One in five daters say financial stability is more important than appearance

One in five daters say financial stability is more important than physical appearance.

Of the 2,000 Gen Z and Millennial Americans polled, they also put kindness (25%) and emotional maturity (25%) ahead of looks.

With 34% admitting in the past, they chose a partner based on certain characteristics or traits, even if it meant an unfulfilling sex life.

When it comes to deal breakers, 39% put bad hygiene top of the list, along with poor communication (36%) and the other person avoiding commitment (30%).

The research was commissioned by luxury dating site Seeking, to look at radical honesty in dating for younger Americans, with 22% saying they’d spell their dealbreakers out before the first date.

Co-CEO Dana Rosewall said: “There’s something radical about saying what you really want.

“It can seem difficult to do, but really, what’s harder – being honest upfront, or realizing later that you were deeply connected to someone with whom you had major ideological differences?

“Being radically honest is a cornerstone of what our members are looking for and is something everyone should apply to their relationships.”

While 70% of daters say good finances matter, it’s less about a luxurious lifestyle and more about reducing stress and feeling secure in a relationship, each cited by 37%.

The study also found 18% would find honesty ‘good to hear’ if they dated someone who was very candid initially about wanting a wealthy or ambitious partner.

It’s not always about overall financial situations though, those polled said a partner who has a generous nature (42%), budgets well (39%) and has ambition (36%) are also deemed attractive traits.

However, 68% wouldn’t choose to not date someone just because the person earned less than them, according to the OnePoll.com data.

Among these individuals, two-thirds openly admit to researching a potential partner online before meeting them for the first time, which demonstrates that many of today’s singles want as much information on someone from the start.

But there are instances where honesty isn’t considered the best policy, as 62% confess to telling someone what they thought they wanted to hear on a date, even if it may not have been completely true.

Co-CEO Brandon Wade added: “From time-to-time people paint a picture of themselves which has been slightly inflated, but honesty is always the foundation of any strong relationship.

“This starts from the first date whether it’s being upfront about your intentions, your lifestyle, or even your Friday night TV habits, being genuine helps build trust and connection from the very start.

“It’s completely normal to want to put your best foot forward, but pretending to be someone you’re not, can cause issues down the line.

“Compatibility doesn’t mean agreeing on absolutely everything, but it can mean having similar values, goals and openness around what’s important.”