Written by Nicole

We all know dating is hard, the dating pool is kind of…contaminated, and character over color is the name of the game. As the blog that started “No Wedding No Womb”, I wanted to put my own alliterative mating measure out there. And it’s pretty simple – FICO before Fuckboys!

For those who may not know, a FICO score is credit score that is used for 90% of financial decisions in the US. The FICO score ranges from 300 to 850. An excellent FICO score is anything approaching the 850 mark. A very good one is over 740, and a mediocre one is anything below 650. It isn’t a perfect way to vet a man financially, but it can be a great way to start. Plus, like I said, it has alliteration, which makes it catchy. Also, everybody should want a good FICO score. Nobody should want a fuckboy. It’s universal!

A little caveat to this is that there are plenty of financially minded fuckboys. In fact, a moneyed fuckboy can use that to his advantage, and play the field until his prostate betrays him and he needs less of a wife and more of a nurse. Financial literacy, while a plus, is not the be-all end-all of securing that ever-desired bag.

With that in mind, how are some ways we can use #FICObeforeFuckboys as a screening tool?

• Just ask him what it is

  Do you know your FICO off the top of your head? If you don’t, rectify that- many credit cards offer free FICO scores. I know my score, and I check it regularly. A sign of a financially-minded man is one who takes an interest in financial literacy, and knowing his FICO score could be considered a good sign. Now what you do with the number he replies is another thing entirely.

• If it’s good, him how he keeps it so high

  Even if a potential relationship goes nowhere, it can’t hurt to get some advice that may benefit you if you part ways. I don’t  speak to any of my exes, but they each taught me something I can still use now. Not all advice is good advice though, so make sure it makes sense to employ the methods disclosed.

• If it’s terrible, ask him how he tanked it

  If the number is lower than you’d like, ask him what happened. Things like credit card debt, or loan defaults, can definitely make a credit score take a dive. It is at this point you should consider whether you proceed with the relationship or not, especially if you are of a certain age. If you are under 25, chances are you both might have some work to do on your credit, as young people are typically new to the world of building credit, and many times make foolish financial decisions. However, if he is nearing 40, 50, or 60 years old with a FICO score just barely bigger than your shoe size, better to call it a day and go no further.

• If he doesn’t know, that’s a red flagSay you’re getting to know a guy and have managed to incorporate financial aptitude during your vetting process. Innocently ask his FICO score as per point 1 above. If he answers you, proceed to point two or three as determined by the score he says. But if he says “I don’t know”, or worse yet “what’s that?”, take that as a red flag. Credit building and pursuing financial freedom takes work, and one would expect someone who is “about that life” to know his score or find it quickly.

Final Thoughts

In this age of marrying up and going on a strict “No Broke Dudes” diet, it is important to know as much as you can about your potential partner’s financial standing early on. While a FICO score is not the only way you can financially vet a man, it’s pretty simple and accessible across the pool of (American) men. A man may be more willing to share that information rather that a full breakdown of all his investments and accounts. Money is not the be-all end-all in a relationship either, but why opt into struggle by partnering with someone who doesn’t put the effort into his financial health? And remember, everybody should want a good FICO score. Nobody should want a fuckboi. Take that into consideration and move accordingly!

How do you financially vet a potential partner? Share your tips in the comments below!

Disclaimer: This blog was written by me, Nicole, and my ideas are not necessarily reflective of Christelyn Karazin or other writers on this platform.