credit score is a deal breaker when dating? really??

I'd like to start by pointing out that this "study" was of only about 50 people, which makes it difficult to make inferences to the large, diverse, population of currently dating individuals.

However, I can see why some people would be concerned about the credit score of someone they are in a relationship with. I think an important factor is what you are looking for in a relationship. If you just want to have fun with someone, then it doesn't really matter, but if you're looking for someone to start a life with, buy a house, raise children, even retire with a person, then you may want to think about whether this person is financially responsible. I also think why the person has the credit score they have is important. Do they have no credit because they don't believe in buying things on credit (this might be poor planning in our society today, but it does show responsibility), did they have a serious illness that racked up medical bills and made them unable to work for an extended period of time, etc., or are they just irresponsible? All of that said, I wouldn't ask on a first date, that's just tacky. It would put me off the same way someone asking how much I make on a first (or even an early) date would. My response would probably be to give a polite none of your business, pay my half of the check, and leave.

Your credit score tells how great you are at borrowing money. A zero credit score is a "bad" score but is it really?

This.

I don't worship at the feet of the great FICO.

Affordability does not mean you can "afford" a $30,000 car just because a bank will loan you the money. You can "afford" the $30,000 care when you can pay cash for it. That means having a little discipline, starting with a $3,000 beater whilst saving money. Through selling and saving, you can pay cash for that $30,000 car in four years or so.

Just because your income allows you to cover minimum payments on things, (house, car, toys, credit cards) doesn't mean you're responsible with money or that you can afford the things you have. You're broke. Get yourself out of debt and start letting your greatest source of wealth-building, your income, work for you; not for some bank.

This entire thread just proves to me how lucky I am to no longer be in the dating world. JFC

Your credit score tells how great you are at borrowing money. A zero credit score is a "bad" score but is it really?

That's not accurate. It tells how good you are at making payments to bills that are under your obligation. For example: utility bills such as electricity and water; internet, cable and phone bills; and ALSO money you have borrowed such as credit cards, car loans, student loans and mortgages.

So it actually takes into account several things other than borrowing money and repaying it timely. It has to do with whether you pay your typical "cost of living" bills timely as well. Don't confuse people, please.

i think if you base whether you're going to date someone based off a credit score or income or anything monitarily then your a fool......fall in love then work on fixing the past for a better future.....but that would involve a little work...most people want everything in the now.

Your credit score tells how great you are at borrowing money. A zero credit score is a "bad" score but is it really?

That's not accurate. It tells how good you are at making payments to bills that are under your obligation. For example: utility bills such as electricity and water; internet, cable and phone bills; and ALSO money you have borrowed such as credit cards, car loans, student loans and mortgages.

So it actually takes into account several things other than borrowing money and repaying it timely. It has to do with whether you pay your typical "cost of living" bills timely as well. Don't confuse people, please.

you seem like you'd be fun to date

And 85.29% of internet statistics are made up.

I don't understand why you are trying to tell me that I shouldn't expect the same level of responsibility in a mate...

I never said that I just find it incredible that you would judge someone's responsibility on something that is a mistake in their past. I now am responsible and repairing past mistakes. Just find it frustrating that people would think it was fine to judge me on that one thing.

I'm not saying that at all.

I said at the f'er start, it is circumstantial. I think if someone said, "yeah between 18 and 26, I made a lot of beer runs in college", I would understand that. If you told me that you lost your home because you we're laid off work, I would understand that. It's not the score all by itself. I know very successful people that went belly up multiple times, by no real fault of their own, just market dynamics. So, if there's a story, that's probably fine, depending on the story.

Or, how about you wait until you can actually afford the car and pay cash? Novel idea in today's America, I know.

without credit and people using it, the economy would go into a deep depression, not just a recession

I personally wouldn't care if a person I met a person with bad credit. Firstly, a credit score, I think wont be a topic of conversation until later in the relationship (6+months) right? And by that time, you may be already emotionally invested. Secondly, Why do they have a bad credit score? Divorce, Medical bills, and/or hardship? they are many factors contributing to a poor credit score from my experience working in finance. Besides...being a relationship is about helping each other to be successful.

An imperfect FICO score can very much be a deal breaker. What kind of a future would a 800 person have with a 500 person? The score reflects your ability to pay back borrowed money. Personal responsibility, if you will. Life is too short for financial bickering. I'm so glad I'm married to someone whose FICO score is better than mine!

If that were the case, I wouldn't be engaged. My fiance's credit got ruined because of his mother and one of his exes. He's slowly bringing it back to where it should be.

Same! My fiancé has terrible credit because his ex wife made some really stupid investments and insisted on being in charge of bills but never made payments on time. It would have never occurred to me to ask him about his credit score when we started dating but in being with him and getting to know him I know that he's very responsible financially. It's absurd to veto someone completely on this basis right off the bat without knowing them or their personal history.

Of course, I always tell him I'd live in the woods in a yurt with him if it came to that, love is more important than money to me.

i think if you base whether you're going to date someone based off a credit score or income or anything monitarily then your a fool......fall in love then work on fixing the past for a better future.....but that would involve a little work...most people want everything in the now.

How did I miss this gem? Great points man.

My $0.02:

In a serious relationship (prior to marriage) money/finances/debt/ability to manage needs to be discussed thoroughly. This doesn't negate future money squabbles, but it does help everyone enter the relationship with open eyes.

A current credit score does NOT necessarily give anyone a full picture of fiscal responsibility. *kitten* happens that can devastate your credit score and it may not be your fault. Today I have a mediocre credit score. Am I fiscally irresponsible? Absolutely not. But my ex-husband decided to rake me over the coals financially when we split, followed very shortly by the economy crashing and me losing my job. I had to file for bankruptcy and despite perfect financial habits since then I will have mediocre credit for several more years until that black mark drops off.

If my current husband only looked at my credit score, we would have never gotten married, but he understood the circumstances, and the truth is, I'm much more responsible with money and keep his credit score high by making sure bills are paid on time, and balances on credit cards are appropriate, and what-not.

I would totally be turned off by bad credit.

I work really hard to keep my credit score in this economy. (I've been out of what I call a "real job" since 2009), I have medical bills, a student loan, and a credit bill. I make sure I keep my credit score good.

IMO a bad credit score says a lot about a person.