This summer Britain's divorce rate increased 150 per cent from last year and experts are blaming the surge on the credit crunch and the annual family summer holiday.
The month of January is traditionally the time of year when most people separate as couples argue over the Christmas period.
But the divorce figures in July show that the divorce rate was 40 per cent higher than January and 150 per cent higher than 2007.
Divorce lawyers and relationship specialists are warning that the divorce rate for next month will increase again.
The rising divorce rate has been blamed on mounting financial pressure, with couples struggling to pay the bills.
Holidays, too, are viewed as a factor, with couples finding themselves stuck with each other for 24 hours a day, rather than the usual few hours outside of work.
Dr David Holmes, a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Department of Psychology, considers it not surprising that more couples are breaking up in the summer.
He said: "It's a common misconception that summer is the time when love blossoms and relationships thrive.
"It's far more likely that when contemplating life back at home while on holiday, we are most likely to make important life-changing decisions.
"Other research has shown you’re most likely to review your career during summer. So it fits that this theory should extend to one's personal life.
"Going on holiday gives people the feeling of confidence and rejuvenation needed to make major decisions and improve their lives back home."
According to a recent survey from match.com and expedia.co.uk, 42 per cent of British couples fight while they are on holiday and one per cent has applied for a divorce when they return.
A further 12 per cent have split up while on holiday as couples fail to compromise on issues of money, socialising and the inability to forget work.
Kate Taylor, relationship expert at match.com, said that holidays can become a time of tension as couples are thrown together for long periods.
"Expectations are often blown out of proportion as both people feel the holiday has to be perfect or it's a sure sign the relationship is on the rocks," she explained.
About 62 per cent of women said that spending quality time together was important on a holiday while only 57 per cent of men said it was important to them.
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