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80% say admitting debt is harder than saying ‘I love you’: Loqbox partners with Thursday to launch global singles series tackling the taboo of money
London, UK. 20th October 2025: We’ll overshare our attachment style via brunch on date three, confess our therapy breakthroughs before dessert… but money? That’s still where modern love draws the line.
Until now.
The UK’s leading credit-building platform and financial wellbeing business Loqbox has teamed up with global dating movement Thursday for the launch of Thursday Talks, a new event series for singles who are done with avoiding the big, awkward, and life-shaping conversations. The first topic: Money.
On 20 November 2025, 200 singles will gather at The Ministry, London, for ‘Thursday Talks: Money in partnership with Loqbox’, a night of real talk, expert insights, and a fresh take on why financial honesty might just be the new love language.
The taboo that’s still costing us
Loqbox surveyed thousands of people across the UK to find out what really happens when love meets money, and the results speak volumes:
- 98% agree that money should be talked about in relationships.
- 80% say admitting debt to a new partner is harder than saying “I love you.”
- 70% say money or debt has directly impacted their personal relationships.
- 87% would rather date someone broke but honest than wealthy and secretive.
- Eight in ten admit that money has been a source of tension in their relationships.
We’re opening up about sex, therapy, and boundaries, yet money remains the last great relationship taboo. That silence isn’t just awkward; it’s actively damaging relationships.
What’s really turning people off: The new dating dealbreakers
When it comes to modern dating, money talk is officially on the red flag list and not for what you earn, but how you handle it.
Loqbox’s research uncovered what matters to most people:
- Ignoring debt tops the list, with 36% citing it as a major relationship red flag.
- Financial secrecy follows at 35%, hiding debts, downplaying spending, or avoiding joint planning.
- Lying about money is a killer, flagged by 1 in 3 respondents.
- Lavish spending on credit and living beyond your means were also mentioned, particularly by younger daters who value transparency over flashiness.
Yet honesty matters the most: 87% said they’d rather date someone broke but open about their money than wealthy but secretive. In 2025, it’s not about how much you earn; it’s whether you’re willing to have the conversation about money.
Redefining romance: from red flags to real talk
“Being in a relationship often makes people feel more secure, yet money remains one of the top reasons couples break up and is a major source of conflict,” says Dani Palmer, Chief Marketing Officer at Loqbox. “That paradox tells us everything. We’re not having these conversations early enough, openly enough, or honestly enough.”
“For older generations, typically money matters were private,” Palmer continues. “But today’s singles are rewriting the rules. They want honesty and connection, and this isn’t about being rich, it’s about being real.”
Emma-Louise Maw, Head of Partnerships from Thursday, adds: “Thursday Talks is all about sparking the conversations that define modern relationships. Partnering with Loqbox for our first event made perfect sense – we both believe that love and money shouldn’t be things people feel embarrassed to talk about.”
About Thursday Talks: Money powered by Loqbox
Date: Thursday 20 November 2025, 7–11pm
Location: The Ministry, London
Panel includes: Dani Palmer (Loqbox), Sarah Glanville (eToro), Jodie Cariss (Self Space), Alyssia White (Thursday) and Geoffrey Safar (Emma)
Register your interest: TICKET LINK
About Loqbox
Loqbox is a financial wellbeing business on a mission to give everyone access to a richer life. With over a million members, Loqbox helps people build credit, save smarter, and feel better about money – all while working with the UK’s three major credit reference agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Learn more: www.loqbox.com/en-gb
About Thursday
Thursday is the world’s largest in-person singles movement, revolutionising the dating scene. They believe that meaningful connections happen best in real life, not behind screens. Every week, in cities across the globe, the team host exclusive singles-only events designed to bring people together in dynamic, fun, and authentic settings. Learn more: www.getthursday.com
Notes to Editors
Research methodology:
The insights in this release are drawn from multiple research studies conducted between September and October 2025:
- Loqbox member data: Sample of 86,042 members across various relationship statuses
- Attest research: October 2025, sample of 600–1,000 UK general population
- Censuswide survey: Sample of 1,000 UK adults examining borrowing behaviours and financial attitudes
- OnePulse research: Sample of 1,500 UK respondents exploring the link between finances and wellbeing
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