In this economy, millennials and Gen Z would rather break up than date someone in debt: ‘There’s a pretty big divide’

A new survey reveals that millennials and Gen Z are more likely than older generations to consider a partner's debt or financial habits before pursuing a serious relationship. The TD Bank Love & Money Survey found that 46% of Americans believe someone's debt would influence their decision to start a serious relationship with them, with Millennials (51%) and Gen Z (49%) more concerned than Gen X or Baby Boomers (39% each).

This shift in attitude is attributed to economic conditions such as student debt, inflation, and housing costs, rather than a change in values. Wealth strategist Ashley Weeks of TD Bank believes that younger generations are more focused on a partner's ability to be financially independent, a factor that older generations may not fully understand.

The survey also found that more than half of respondents (54%) would consider signing a prenuptial agreement, driven by generational exposure to divorce and a desire to have control over wealth distribution. Miami stands out as the most financially anxious city, with 73% of respondents feeling pressure to appear financially successful and 65% admitting to having at least one financial secret from their partner.