Who should pay the bills in a relationship?
Sharing of responsibilities in a relationship is one thing, but another issue that raises a lot of dust is pinpointing who pays the bills. A lot of relationships have hit the rocks due the problem of who pays the bills in a relationship. For a first date, it's safe to assume the person who initiated the date will pay. If you still feel more comfortable offering to pay or you want to split it, feel free to go for that wallet reach even if you were the one invited
It is seen to be normal in African culture for the man to pay the bills in a relationship or marriage because the ladies feel that it is the duty of the man to always pay the bills. So does it mean that when eventually you both get married the wife will still not help in taking care of some of the bills? Questions were raised as to why should it be the responsibility of the man alone to take care of the family. Whisperingstuff blogger sought views and shares with its readers some of the interesting opinions gathered.
According to Yusuf Hena who is resident in Maiduguri, Borno State is of the opinion that taking care of the bills should be the responsibility of the man. I am a man so taking care of the bills will earn me a great respect from my woman. Every man appreciates it when his woman respects him and also sees him as her hero. When you allow your woman to also take care of some bills, you won’t get the respect that you deserve because she will constantly keep reminding you that she takes care of some bills too. On the contrary, let me just point out that there are a lot of ladies that still have respect for their men even when they (the ladies) are the ones handling the bills be it whether you are married or just dating.
Even as some respondents say that responsibilities are to be shared among couples there are still a strong belief that the man, as the head of the family, should be responsible for settling bills but the rules can be bent a little to suit whatever situation. For Business Woman Mrs. Hannah Charles is one of such respondents. It’s the man’s responsibility to take out the bills from the perspective of many people but I think the woman should also help out. If you as the woman or man offered to take your partner out then you should take care of the bills. Both of you can even decide to take care of bills such as water, electricity, school fees and the rest when you are married.
An anonymous respondent who doesn’t want his name to be written said that any of the spouse who earns more should be the one to take care of the bills. I said this because I feel that only the person that earns more can be able to take care of this bills. Though this applies to those who are married, if the couple choose to split the bills then fine. But in my own opinion I will suggest that whoever earns more should be the one to pay the bills.
Pupwaya Timothy Dibal
