Housing purse strains for newlyweds

2 September 2008 12:06am

Couples are failing to plan for the cost of setting up a home together after they marry, research shows.

Despite 87% of couples saying they paid off the cost of their wedding immediately, half of people said they ran into financial issues within the first 18 months of marriage.

Four out of 10 people said they had suffered financial strain after having to buy a major domestic appliance, such as a washing machine or dishwasher, while 36% had to shell out money on decorating their homes.

Around 31% of people said buying a property had stretched their finances, with 21% saying holidays had caused problems and 20% ran into money difficulties as a result of having a baby within 18 months of getting married.

One in 10 couples admitted the financial strain they were under had put pressure on their relationship.

Mark Huggins, head of AA Personal Loans, said: "The true cost of marriage is often underestimated by couples focussed on their wedding day and forgetting about the other financial demands the first 18 months of marriage can bring."

YouGov questioned 2,113 people during August.

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