Have you ever wondered why he kept on calling, but never actually wanted to set up a date or time to hang out? It’s probably not you, it’s his bills, which for most millenials now include rent and student loans that have left them unable to treat themselves or you.
Being young and in debt doesn’t just keep your wallet light, but it can also make your love life a little dry too.
Netflix, No Chill: Study Finds That Many Millennials Would Choose Food Over Sex
IonTuition.com, an education-fintech company specializing in helping borrowers monitor and manage their student loans, recently released a report on how student loans are affecting recent college graduates and their dating life.
According to their research, “75 percent of recent U.S college grads perceive student loan debt as baggage.” It’s the debt that looms over us every month, and it’s also the kind of debt that can be a deal breaker for some.
The survey included 1,000 college graduates with an average of $37,000 of student loan debt. Twelve percent of the participates suggested that “high student loan debts are a bigger relationship consideration in a partner than their being divorced, having a child from a previous relationship, or having a non-violent felony on their record.”
The study also showed that over 70 percent of college graduates surveyed would be willing to assist in paying off their partner’s student loan debt. On the other hand, over one-third of those surveyed said they’d date a wealthy benefactor to help cut down the student loan debt.
Any sort of debt can negatively affect a relationship, but in the dating stage for most recent grads some may be weary in taking their relationship to the next level.
WANT MORE FROM ESSENCE? Subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest in hair, beauty, style and celebrity news.
Student loans are a “good debt” to have because we accumulate the debt in order to one day have lucrative paying jobs and better career opportunities. You can’t fault anyone for that, but questions on whether you would take on someone else’s debt in the dating stage is premature.
Don’t let student loan debt deter you from dating. Instead, use your imagination to create affordable or even free dating experiences without putting yourself in a financial bind. Once the relationship gets serious, then have the conversation about finances, but until then just have fun!