Some conversations seem destined to create conflict in a relationship, whether it’s about money, family or lifestyle choices, so if you’re looking for a peaceful evening with your partner, it might be best not to bring up these 18 topics.
Money Matters
Money is one of the trickiest things to talk about in a relationship, and it’s no wonder why—it affects nearly every aspect of your lives together, like deciding how to split the bills or how much to save.
One partner might feel like they’re being too cautious, while the other might feel like they’re being too reckless, and when discussing finances can feel taboo, it makes it even harder to address issues head-on.
Household Chores
Ah, the eternal battle over who does more around the house. These arguments often start with a simple sigh or passive-aggressive comment, spiralling into a full-blown row about who left the laundry in the machine. And it’s not just about the chores themselves—it’s about feeling appreciated and valued for the work you do.
Parenting Styles
When parenting styles range from hands-on helicoptering to hands-off free-ranging, it’s easy for couples to feel judged by each other and the world around them. Raising children is one of life’s biggest challenges, and it’s no surprise that couples often clash over how to do it when one is more relaxed than the other parent.
Time Spent With In-Laws
If one partner feels like they’re being forced into someone else’s idea of family life, arguments are bound to follow, and balancing family obligations and your own needs is a delicate dance for those Sunday roasts. Family is important, but in-laws can be a source of constant tension if boundaries aren’t clear.
Division of Free Time
How do you spend your free time as a couple? The answer can say a lot about your priorities, and it’s an area that can create friction when things feel out of sync, especially if one-half of the relationship wants a busy weekend and the other just wants to relax. Furthermore, fights can easily start if one partner feels neglected compared to the other things on the agenda.
Past Relationships
Bringing up exes can be a minefield in any relationship, but it seems especially loaded in the UK, where a stiff upper lip can sometimes make it harder to express insecurities. Whether it’s a throwaway comment about a past relationship or stumbling upon an old photo, the mention of an ex can stir up all kinds of feelings—jealousy, insecurity, or even suspicion.
Sexual Intimacy
It can sometimes be the case that one person feels like intimacy has taken a backseat or there’s a mismatch in expectations, and these issues can quietly build until they explode.
To make it more difficult, open conversations about sex are still a bit taboo for many. Therefore, couples often struggle to address their concerns in a healthy way, meaning rejection simmers beneath the surface.
Career Priorities
Long commutes and demanding jobs are common, so the stress of balancing work and home life can strain even the most solid relationships, and careers often become a battleground for couples—especially when ambitions and schedules collide.
It’s too easy for one to feel like they’re sacrificing too much for the other’s career priorities.
Social Media Use
Easily becoming a part of everyone’s everyday routine, social media has quickly become a surprising source of tension for many people in relationships—especially if mealtimes are spent with couples scrolling on their phones. Then there’s the tricky topic of online interactions—liking an old friend’s photo or leaving a cheeky comment can easily be misinterpreted.
Major Life Decisions
Big decisions have a way of testing even the strongest relationships. Whether it’s deciding to have kids or move to a new city, these choices are fraught with emotion and differing opinions, not to mention property markets and childcare costs add extra layers of complexity. It’s no surprise these topics can turn into an argument if one partner feels pressured or unsure.
Political Beliefs
Politics is one of those topics that most try to avoid, but it finds a way to sneak into conversations anyway, especially during election season, and furthermore, in the UK, where opinions about Brexit, the NHS, and other hot-button issues run deep, political differences can create a surprising amount of tension. Even couples who agree to disagree can find it challenging to calmly discuss politics.
Handling Conflict
How you argue is just as important as what you argue about, and for many couples, conflict resolution styles become a major source of tension. One part of the couple might want to sort things out immediately, while the other needs time to cool off, and such a mismatch can lead to feelings of frustration.
Seasonal Planning
Christmas is meant to be fun, isn’t it? But planning seasonal celebrations can bring out hidden frustrations—then there’s also the issue of budgets and whether to travel with friends or family. Expectations can run high during certain times of the year, making it easy for small disagreements to snowball (excuse the pun) into full-blown arguments.
Friends of the Opposite Sex
If you easily feel jealous or insecure, you might not want a partner who has a lot of friendships with the opposite sex, especially if boundaries aren’t clearly defined.
Friendships often span years and include regular pub meet-ups or shared hobbies, therefore, it’s not out of the ordinary for two people to clash over how much time is spent with certain friends.
Differing Religious Views
Just like politics, religion can be another point of contention, and it can influence everything, including daily habits and long-term goals, while differing views can create friction in a relationship. While religious diversity is celebrated in the United Kingdom, varying practices can sometimes cause misunderstandings.
Bad Habits
What starts as a minor quirk can quickly become a major annoyance when you’re living together. Maybe it’s leaving tea bags in the sink or always being late for plans—small habits can feel disrespectful over time, and when politeness masks frustration, these issues can linger until they blow up unexpectedly.
Trust Issues
Trust is the foundation of any relationship, as we know, and when it’s lacking, even minor incidents can lead to major arguments thanks to a forgotten text or a vague explanation about where they’ve been. Trust issues can cause one partner to feel insecure and the other to feel unfairly scrutinised.
Unrealistic Expectations
Unrealistic expectations can slowly chip away at happiness if couples don’t adjust and communicate openly. We all have ideas about what relationships should look like, but when those expectations are unrealistic, they can create pressure and disappointment, especially if one partner is dreaming of that romantic getaway that the other is never going to make happen.