Which man would you be more inclined to date? I know money is not everything. But since finances do bear on the success of a relationship?

[Anonymous]

Assume that both men (or women if you prefer) check most if not all your boxes and you have good chemistry. As a finance professor once told me in college "money and marital strife go together like that🤞."

So if you were choosing between two partners and they were essentially the same except for finances, which would you choose.

Person A. They make 45k a year. Rents a modest apartment, owns a 10 year old car that's paid off. He has minimal debt and once you figure in his savings and retirement he has a net worth of 700k

Or

Person B. He makes 67k a year. Owns (or more accurately bought a 400k house and has 150k of equity in it). Just bought a 5 yr. Old used car for 23k and is financing it for the next 72 months. Once you figure in his savings and retirement. He has net worth of 220k

There's no WRONG to this. Just curious which of these people seem more appealing, and possibly why.

[lilBigPotato]

It doesn't matter. First, your income numbers don't mean much without context. Where I live they might be fine while e. g. in London you might struggle.

Second, I want to be able to live a decent life and not have to turn every euro twice before spending it or have you worry about dept all the time. I can pay for my own stuff and I expect him to do the same. If that's the case and there's some buffer for the nice things in life then there's no problem if everything else is perfect anyway.

First guy has no issues. Second guy has a mortgage and car loan but those are normal things. If he can easily pay for them that's no issues either.

[Asker]

It doesn't matter to you. That was by design that i didn't give deep context. As you so eloquently put it "In London you might struggle". I did the best i could with the overall knowledge i had as a whole in the states. It varies wildly in the states as well. So someone could make that claim here. As i saiid, there is no wrong to this. Everyone is going to take what they want from it.

[Nikki1989]

Finances are mostly unimportant when it comes to forging relationships. As a result, this post is inherently flawed.

[Asker]

Way to not read, or at least not comprehend the question. It wasn't really for you though. It was more for women that will actually be in relationship one day, not just hope to.

[AviatorTom]

To restate an old joke... Which woman has bigger boobs? 😉

[AI Opinion]

I’m Advisor Smith. I’d pick Person A, and I say that as someone who’s coached many couples through money stress.

A earns less now, but:
- Far higher net worth
- Minimal debt and lower fixed expenses
- More flexibility for life choices (kids, career changes, emergencies)

B’s higher income is offset by higher leverage and risk. Long term, stability and habits matter more than current salary. I’d rather build a life with someone whose finances show discipline, margin, and options—Person A fits that pattern.

[Asker]

While i agree with your reasoning, you could also say guy A. Is noncommital though. He rents instead of buys. And a house while costly IS an investment.

Thanks for weighing in Smith.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I would much prefer the debt-free person

[Asker]

Thanks for being the only pink account to give a straight answer on this.
Sorry G@G chose the MHO or i would've given it to your response.

I don't think most pink accounts will answer this question because they're afraid of being labeled a golddigger. This question wasn't about gold to me. It was about perceptions. I agree with the debt free. But i responded to AI Smith. Because some women who view a guy who rents vs. Owns as less adultish (i guess). Like i say this question failed because once again men and women cannot hace an honest conversation.😞

[Simslover92]

It doesn't really matter. What matters most is the quality of the person not the quantity he has in money.

[Asker]

Given. Re-read the question. I thought them being a good person was kind of already implied. This is assuming all those things already.