We’ve only got this much money in a month. After paying for travel, food, rent ( if applicable ) and all your 3345 bills, there’s never a stipulated amount dedicated only to your relationship. However, if you sit to calculate, it is quite an investment you’re making regularly. Whether it’s eagerly or begrudgingly, all relationship maintenance takes cash. There’s honestly, no two ways about it!
When it’s in the same city
When your partner is in the same city, the amount of money you spend is drastically more simply owing to the frequency with which both of you meet. Dinner dates, movies, going on drives or even cab fare–all of it requires additional paise. As a rule, it is best to talk to your partner about expenses and financial well-being. This will help ease the monetary situation—you can pay for some things, split some. Establishing a clear understanding of it eases communication and the general awkwardness around money.
For individuals living at home, it is sufficiently easier to invest in a relationship but then again, there are exceptions there too. Not everyone living with their parents can afford to splurge on weekly outings to fancy places–go out and spend 2-3k on a Saturday night with bae. However, generally, as the chunk of rent money and household expenses are taken care of, the relationship bit is a tiny sum in comparison.
The frequency of spending in this case is more–although the amount spent each time might not be as large. Over the month, you’ll realize it all adds up to a certain number which cannot be easily dismissed.
When it’s a long-distance
Here, the expenditure is not frequent but it is a bigger chunk because travel is extremely investment-intensive. Flight or train tickets will immediately remove, from your pocket, anywhere between 2-10k for return fares within the country. After that comes the actual trip where the need to always be doing something means both parties spend more–dinner, drinks, the usual. Even if you choose to sit at home and watch a movie instead, there’s ordering food or getting dessert or cooking something–all of which costs money. Things we might not be spending on if we were alone.
What we conclude
So the answer is a big YES. Being in a relationship does cost money. It is an inevitable addition to your monthly list of expenditure, no matter how simple you want to keep your relationship. Does that mean being single is actually working towards a savings account? Well, no but we’re glad you might see it that way!
Picture Courtesy: Queen, Giphy
