When looking for love, daters are keeping money top of mind these days, according to a recent Harris Poll survey of 2,177 U.S. adults.
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This emphasis on money is not surprising, says Jacqueline Combs, a family law and divorce attorney at Blank Rome.
“Who you marry is the biggest financial decision in your life,” she says. And financial disputes are one of the biggest reasons for divorce.
If you’re going on a first date, there are questions you can ask upfront to get a sense of your date’s spending philosophy. Here’s what Combs recommends asking.
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However they come up in conversation, you can frame your questions as hypotheticals or ask questions about the past or future. Combs recommends trying any of the following:
- If you won the lottery today, how would you spend the money?
- What are your values when it comes to children’s education expenses? Do you believe in paying for their colleges or private schools?
- How did you handle expenses during college, or when you first were an adult?
- What was a financial surprise that you’ve had to deal with?
- What is a big expense that you’re saving up for?
- Do you have coffee at home, or do you go out and get coffee every single day?
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"‘Who You Marry Is the Biggest Financial Decision in Your Life,’ Says Attorney: Ask These 6 Money Questions on a First Date," by Gili Malinsky was published in CNBC Make It on February 18, 2026.
