Everyone thinks they can give good advice, if only that were true. That's why we sometimes to pros for our relationship advice. But even the pros sometimes miss it a little. This time around there's a little disagreement with what Margo Howard, Cary Tennis and Amy Dickinson have to say about Viagra, financial inequality and cheating using dating sites.
While financial rifts are often listed as the leading cause of a breakup, it's what's behind the dollar signs that tears couples apart. Money issues are often just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to rocky marriages. Certain amounts of stress, hurt, and resentment just manifest themselves in the form of financial conflict. Martha Baer, a financial expert, explores the hidden stresses money often masks.
Cathy Hanauer is the editor of The Bitch in the House. Daniel Jones is the editor of The Bastard on the Couch. They have been married for 14 years and together they provide a his and hers take on questions about sex, love, dating and relationships. This round: financial inequality. Question: I'm a professional with a good salary. I really love my boyfriend of five months, but he works in the nonprofit world, and it seems like he’ll never make a lot of money. To me, that’s a flaw in an otherwise perfect guy. But should I allow it to be a deal breaker? –Mina, 33
Who pays on a first date? Even in 2008, it's a loaded issue—and not in the sense of whether the guy you're out with is or isn't. Even among experienced daters, deciding who should pick up the check stirs up complicated emotions.In the video above, Tango asked a few ordinary civilians—and recently ELLE/MSNBC.com did too, in the form of their sex and money survey. 74,000 respondees, and still no definitive answer. But according to Piper Weiss, in today's Daily News, a few interesting themes did emerge.
Last week, we reported that men are increasingly sharing household chores with women. In another sign of our ever-evolving times, nearly ninety percent of 74,000 men surveyed reported that they would not mind if their wife earned more than they did, according to MSNBC and Elle magazine. Of course, being a working woman, wife and mother requires sacrifice, such as living with dust bunnies under the bed or returning to work soon after having a baby.
Her relationship was complicated. But after graduating from the Ivy League she thought she had it all figured out. But sometimes even the most independent of women lose their identity when they marry a rich husband. And it's not just the financial inequality but all the free time can cause even the most down-to-earth gal morph into a trophy wife without even knowing it.
Too little money certainly stresses a relationship—but too much money can be just as bad. Abby Ellin discusses why it’s hard to keep your balance on uneven financial turf.
