I’m a newly single 41-year-old guy who recently set up a Tinder account. I work from home and most of my friends are married. I’d still like to meet someone organically, but a dating app seems more realistic for me right now.
I’ve worked hard to get an 829 credit score. I’m a homeowner with a good career. In the past year, I’ve paid off all my debt other than my mortgage. I’m an average-looking guy looking to stand out. I’ve seen a few women post their credit scores and I’ve heard that high credit makes you more attractive in dating. But it seems kind of tacky to me.
I’ve asked a few female friends whether I should include my credit score on my profile, but they’re split. What do you think, Penny? Will this make me sound like a jerk?
-Creditworthy Catch
Dear Catch,
I can’t say whether you’re boyfriend material based on your letter. But your 829 credit score is certainly swoon-worthy considering that just 21% of consumers have a credit score of 800 or higher.
Still, think back to when you got your mortgage. Your lender probably considered a bunch of factors beyond your credit score before approving you. Dating really isn’t any different. Proving that you’re a catch to the right person will require more than just a credit score.
I don’t honestly think the words “829 credit score” are going to make or break your dating life. You’re writing your Tinder bio, not tattooing your credit score on your forehead. If you find that your profile isn’t working for you, you can easily change it.
Reasonable people can disagree on whether including your credit score in your dating profile is obnoxious. I think some people find it off-putting whenever someone quantifies their accomplishments too much on a dating profile. Saying you eat healthy and work out daily is fine. But unless you’re seeking to meet a competitive bodybuilder, posting your bodyfat percentage would probably be seen as arrogant.
That said, posting credit scores on dating profiles seems to be getting more common, at least according to my very unscientific poll of about a half-dozen friends who are also on the apps.
So I don’t think you’d reach a level of cringeworthiness that’s going to have women screenshotting your profile in horror.
Think of your dating profile as a tool you’re using to market yourself to other singles. Who is your target audience? What message are you aiming for? Does including your credit score help you deliver that message?
If your message is that you care a great deal about credit scores and you’re seeking another member of the 800-plus club, by all means include your credit score. Meet for drinks. Talk about who got the lowest refi rate as you watch the sunset.
If you’re trying to tell Tinder that you’re a rich guy, go ahead and include your credit score too. But if that’s your messaging, don’t complain about how superficial dating is. Expect that some people will be less interested in you than they are in your wallet.
I think your goals are a little more nuanced, though. As you said, you’re an average-looking guy who wants to stand out. It sounds like you’re also looking for someone who, like you, has their life together.
And it sounds like you have plenty of qualities that other people would find attractive. You’re successful, but you’re also self-aware. You get that including this information may make some people uncomfortable. More importantly, it makes you uncomfortable. So if it makes you self-conscious, why include it?
I don’t think the advice you need from me is about love and money. It’s about writing. Here are the words my first editor drilled into me: Show, don’t tell.
By that I mean, show the world you’re financially solid without telling them your credit score and salary. Say what you do for a living and why you love it. Drop it in there that you own your home and that you’re mostly debt-free if you wish.
You’re probably not looking for someone to compare weekly credit-monitoring reports with. So make sure to mention something you’re excited about, like traveling or pursuing a hobby, that you can hopefully do with the right person.
Should you choose to include your credit score, make sure it’s just a small detail. Keep in mind that statistically speaking, more than 4 out of 5 people swiping on your profile won’t be in your league, credit-wise. Plenty of people are in great financial shape, yet haven’t hit that 800 mark.
Others have less-than-perfect credit because they’ve encountered tough times, or because they’re human beings who have made mistakes. That doesn’t mean they’re not dating material.
Ultimately, I think a little humblebragging will probably go further than boasting outright about your credit score. Modesty can be an attractive trait, even on dating apps.
Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Send your tricky money questions to AskPenny@thepennyhoarder.com.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.
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