Why did Al and Peg Bundy from “Married… with Children” never get divorced, despite their frequent unhappiness and constant bickering? Perhaps they believed they were the best match for one another—a middle-aged shoe salesman and a stay-at-home mom with two children. They cared for each other but also harbored a deep-seated dislike. Importantly, neither strayed from their marriage, despite having opportunities.
But if the Bundys were living in Canada today, would they remain together or choose divorce? Many assume that half of all marriages end in divorce, but this isn’t true in Canada. A recent Vanier Institute of the Family report shows that Canada’s divorce rates have been on the decline since the early 1990s, hitting a low of 5.6 per 1,000 married people in 2020, the smallest number since 1973 with about 43,000 divorces that year.
This drop in divorce rates can be partly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic which caused delays in court proceedings. Another reason could be the aging population, as older couples tend to stay married. Fewer people, especially among the younger generation, are choosing to marry, with just 98,355 marriages recorded in 2020—the lowest since 1938.
Even for those who do marry, divorces are less common. A significant factor might be Canada’s high living costs. Could Al, the sole breadwinner, afford to divorce Peg, covering legal fees averaging around $18,000, and support two households?
For a retail worker like Al in his early 50s with an average salary of $73,793, taking home about $4,619 monthly, managing a divorce would be challenging. While optimistic, these income estimates help us apply this scenario broadly. Housing costs are crucial in the Canadian economy. It’s tough for anyone on an average salary to manage a new mortgage alone. If Al and Peg divorced, they might remain renters indefinitely. Renting an average apartment in major Canadian cities is over $2,000 monthly, and supporting two households would be nearly impossible for Al.
Suppose Al secured a mortgage to buy the family home. The average mortgage debt in Canada is $338,522. Refinancing at 4.79 percent for 10 years brings a monthly payment to $3,548, and even a 20-year extension results in $2,186—significant for Al’s net income. If the family struggles to renew their mortgage, their budget would be tight: nearly $1,300 monthly on food, over $300 on utilities, and $400 to $1,000 for transportation with monthly bus passes around $100.
These expenses could force the Bundys to live paycheck to paycheck, without factoring in costs for a decent life, entertainment, potential medical expenses, or unforeseen expenses. Canadian inflation remains around 3 percent, but the currency outlook isn’t promising, increasing pressure on future prices, especially for imports and commodities. Even with a fall in mortgage rates, the financial strain on the Bundys could be immense.
Given these realities, Al and Peg might put their practical needs over emotional aspects, staying in an unhappy but financially stable marriage. Their emotional life might be rocky and filled with conflict, but divorcing would be financially unfeasible. The logistics of separating—dividing assets, legal costs—could discourage them from splitting up, perhaps making it impossible.
Even with two incomes averaging $121,771—adjusted for inflation from Statistics Canada’s $110,560 in 2021—their situation wouldn’t improve much post-divorce. If both work, childcare costs could be around $714 monthly for one child, adjusted for inflation. In case of a split, lifestyle changes would be necessary even with dual incomes, which becomes harder with age.
Most Canadian middle-income couples aren’t financially prepared for retirement and need to adjust their lifestyles to stretch savings. Additionally, older couples are set in their ways and depend on each other for social roles within marriage. After years together, who else would tolerate Al’s habits or Peg’s preferences and phone behavior?