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1. Survey Insights
The Journey of Love and Money
July 2013

2. Introduction
 In June 2013, Investors Group commissioned Harris Decima
to undertake a poll of 1,192 Canadians who are married or
living common-law.
 They were asked about the spending behaviours and their
approach to personal finance matters.
 Highlights of the survey findings follow.
About the Survey Methodology: This data was gathered through teleVox, Harris/Decima's national telephone omnibus survey. The data
was collected from May 30 to June 9, 2013 among Canadians who are married or are in a common law relationship. In total, 1,192
interviews were completed. A sample of the same size has a margin of error of +/-2.8% 19 times out of 20.

3. Key Findings
 Financial worries impact three-of-ten Canadian couples (32 per
cent) who admit to sometimes, often or always having
disagreements about money.
 A majority of Canadian couples (60 per cent) identified saving for
retirement as their number one concern, surpassing paying off debt
(52 per cent) and day-today living expenses (49 per cent).
 Despite these top-of-mind concerns, 67 per cent of Canadian
couples agree on financial matters.
 75 per cent of Canadian couples say they regularly touch base on
their personal saving and spending. This is greater than the number
of couples who say they have regular discussions about: household
operations (70 per cent), family outings and entertainment costs (49
per cent) and managing children’s activities (48 per cent).

4. How often do couples disagree about money?
 32% of couples admit to sometimes, often or always having
disagreements about money.
25%
42%
23%
5% 4%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Never Rarely Sometimes Often Always

5. Couples who know other couples that argue over money
 50% of couples are acquainted with other couples who have arguments
over money issues.
50% 48%
2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Yes No Don't
know/Refused

6. Financial secrets Canadian couples are keeping
 18% of Canadians have kept a secret from their partner about how
much money they have spent, saved or hidden.
5%
6%
10%
6%
75%
8%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
A bank account or financial stash your
partner does not know about
Hidden a recent purchase from your partner
Kept a secret about how much money you
spent
Kept a secret about how much money you
saved
I don't keep any financial secrets from my
partner
Don't know/Refused

7. Your partner spends too much money on an item.
How do you respond?
 Almost 60% of Canadians express concern over their partner
overspending on an item.
6%
18%
1%
1%
59%
15%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Confront them and suggest they return the
item
Ignore it and keep your concern to yourself
Give them a cold shoulder and avoid
contact for a while
Go out and make a similarly expensive
purchase
Draw it to their attention and express your
concern
Don't know/Refused

8. Canadians who’ve used an allowance system to
control their partners spending
 One-in-five Canadians say they have used an allowance system to
control the spending habits of their partner. 90% of Canadians
who use this approach are satisfied with the outcome.
21%
79%
1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Yes No Don't know/Refused

9. Regional Highlights

10. How partners affect spending behaviour
26%
21%
34%
27%
19%
22%
18%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
National Atlantic Quebec Ontario Man/Sask Alberta B.C.
I am encouraged to
save because my
partner is a saver
 More than a quarter of Canadian couples say they are encouraged
to save because their partner is a saver.

11. What issues are Canadian couples concerned
about (by region)?
 Saving for retirement is a number one concern for Canadian
couples, surpassing paying off debt and having enough for day-to-
day living expenses.
Question asked -
responses expressed
express as %
National Atlantic Quebec Ontario Man/Sask Alberta BC
Paying off debt 52% 59% 52% 52% 52% 53% 47%
Saving to buy a house 36% 40% 31% 40% 40% 35% 35%
Pay living expenses 49% 51% 49% 50% 51% 44% 48%
Saving for retirement 60% 63% 53% 63% 60% 60% 60%

12. What Canadian couples talk about most?
 75 per cent of Canadian couples say they regularly touch base
about their personal saving and spending, more so than talking
about their children’s activities, household operations and
entertainment spending.
Question asked - responses
expressed express as %
National Atlantic Quebec Ontario Man/Sask Alberta BC
Children’s activities 48% 56% 51% 47% 54% 47% 39%
Household operations 70% 72% 67% 72% 75% 72% 67%
Personal saving and
spending
75% 76% 61% 77% 87% 81% 82%
Entertainment spending 50% 45% 49% 49% 50% 59% 52%