For Love or Money

 

Recently a friend told me of a love interest moving in and gave me pause.

Now this happens everyday for love makes you do strange illogical irrational things.

When you fall in love, whether it is a crush or flirting or dating or going steady or getting engaged or married, moving in together can happen anywhere along the way (though social moirés may only approve after the latter signature on a license sharing a couple’s name to live together).

If your love shares a bed (persuasion, seduction, copulation, fornication, …) anywhere along the way, are you in love… or lust? Either way, it is easier when you both live in the same abode.

Getting a new roommate will require adjustments. Each and every one of us have our own taste and likes. Maybe the couch should be over there? ‘We’ need a new bookcase. Buy a rug and paint a room all for the love of one-another. (Heart emoji goes here).

Now we get to the other side of life.

Money.

Unless one or the other has money and is willing to share for love (prostitution) no one talks about finances before moving in together. Who is going to pay the utilities? Is it time for a joint bank account? How about the credit cards? One car or two?

Then there are children!

Love is sweet, but money is reality.

What about debt? Do you both share the problem or leave it to each other to solve? What if your significant other has grander taste (and thus cost) than the budget?

If the love fades, the requirements for money does not.

Divorce can have a cost, especially with kids. How do you split joint assets? There could be private detectives, court cost, therapy and additional medical fees.

Hope it works out for my friend.

Been there; done that.

Was it worth it?