When it comes to love, Martina Paillant won’t settle for someone who has a credit score below 700.
“I need a man who has his life together and can pay his bills,” the 22-year-old Canarsie, Brooklyn, resident tells The Post.
Paillant, who attends graduate school in Miami, asks potential suitors their credit scores by the fourth date. While some may call her snooty for checking someone’s FICO number before becoming Facebook official, she’s been focused on her finances since she was 16 years old and has a credit score above 800.
“I was raised in a family of professionals who keep their finances in check and taught me how to handle my money,” says Paillant, who splits her time between Miami and Brooklyn. “I have no student loans and I can already take care of myself financially. I need a man who can take care of himself, too.”
Millennials, who came of age during the recession and carry astronomical student debt, are bucking the tradition of staying mum on money and prioritizing it when looking for a mate. And for good reason: A 2015 study from the Federal Reserve Board found that couples with high credit scores — above 750 — are more likely to stay together; couples with lower-than-average numbers (below 600) are up to three times more likely to separate than those with average scores. A discrepancy is also a bad sign — the study found that a 66-point difference is linked to a 24 percent greater chance the couple will break up.
“Millennials are the most indebted generation in American history,” says Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, author of “College Secrets: How To Save Money, Cut College Costs and Graduate Debt Free.” “Of course they’d care more about a person’s credit history before tying down their finances together.”
‘I can already take care of myself financially. I need a man who can take care of himself, too.’
- Martina Paillant
Khalfani-Cox says credit scores are also a practical way to see if a partner knows how to prioritize and can be depended on to follow through on prior commitments. Bronx resident Equana Cobb was on a date last year when the guy started talking about buying a car and other big-ticket items, only to find out later that he still lived with his mom.
“I had to ask him about his credit score,” says Cobb, a 32-year-old graduate student. “It’s a way to see that he knows how to pay his bills on time.” While she was satisfied with his high-600s rating, they split a month later.
Khalfani-Cox says asking dates about their finances, especially credit scores, is a smart move, because money disagreements are the No. 1 cause of divorce.
“Marriage and relationships are not just an emotional, personal bond, they’re also to a large extent a financial commitment,” says Khalfani-Cox. “It’s completely appropriate when dating to have a good understanding of your partner’s credit health.”
A gender imbalance also exists when it comes to credit scores and dating. According to a study by Bankrate, 43 percent of women are likely to consider a date’s score, compared with 32 percent of men. But Khalfani-Cox says that doesn’t mean women who ask guys for their FICO number are gold diggers.
“A man’s credit score has nothing to do with his income,” Khalfani-Cox says. “It tells the person’s level of fiscal responsibility and how they’ve handled past obligations. A person with a high credit score shows they’re trustworthy, responsible and reliable with their finances.”
Cobb, whose credit score is in the high 600s, agrees.
“If a guy has a credit score in the 650s and says that he’s working to build his credit, I’d definitely still consider him,” she says. “But I’m in my 30s and I’m not wasting my time with someone who doesn’t want to level up and take care of their finances.”
Still, not all dating experts are onboard with the trend.
‘I’m not wasting my time with someone who doesn’t want to level up and take care of their finances.’
- Equana Cobb
“That’s a ridiculous thing to ask,” says Brian Howie, author of “How To Find Love in 60 Seconds.” “If someone has a low credit score, it could mean they had a financial emergency.”
Plus, waiting for your dream partner to come along, with a dream credit score to match, can be a long shot. Some money-conscious singles are taking fate into their own hands by joining dating sites that specifically cater to their needs.
That’s how Philadelphia couple Amanda and Devon Buchanan met in 2014. After both were burned by former flames with bad financial histories, they signed up for CreditScoreDating.com, which matches users based on their credit history. Amanda and Devon’s scores were both in the low 600s.
They went on their first date in July 2014 and married nine months later.
“A big part of why our relationship worked out was because we were upfront with our finances,” says Amanda, a human resources manager.
Now, the Buchanans are hoping to purchase a home within the year.
“It’s easier to plan since we’re both on the same page,” says Amanda, 35. “It makes us feel more like a team.”
