You know that being in a relationship requires more than love, and money to pay the bills can be important too. But can a relationship work without money?
Most relationships will not survive without enough money to keep the couple out of poverty. The number one thing that people fight about in a relationship is money. Relationships require more than love, but a lack of money often creates enough stress to destroy the couple.
But that’s not all there is to know.
So, in this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at how money factors into relationship happiness. But we’ll also look at how little is too little in terms of destroying the marriage or relationship.
Just keep reading.
You CAN change how you and your spouse communicate about money before it completely derails your relationship.
I’ve been in your shoes. You want to move beyond the feeling of being not seen as an equal and not feeling respected. And you desperately want your relationship to have trust, mutual acceptance, and to feel like you are both on the same team.
Ultimately, this isn’t a money problem; it’s a relationship problem.
Luckily, all hope is NOT lost, and there is something you can do, even if your spouse isn’t willing to talk about or work on the problem.
The website Regain by BetterHelp offers licensed therapists who specialize in couples counseling and will work directly with you and your spouse online; anytime and from anywhere.
This quote from Brenda R. perfectly sums up the quality work Regain does:
“I was apprehensive about having a male couple’s counselor at first, but he has been amazing. We were close to ending our relationship but over time we’ve worked on our foundation and also expanding our communication. We would not be together if it weren’t for the direction from Tom (and the work we’ve done as well).”
Serious about saving or improving your relationship?
CLICK HERE to answer a short quiz and see if Regain is right for you.
How can I maintain a relationship without money?
A successful relationship cannot be maintained without any money. But on a low income, a relationship can succeed with a monthly budget, clear and frequent communication, not using credit cards, and shared goals regarding spending and lifestyle.
You are going to need money to buy food, pay bills, and generally live your lives.
But you don’t need to purchase one another over-priced presents. You don’t have to have a fancy house or a nice car. Yes, it is nice to have those things, but they are not necessities.
What is necessary, however, is honesty, transparency, and mutual respect for one another. Be completely open with one another about income and expenses. Make a budget and make sure that all of your necessary expenses are paid first.
If you are in a situation beyond just being poor, and your spouse has been financially irresponsible, that is a different story.
To read more about how to deal with financial irresponsibility, just read this recent article. Financial irresponsibility can do more harm to a relationship than simply not having a lot of money.
It is typically a symptom of a larger problem and can make it difficult to meet your household needs.
Address financial irresponsibility quickly but respectfully. Don’t talk down to your spouse but focus on how it affects you and the household.
Just click the link to read it on my site.
Money issues if not properly managed can ruin a great relationship. Should you dump the guy with money problems or stick with him and maintain separate accounts? Join me tomorrow on #MrMrsBetterHalf right on my Twitter timeline @pgeeman by 5 pm as we discuss on this.#Pgeeman pic.twitter.com/t6tPXwULUt
— Godman Akinlabi (@PGeeman) October 18, 2018
Should you date a man who has no money?
Do not date a man who has no money and no plan to turn his situation around. Everyone has ups and downs in their life. But successful people always have a plan and the drive to work hard to turn around bad situations.
So, is this a hard-working person whose life took a bad turn or a deadbeat?
A deadbeat who is jaded, bitter, and entitled, will never be successful, and if you get in a relationship with them, they will just drag you down or mooch off of you.
Material things bring temporary happiness. What is important is work ethic and passion.
If you are interested in dating someone, it’s important to look at the whole picture. People have ups and downs throughout their lives. Sometimes they have more money than at other times.
Is he working towards a future that will make him financially stable?
Is he going back to school or working on paying down debt? In addition to that, is he loyal and caring? How does he make you feel? If he pays attention to you and makes you feel good about yourself, then you should absolutely date him.
On the other hand, if he has no aspirations for the future, or is mooching off of his parents, then you should run – as far and as fast as you can.
If you date someone that is dishonest with money, it’s likely they’ll be dishonest with money once you get married, too.
To read more about financial infidelity – and what to do if you have committed financial infidelity – read this recent article. Financial infidelity can ruin a marriage, just like other kinds of infidelity. It’s more than just secretly hiding and spending money.
Just click the link to read it on my site.
A Harvard study lasting over 80 years following over 250 men, found that close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives.https://t.co/HftAUL9nEp pic.twitter.com/KSfZUogmZL
— HeadsUpGuys (@HeadsUpGuys) February 3, 2021
Can a man without money make a woman happy?
A man without money can make a woman happy as long as he lives within his means and plans to grow his income. Money is necessary to pay bills. It is not necessary to be in a healthy and happy relationship.
So, as I’ve said, it’s not about the specific situation they are in now, but more about their long-term vision and work ethic.
