Financial Abuse

Financial abuse can be very subtle. It can include telling you what you can and cannot buy or requiring you to share control of your bank accounts. At no point does someone you are dating have the right to use money or how you spend it to control you.

Here are some examples of financially abusive behaviors:

• Giving you an allowance and closely watching what you buy.
• Placing your paycheck in their account and denying you access to it.
• Keeping you from seeing shared bank accounts or records.
• Forbidding you to work or limiting the hours you do.
• Preventing you from going to work by taking your car or keys.
• Getting you fired by harassing you, your employer or coworkers on the job.
• Hiding or stealing money, debit or credit cards or checks.
• Using out your credit cards without your permission.
• Refusing to give you money, food, rent, medicine or clothing.
• Spending money on themselves but not allowing you to do the same.
• Giving you presents and/or paying for things like dinner and expecting you to somehow return the favor.
• Using their money to hold power over you because they know you are not in the same financial situation as they are.

I’m Experiencing Financial Abuse

If your partner does any of these things, you may be in an unhealthy or abusive relationship. Financial abuse is usually coupled with emotional or physical abuse.

If you are not in control over your finances, or if your partner has removed money from your bank account, it can seem very scary to leave an abusive relationship. Talk to someone you can trust. See information about the WISH program under physical abuse.