The prospect of landing a financially stable date versus finding true love has been debated for decades. On one hand “love” has always been thought to be the number one priority while, money and the question “what can he or she do for me?” is now, more than ever, considered a valid argument.
Even with trying economic times, is it really acceptable to dump a man or woman because he/she has become financially strapped ?
Yes, everyone from Destiny’s Child (“Bills, Bills, Bills”) and TLC (“No Scrubs”) to Jennifer Lopez (“Love Don’t Cost A Thing”) and The-Dream have entertained us with the Love Vs. Money argument but, what happens when the one you are “with” instead of the one “you love” starts loosing the extra zeros?
I will never forget an unidentified woman who called into a radio station earlier this year stating “He’s got to go. I have kids to feed and I can’t support an unemployed man” during a discussion about the recession and its effect on dating. While its unclear if the man, who she had been dating for a few weeks prior to him loosing his job, bounced back. It’s safe to say this special woman moved on to the next man with a few coins and dollars to spend on her and the kids.
In ‘The Vixen Manual,’ New York Times Best Selling author Karrine Steffans says “Never date or marry for money. It will never buy you love and honor.”
While Steffans, previously dubbed a ‘Video Vixen’ due to taking part in numerous Hip Hop music videos, has raised eyebrows and drawn criticism over the years for her tell all book ‘Confessions of a Video Vixen,’ she likens the advice to personal experience.
“While being a kept woman may sound like fun, I can tell you from personal experience that it very rarely is,” says Steffans.
Nonetheless, in flipping back to that radio caller, I wonder what will happen if said “unemployed man” opens his own business and earns six figures in two years… how will she feel then ?
Of course there will forever be multiple angles, sides and ideals when you add money and love to the mix in the complex world of dating.
How do you feel about love and money… Would you drop a date, like the aforementioned woman, if he lost his job or vice versa ?
—— By: Njai Joszor
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