Fewer SC couples are divorcing, but not because of lost love and commitment, survey shows
Separation and divorce can quickly become costly.
From attorney’s fees, to having to replace once joint items, to suddenly paying bills by yourself, some couples may choose to stay together rather than split apart purely for the sake of finances.
So, are South Carolina couples choosing to stay together for the sake of love and commitment, or out of fear of crippling financial debt caused by inflation and raised costs of living?
A recent August survey reported that thousands of couples from South Carolina have refrained from separating due to inflation, according to DivorceAnswers.com.
The survey, conducted by the divorce advice-rearing website, was conducted by surveying 3,026 different couples. The purpose was to determine exactly how many relationships are currently being held together, not by their love for one another, but by financial trouble caused by a higher cost of living due to inflation.
Overall, it was determined that, after the survey was complete, almost 1 in 3 South Carolina couples who were wanting to separate claimed their financial situation, which was worsened by the higher cost of living alone and increasing debt by inflation, was preventing them from being able to do so. This equates to 30%, compared to the national average of 38%, according to the website.
The choice to remain together and work it out rather than face the financial consequences of parting ways may be understandable for many. In 2021, before inflation reached its current peak, the website reported that the average yearly cost to live alone was around $38,266, or $3,189 per month. For many who are used to splitting bills or relying on one sole income, that price may be too steep to pay.
Throughout the country, the survey showed that Montana resulted with the highest percentage of couples that stayed together for financial reasons rather than separate as they would in an ideal situation sans inflation and high cost of living. This figure was 75%.
Contrarily, the lowest percentage of those who chose not to separate due to high cost of living and inflation was in Alabama, which received a calculation of 8% following the results of the survey.
According to the survey, the states with the highest percentage of couples that chose to remain together due to the high cost of living, rather than separate, are:
1. Montana: 75%
2. Nebraska: 71%
3. Wyoming: 67%
4. New Jersey: 65%
5. Mississippi: 60%
Additionally, the states with the least amount of couples remaining together due to the high cost of living and inflation but who’d prefer to separate are:
46. Maryland: 22%
47. Utah: 20%
48. North Carolina: 19%
49. New Hampshire: 13%
50. Alabama: 8%
Other findings from the survey concluded that 23% of unemployed individuals said that if they decided they wanted to separate from their partner, they would choose to wait until they were earning a salary to get a bigger potential settlement.
In addition, the survey also found that 38% of respondents stated that if they would ever want to separate from their current partner, they wouldn’t be able to afford to pay rent elsewhere to live on their own.
This story was originally published October 14, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
