Forget the Ick: ING plays cupid and hosts dating event to put financial compatibility on the relationship checklist

Research from ING reveals Australians are increasingly considering financial compatibility when looking for love, with six in ten Aussies (62%) saying poor money habits are a turn off.

For many Australians, finding ‘the one’ is no longer just about chemistry, shared interests or a good sense of humour. Last night, ING and Urban List brought singles together for Dating on a Dime, an event designed to spark conversations around saving habits, spending behaviors and financial goals.

The event comes as new research commissioned by ING reveals financial compatibility is becoming an increasingly important factor in modern dating, with 87% of Aussie singles saying aligned saving and spending habits are important in a relationship, while over one in five (22%) say having different savings goals or priorities is a dealbreaker in a long-term partner.

With conversations around savings and spending becoming the latest relationship green flag, ING wanted to explore whether shared financial values could help spark meaningful connections in the real world. The research was brought to life during the event by money expert Queenie Tan revealing younger Australians are leading the shift towards “money-minded dating”.

 Key stats from the research revealed:

• 20% of Millennials and 18% of Gen Z say a shared financial approach is the most important trait in a future partner.
• 31% say similar saving habits are one of the most important factors for long term relationship success.
• 55% say someone who spends more than they earn would be an immediate dealbreaker.
• 14% have discussed money within the first three dates.
• Over one in four singles (28%) say using savings ‘hacks’ would make them more attracted to the person they’re dating

Matt Bowen, Head of Consumer & Market Insights at ING, said:

“For many young Australians, money conversations are becoming an important part of creating connections. Whether it’s saving for a home, managing rising living costs or planning for the future, financial values are increasingly shaping how people think about relationships.

“Just days after launching the ING Savings Booster, we were curious to explore how Australians are thinking about saving beyond their bank accounts and how financial goals and habits are increasingly shaping relationships. Dating on a Dime was designed to move beyond small talk and give singles an opportunity to connect over something that genuinely matters to them.”

Despite money traditionally being considered a taboo topic, the research suggests over half (52%) of Australians think having aligned financial habits is important before entering a relationship. And 61% say similar expectations around lifestyle and spending, 31% saying having similar saving habits, and 27% saying having similar spending habits, are the most important for long term relationship success.

For a growing number of singles, love at first sight may still exist, but shared savings goals are proving increasingly hard to ignore.