Yes, it can be difficult to give gifts or go on dates without money. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t be in a happy relationship.
There are so many other ways to make a woman happy. Honesty, sincere compliments, and respect are all ways to make just about anyone happy.
As for dates, show off your cooking skills.
Women love it when men cook for them. Learn how to make her favorite dish and cook it together. It shows that you are paying attention to her and that you respect her and care for her.
It shows that you want to make her happy.
And the only money you have to spend is grocery money. You can make a nice, restaurant-style dinner for half the money and have leftovers for the next day. You save money on gas and food, and you don’t even have to tip anyone.
If you’re in a gift-giving state of mind, write a nice note and make a small bouquet of wildflowers. It will light up her day while showing her how important she is to you.
You may find your marriage slowly eroding. If your marriage is failing, then check out this quick video on the 7 Steps to Fixing Your Marriage that will help get yours back on track.
A relationship built on money doesn’t last
A relationship without money doesn’t lastSo choose your headache wisely pic.twitter.com/0MptW76ZnO
— Immunized Muzukulu 📸 (@pride_shots) December 27, 2019
What are the disadvantages of dating a broke man?
The disadvantages of dating a broke man are that eating at nice restaurants or receiving nice gifts are not likely to happen or at least happen often. But feeling like a failure can also affect his attitude and self-esteem.
Aside from the obvious, he may be under a lot of stress.
If he is between jobs or in college, he is going to have a lot on his mind. He may be worried about trying to figure out how to be successful in the future.
Stressful people can often be in a bad mood.
You could find yourself trying to cheer him up a lot. You need to make sure that is a task you want to take on. If it is – that’s great. His lack of money could just be a phase, and he may just need some moral support until he gets back on his feet.
If he’s a deadbeat mooching off of his parents or other people, he’s not going to have any respect for you. After all, he’s already demonstrating that he doesn’t have any respect for himself. He doesn’t have any respect for the people that are supporting him.
If he’s just having a hard time financially, talk to him about budgeting.
Check out this recent article to read more about why people don’t want to use a budget.
They could be afraid they don’t make enough to actually use a budget. Or they could be afraid of how much time it takes to use a budget. But if you show him that he could actually make money by using a budget, then maybe he’ll be more open to it.
Just click the link to read it on my site.
Giving your girlfriend money means you’re undermining her hustling abilities. Don’t do that my guy.. pic.twitter.com/yxNObxup3r
— TmanTouch⚪ (@Tman__touch) November 9, 2020
Should a man help his girlfriend financially?
If a couple is dating but not engaged, a man should not be regularly helping his girlfriend financially. Occasionally treating her is one thing, but it is not appropriate for him to pay her bills unless they are married.
If a man is able to help his girlfriend financially, and he wants to, then, of course, he can help her.
But it’s really not a great idea as it can lead to confusion and resentment. Relationships are essentially transactional in nature. If you are in a long-term relationship, then you probably already share almost everything.
Would your girlfriend help you if you were in a bind? Does she respect you and care about you? If so, then you should certainly return the favor.
One thing you should not do is share a bank account.
Even if you two are living together, if you commingle funds before you are married, you could be asking for trouble. If you split up, there is no legal recourse.
However, bank accounts should be shared if you are married. To read about why married couples should share bank accounts, read this recent article.
Just click the link to read it on my site.
Final Thoughts
Relationships can work without money, particularly if the lack of money is a temporary situation. But relationships cannot work without trust and complete honesty.
If you don’t have a lot of money, you won’t have a lot of nice things. But you can’t take material things with you when you die.
So, think about your priorities. Do you want a bunch of stuff? Or do you want a fulfilling, loving relationship?
You CAN change how you and your spouse communicate about money before it completely derails your relationship.
I’ve been in your shoes. You want to move beyond the feeling of being not seen as an equal and not feeling respected. And you desperately want your relationship to have trust, mutual acceptance, and to feel like you are both on the same team.
Ultimately, this isn’t a money problem; it’s a relationship problem.
Luckily, all hope is NOT lost, and there is something you can do, even if your spouse isn’t willing to talk about or work on the problem.
The website Regain by BetterHelp offers licensed therapists who specialize in couples counseling and will work directly with you and your spouse online; anytime and from anywhere.
This quote from Brenda R. perfectly sums up the quality work Regain does:
“I was apprehensive about having a male couple’s counselor at first, but he has been amazing. We were close to ending our relationship but over time we’ve worked on our foundation and also expanding our communication. We would not be together if it weren’t for the direction from Tom (and the work we’ve done as well).”
Serious about saving or improving your relationship?
CLICK HERE to answer a short quiz and see if Regain is right for you.
Photo by Truman Rexti from Pexels and Image by Andrew Khoroshavin from Pixabay
