ROMANCE WITHOUT SAVINGS is gambling with pesos you do not have. In an economy where prices rise faster than paychecks, what once felt like comfort and joy now comes with a bill, forcing many couples to ask an uncomfortable question: Can love survive when money runs out?
In many relationships, money becomes an inescapable presence, whether couples acknowledge it or not. Financial stress does more than affect your date budget; it alters how people think, feel, and interact with one another.
Research cited by the National Institutes of Health indicates that financial constraints can impair memory, attention, and the way individuals perceive social cues, all of which influence a person’s behavior in a relationship. In such a case, how expensive is love nowadays?
The cost of being with you
Money quietly weaves itself into the everyday dynamics of a relationship. From choosing where to eat, how often to go out, or how far to travel to see one another, dating requires constant financial negotiation.
Gift-giving, shared activities, and even small gestures of affection come with costs that accumulate over time. What begins as casual spending can quickly turn into a recurring expense, especially for young couples navigating limited incomes.
As relationships move beyond the early stages of dating, financial expectations tend to grow. Celebrations like anniversaries, family gatherings, and social outings often signal commitment, but they also demand greater spending.
According to research by Pru Life UK, money remains one of the leading sources of conflict among Filipino couples, with nearly half reporting arguments over financial decisions and spending habits. These disputes reflect not just personal choices but also the pressure to meet social and cultural expectations tied to being in a relationship.
These tensions are intensified by broader economic realities. The cultural norm of supporting extended family, contributing to household expenses, and preparing for future stability places additional strain on couples.
Inflation, stagnant wages, and rising living costs have made it harder for partners to balance emotional connection with financial responsibility, turning romance into a careful exercise in budgeting.
To navigate these mounting demands, couples would then tend to find cohabitation, or the more commonly used term “live-in partners,” to cope. By living together, these couples would be able to save money through shared purchase and subsequent use of commodities.
Uncertain romance in an uncertain economy
After cohabitation, marriage may no longer seem like a far-off goal, but before one dons the ever-so-anticipated engagement ring, finances would once again produce a roadblock.
Commitment in the modern dating landscape is increasingly shaped by economic realities. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show a decline of over 10 percent in registered marriages in 2024, as many young adults prioritize financial preparedness over traditional milestones of union.
Cohabitations, despite seemingly making the prospects of holy matrimony closer, has now become the new normal as practical arrangements signal a shift in how intimacy and interdependence are negotiated.
While this may be a demographic change, from a bird’s-eye view, this also shows a cultural one as well. Where previous generations viewed marriage as the endgame of courtship, many young Filipinos now see it as a financial undertaking that requires meeting specific standards.
Inflation, stagnant wages, and rising living costs have pushed couples to reconsider whether long-term commitment should come before financial security. Surveys among Gen Z indicate that while emotional connection remains essential, financial stability has become a prerequisite for serious commitment rather than secondary concern.
And so, the story of love unfolds into a dilemma of passion and realism, where the most fervent feelings are tempered by the increasing demands of reality. What was once spontaneous now demands calculation, and commitment is often delayed until economic security feels attainable.
In this climate, many are wondering whether love can endure when money runs short. However, while the situation seems bleak, we are graced with the silver lining of a generation much aware of its vulnerability. Romance is not at all disintegrated, but its purpose is nevertheless pursued through whatever means the person can.
(with Eunice Karen Buccat)