Money is the reason many of us are awake right now.  After all, it’s pretty hard to make money in your sleep…for those of you that do make money in your sleep, shoot me an email asap.  Money affects every area of our lives, especially the relationships we have with people. Nothing else in the world seems to be the purveyor of all things evil like money.  Most of the conflict that arises today usually boil down to monetary issues.  Part of the reason the divorce rate is so high is because people simply can’t agree on their finances and that tension affects other areas of their relationship.  Now that the economy is officially in the crapper, the game has changed for a lot of us, and that includes less money to trick on social escapades.  So for a lot of dudes that means having less money to spend on getting chicks sloppy drunk entertaining the woman or women in our lives.  And unfortunately in our ballerific society, your expendable income usually affects your love life.

A big part of the problem is that people in our society tend to place great value in having money than having meaningful relationships.  How many times have you heard someone say “I don’t date/not in a relationship because I’m focused on my career.”  I’m not knocking the hustle at all, but clearly a concession has been made that pursuing a relationship would hinder career and financial goals.  People often separate because they find out too late that they don’t share the same financial ambitions and spending habits.  Sometimes the way people choose to spend their money is more of a problem than a lack of funds.  If you’re spending tons of money on yourself, but can’t/won’t take your SO out to dinner or give a gift here or there, that’s going to be a problem.  Or worse,  if you’re that guy that uses her car and brings back an empty gas or get pissed when she ask for some help with maintenance, you’re hustling backwards homie.  Finding a way to compromise on these issues would go a long way in keeping things intact, but it can be hard adjusting to your partners money habits or cutting back in the face of a recession.  But keep in mind that if you’re really looking to make things work, money should be the least of your concerns.  I know, sounds a bit Utopian, but if love is what you’re really after, money can’t buy that…Unless you’re Tiger Woods (ZING!).

See Also:  Good or Bad Questions: Where You At and Who You With?

My best advice for the folks in the dating world is to stay true to your money habits and most importantly your budget.  If you’re a  cheap bastard frugal, keep being cheap son don’t date someone with liberal spending habits or expensive taste, because you’ll clearly be setting yourself up for failure. Some people may not agree with me, but I really do believe that there is somebody out there for everybody.  So don’t end up on Judge Judy, son. You never know, there might be a Single Stingy Sistas chapter in your area…I heard those girls are hot. If you’re already in a relationship, you’re pretty much f*cked take the time to sit down with wifey and get the money situation straight.  Oh yeah, and half a bar for the idiots that are salty because their woman makes more than they do: Get over yourself.

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