After months of swiping left, you finally met someone worth swiping right for. You both knew that you were a match from the first time you met and now, things seem to be moving in the right direction. Unfortunately, there’s one thing that might be an issue: your debt.

When you first start dating, divulging your financial woes really isn’t a good idea. However, once you become an established couple, not sharing the details of your finances can backfire, especially if you’re thinking about long-term relationship goals.

If you’re wondering how to tell you’re significant other you’re buried in debt, Wink Capital has put together a fact sheet on how to break the news.

Types of Debt

It’s safe to say that if you attended college in the USA, you have student debt. In fact, it’s estimated that 44 million Americans are in the same boat. In addition, it’s not uncommon for the same college graduates, regardless of age, to have credit card debt as well. Student loans only get you so far and with the increasing cost of living, most people use their credit cards to cover the basic necessities.

How to Break the Bad News

According to Wink Capital, it’s important to wait to discuss your financial status. Someone who you see every once in a while really doesn’t need to know about your debt. However, once it appears that you’ve found a keeper, letting them in on your financial secrets should be done sooner than later.

Opening up the discussion about student loan debt or credit card debt should be done within the first three to five months of dating. At this point, you know whether you want to be with this individual. Letting them know that you have debt but are working towards paying it off shows that you genuinely want them to be a part of your life.

If you’re considering marriage down the line, with your current partner, or possibly someone else if this doesn’t work out, you need to be upfront. Marrying someone with excessive debt puts them at risk as well. And that’s even if you sign a waiver stating they aren’t liable for your debt.

Once you’ve laid your cards on the table, you can then gauge how your partner feels about the situation. Hopefully, they understand and are fine with it. However, it’s also possible that they don’t want to date someone who could financially ruin them if things got serious. Sadly, that’s just the way it goes in the dating world.

With that said, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t date and try to find a life partner. It simply means that you need to honest about your debt as soon as you see things getting serious. Since most people have debt as well, regardless of amount, they go with the flow and are fine with it. In the unlikely event they aren’t, don’t let it get you down. There are plenty of other fish in the sea