These days, finances are front and center for single Americans.
According to a recent Harris Poll survey of 2,177 U.S. adults, 74% say financial stability is one of the most attractive traits when dating. Meanwhile, 60% report that compatibility, specifically practical alignment around money, matters more than chemistry in today’s economy.
“Historically, dating was emotion first — sparks, excitement, romance,” says Tim Osiecki, director of thought leadership and trends at the Harris Poll.
“What we’re seeing now is almost the reverse,” he says. “People are leading with stability and letting the sparks come second.”
Americans are also singling out specific behaviors as red flags. The following are their four biggest dating dealbreakers:
