Recent research published in the
Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy has shown that the more materialistic a couple is, the less likely they are to have a
happy marriage. The study surveyed more than 1700 married couples and found that those who were heavily focused on money and material possessions were less satisfied in their marriages. What exactly is it about the quest for new, shiny things that is wreaking havoc on relationships? We asked our relationship experts to give some relationship advice on dealing with materialism and marriage.

Relationship advice: Materialism can make and break a relationship
Part of the problem is that we live in a society where materialism is used as tool for expressing your feelings. We are constantly bombarded with ads that encourage us to buy the newest, brightest toy and suggest that happiness lies in the bottom of a Tiffany blue box.

Jillian* says that the problem isn’t that materialism is tearing couples apart, but that relationships are based around materialism to begin with. "Materialism is often employed for building a very tangible foundation for love. Think roses, jewelry, and other material things purchased to support the milestones in almost all relationships," she says. "Not only can materialism destroy a relationship but is sometimes the culprit in forging one as well."

Most of us will probably agree that we love to give and receive gifts however, if a pattern of overspending is established early on this often creates certain expectations for the relationship later down the road. When reality doesn’t meet expectations, relationship issues can arise, according to relationship experts.

Relationship advice: Shiny new things are often used as a way to fill the void in a relationship.
Jeff* is recently divorced after being married for 15 years and says that materialism definitely contributed to the downfall of his relationship. Shortly after getting married he and his wife purchased their first home together. He recounts the experience by saying: "It was a modest house located in a gorgeous area. It was my dream home however, she was never happy with it." Jeff says that he always felt pressured to upgrade their living arrangement. A few years later they purchased a much bigger house with a large mortgage. The financial burden of the new home created additional tension in their marriage.

When one partner is less materialistic than the other, they will often have to work extra hard to afford a lifestyle that they don’t necessarily want or believe in. This can often lead to a lot of bitterness and resentment.

Jeff says, "I didn’t want to disappoint her, but no matter what I did it was ever enough. Eventually I got tired of never being able to satisfy her." Looking back on his relationship, Jeff says that he could see that there were other problems in his marriage and that they both used material things to try and fill the void. He adds: "It’s a cliché but money really can’t buy love."

How to deal with unrealistic expectations and more advice from relationship experts on the next page …

 

 

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Relationship advice: Unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration and conflict.
Christine* says: "I think people are just unrealistic when it comes to what they are looking for in a partner. If material things are what you want in life you should date someone who wants same. The problem is that many people are materialistic but can’t afford the items or lifestyle"

Even when a couple is equally as materialistic, the desire to live a lifestyle that is not realistically affordable can cause couples to make bad financial decisions. The financial burden that many couples take on in an effort to "Keep up with the Kardashians" has the potential to make marriages crumble.

Relationship advice: Couples who save together, stay together.
Jeffrey Dew, professor at Utah State University and author of the paper Bank on it: Thrifty Couples are the Happiest says that when the recession hit in 2008, US Consumers had amassed over 988 billion dollars in commercial debt – seven times the amount of debt of two decades ago. Dew’s research indicates that the trend towards overspending and accumulating consumer debt is playing a huge part in eroding marital happiness. Regardless of a couple’s economic situation, he says that commercial debt is "an equal opportunity marriage destroyer." His research shows that once a couple starts arguing about money, it’s likely they will start arguing about other things and decreasing the amount of time they spend together.

Dew concludes by saying that thriftier couples are more likely to be happy, adding: "Couples who have turned away from spending money they do not have and towards saving money around which they can build a shared future together appear well-positioned to enjoy more than a healthy bank account."

What about you? Do you think materialistic couples last?

Read more:
Is monogamy out of style?
The real reason women choose divorce
What are your biggest relationship regrets?
Deal breakers that are often ignored by women