Smart Women Marry Money
Smart Women Marry Money
Diamonds are forever, but so is debt: The case for marrying your financial equal
I wrote the title of this essay a decade ago and shared it with a friend over coffee. That same day, I made a down payment on my first real estate investment property. Now, a decade later, I've long since sold that property.
The essay's topic is controversial, and I wasn't sure if my perspective as someone in their early 20s would be valid. I've spent the past decade contemplating, writing, and editing. Surprisingly, the core value I expressed then still resonates with me today. After some thought, I've finally decided to publish it.
Love doesn't pay the bills, but it shouldn't empty your bank account either. It's time to rewrite the rules of romance and redefine what it means to "marry well."
Forget fairy tales. Smart women are writing their own happily-ever-afters.
1. Money matters. Financial compatibility is key.
When it comes to long-term relationship success, money matters. A lot. In fact, a study from Kansas State University found that arguments about money are the top predictor of divorce.
Another study by Ramsay Solutions confirmed these findings, reporting that money was the second most common reason for relationship conflict, behind infidelity.
Recent data from National Debt Relief reveals that 54% of people consider a partner's debt a valid reason to contemplate divorce. That means over half of us view financial compatibility as non-negotiable in a life partner.
Smart women know this. Shared goals and values should be a non-negotiable in every relationship.
Smart women know they need to find a partner who shares their attitudes towards earning, saving, spending and investing. They've worked hard to achieve financial independence and security. They refuse to tie their financial future to someone who hasn't done the same.
To make money is hard. To grow money is harder. To keep money is the hardest.
Smart women look for partners who have figured this out. They're not looking to be someone's mother or financial literacy teacher. They want an equal partner who has already done the work to become financially savvy and successful.
This isn't about being shallow or materialistic. It's about recognizing that financial compatibility is a key ingredient in a healthy, lasting partnership. Committing to someone who is fundamentally not on the same page financially is a recipe for constant conflict and resentment.
"Smart women understand that money is a tool for building the life they want. Because while love may conquer all in fairytales, in the real world, shared financial values are the secret to happily ever after. You can’t be happy without a roof over your head, food to eat, and clothes to wear.