Couples who don’t pool their income are much more likely to ruin their relationship

Couples who have mutual bank accounts are more likely to stay together because they don’t fight so much for money, research shows.

Researchers found that those who didn’t pool their income and keep their finances separate were much more likely to ruin their relationship in financial feuds, especially when times are tough.

Joint accounts have fallen into disuse in recent years. In the 1970s, around half of all married couples in the UK combined their incomes.

But that number has fallen to one in eight couples today, with the lowest levels among those in their 20s and 30s.

The decline of traditional marriage and the increase in the number of working mothers are believed to be behind this trend.

Swedish researchers wanted to see how relationships were affected by joint or separate accounts.

Previous studies have shown that feuds over money cause lasting break-ups. Rows are the biggest predictor of divorce – above gender, children, or in-laws.

The Stockholm University team surveyed nearly 10,000 men and women between the ages of 20 and 80 to see if the quality of relationships was related to the sharing of finances.

The results showed that those who handled money problems together through joint accounts were more likely to have stronger relationships, especially among middle-aged and older couples than those who started out together.

Joint accounts have fallen into disuse in recent years. In the 1970s, around half of all married couples in the UK combined their incomes

The researchers said in the report published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships: “Having difficulty making ends meet can cause conflict.

“And financial disputes tend to be more serious than other types of disputes because they are more intense and last longer.

“We have found that for people over 50, the separation of money is linked to more conflict than the pooling of money. But in younger couples it was less important.