The latest “Finance in Couples 2025” survey conducted in January this year on behalf of the National Debt Register reveals that in Poland, stereotypes about gender roles in relationships and finance remain strong. There is a prevailing belief that women are more frugal, while men are better equipped to handle financial matters. In practice, however, neither party wishes to easily relinquish management of the household budget or hand over full control of shared assets to the other. In some money-related matters, we know almost nothing about each other.
The “Finance in Couples” survey by the National Debt Register can be succinctly described as a financial battle of sexes or a tug-of-war. The survey involved 416 women and 333 men living in domestic or marital partnerships. Nearly 2/3 (65%) have been in a relationship for more than 10 years.
The survey explored stereotypes related to finance and gender, as well as attitudes towards debt repayment. However, the real competition emerged in the third part of the study, in which respondents were asked to state who was responsible for what in their relationships.
“It turns out that each partner attributes more significant responsibilities to themselves, although both parties also declare they share many tasks equally. However, it doesn’t mean there’s financial equality in Polish domestic partnerships and marriages. I would rather say there is a dissonance. We’re slowly striving for financial equality, but at the same time, we nurture self-serving stereotypes. We even treat some of them as a sort of compliment. That’s why I think they will remain entrenched in Polish society for a long time.” – said Adam Łącki, CEO of the National Debt Register Bureau of Economic Information.
The stereotype that the man is the head of the family and should take on larger financial commitments, such as loans, is mainly reinforced by men (58%). A majority of women (57%) do not agree with this.
On the contrary, a majority of men (58%) do not agree with the stereotype that women should be responsible for the home and children, and therefore, handle everyday shopping. Women’s opinions on this topic are divided (50% yes, 50% no).
Are women more frugal, and should they manage the household budget? 70% of women strongly support this stereotype, viewing it as a compliment. On the other side are men, of which 57% have a completely different view.
The belief that men are better at finances and should manage the family savings to increase them mainly has supporters among men (59%); meanwhile, 3/4 of their partners strongly disagree.
Both genders readily agree women tend to spend too much money on clothes, shoes and cosmetics impulsively, and men – on electronic equipment and gadgets.
Both one-fourth of women and men admit they have forgotten at least once to repay their loan installment on time. Only 15% of women and 17% of men acknowledge they deliberately did not pay their loan installment on time, diverting those funds to other expenses, which were not essential at the time.
The same percentage of women and men (54%) agree it is safer to spread the repayment of a loan over a longer period, with smaller installments, even if it leads to higher interest rates.
Most also believe (67% of women and 61% of men) that it is better to take out a loan and have something right away, rather than save for several months for a purchase.
There are also many declarations confirming that we share financial responsibilities equally. These include larger expenses such as buying a TV or going on holiday – every second person indicates these are joint decisions. Similarly with taking out loans and credits to meet joint needs (41 %). Together we pay for insurance, policies, private medical care (44%), as well as kindergarten, preschool, tuition and children’s studies (28%). We save equally on deposits and savings accounts (34 %) and we are equally indebted (25 %).
Unfortunately, a significant divergence appears in the question about income: “Who earns more in your relationship?”. Equality only applies to 23% of couples. In every second couple, higher earnings are attributed to the man (58%).
Interestingly, 4% of respondents cannot say who earns more in their relationship. Even more, 6%, do not know who saves larger amounts on deposits and savings accounts. Every twentieth person in a relationship also cannot indicate who has a higher debt. This suggests that we are not transparent enough in our relationships. We do not tell each other certain things, and savings, debts or earnings are still taboo for many – comments Adam Łącki.
The nationwide survey “Finance in Couples 2025” was conducted on behalf of the National Debt Register Bureau of Economic Information in January 2025 by IMAS International on a representative group of 749 people, aged 18-74, in domestic or marital partnerships with a person of the opposite sex.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/polacy-w-zwiazkach-nie-rozmawiaja-o-pieniadzach-mezczyzna-glowa-rodziny-kobieta-zarzadca-budzetu-czy-polacy-wciaz-wierza-w-stereotypy-12008
