Money.com.au surveyed 1010 Australians to gauge whether they believe their partner spends too much on non-essential items or services, and how this might impact their own financial profile. Out of the respondents, 841 stated that they have a partner.

The pool of survey respondents matches the age and geographical spread of the Australian population. 

Money.com.au asked survey respondents whether they share a bank account or credit card with their partner.

The survey found that the majority of respondents who have a partner said that they share a bank account or credit card with their partner. Specifically:

• 43% said yes
• 40% said no
• 17% stated that they do not have a partner

Importantly, if you have a joint credit card with a partner, missed payments or defaults caused by their overspending could impact your credit score as well as theirs. This, in turn, could impact your ability to access credit in future, including when making a home loan application.

Across the states, West Australians and South Australians in partnerships are more likely to share a bank account or credit card with their partner (49 per cent and 48 per cent said yes) than other States. This is followed by:

• 44% of Victorians
• 42% of NSW respondents
• 41% of Queenslanders

Specifically, respondents in NSW are more likely to have separate bank accounts or credit cards from their partner’s (chosen by 44 per cent). This compares with:

• 38% of Victorians
• 38% of Queenslanders
• 38% of South Australians
• 36% of West Australians

Money.com.au asked respondents how much their partner spends per month that they believe is wasteful. The survey found that:

• for 14% of respondents, it’s less than $100/month
• for 28%, it’s $100-200/month
• for 21%, it’s $200-300/month
• for 31%, it’s $300-600/month
• for 9%, it’s more than $600/month

Across the genders, men are most likely to believe that their partner’s monthly spending of $100-200 is wasteful – chosen by 33 per cent of male respondents - compared with only 24 per cent of female respondents. Specifically, male respondents believe their partners spend wastefully at the following levels:

• 14% say less than $100/month
• 20% say $200-$300/month
• 12% say $300-$400/month
• 19% say $400-$600/month
• 3% $600-$800/month
• 0% say over $800/month

Female respondents are more likely to report that their partner’s wasteful spending at over $600/month. Specifically:

• 13% say their partner spend less than $100/month wastefully
• 24% say $100-$200/month
• 22% say $200-$300/month
• 30% say $300-$600/month
• 11% say over $600/month

An analysis across the age groups found a quarter of respondents aged 18-30 say that their partner’s wasteful spending is at around $400-600 each month. This compares with:

• 7% of 31-50-year-olds
• 6% of over-50s

The survey reveals that almost a quarter (24 per cent) of NSW respondents believe that their partner spends $400-600/month wastefully. This compares with:

• 19% of Victorians
• 11% of Queenslanders
• 0% of South Australians
• 17% of West Australians

Over half (53 per cent) of South Australian respondents revealed their partner’s wasteful spending is between $100-$200/month. This compares with:

• 26% of NSW and Victorian respondents
• 32% of Queenslanders
• 22% of West Australians

Interestingly, nine per cent of West Australians stated their partner spends over $1000/month wastefully. This compares with:

• 0% of Victorian respondents
• 0% of Queensland respondents
• 0% of South Australian respondents
• 1% of NSW respondents

Money.com.au asked respondents whether or not they and/or their partners struggled to meet essential expenses in 2022, including personal, household or car expenses. Money.com.au found a 50/50 split between respondents.

Among the respondents who stated that either they or their partner have struggled to meet essential expenses, 56 per cent are female and 44 per cent are male.

A higher proportion of younger respondents struggled to meet essential expenses. Specifically:

• 57% of 18–30-year-olds
• 52% of 31-50-year-olds

Across the States, respondents in NSW found the greatest struggle when it came to meeting essential expenses (chosen by 64 per cent). In comparison, South Australian respondents were least likely to struggle to meet essential expenses in 2022. Across the rest of the States:

• 45% of Victorians struggled to meet essential expenses in 2022
• 46% of Queenslanders struggled to meet essential expenses in 2022
• 39% of West Australians struggled to meet essential expenses in 2022