americans have some form of sexually transmitted debt, compared to 31% of Canadians.

However, Americans tend to take on more debt from their partners, with an average sexually transmitted debt of $23,238 – almost $6,000 more than Canadians.

How to prevent sexually transmitted debt:

The good news is you can protect yourself from an unexpected STD. Here are a few tips to follow:

• Have “the talk”. Crucial to any good relationship is talking honestly about your finances. Get an idea of the types of debt your partner carries for insight into how fiscally responsible they are. Many of us still have student loans to pay off, but an ageing personal loan for a jet-ski bought a decade ago could be a red flag or even a dealbreaker.
• Use protection for plastic. There’s no condom equivalent for debt. Still, you can get control of your finances and protect yourself from credit card debt. Don’t share your card details with your partner if you think they might spend in your name without your permission. It also might sound easier to just combine your finances but remember that if you get a joint bank account you need to be prepared to foot the bill if things go south.
• Plan for the worst. Know if you’re covered by insurance, and by how much, in the event your partner dies. You don’t want to be left servicing huge amounts of debt you can’t afford on just your income.
• Develop a treatment plan. Your or your partner’s debt isn’t a terminal illness. Your first step toward a cure is working out together how to do away with the debt. Consider tactics to pay it off quickly or over time.