I spend more on my boyfriend (23M) and on our relationship than he does on me (21F)

My boyfriend and I are both uni students. I come from an upper middle class family and I’m also working an internship right now along with my studies. My boyfriend comes from a slightly less financially stable family and he just works part time bartending.

We’re not very extravagant people, and being students we only go out to certain types of places that mostly students go to . For example, if we go to a café, I end up buying the coffee for both of us or if we’re going to a grocery store to get snacks for the night, I end up buying every time even if he’s the one who suggested it. And till now, we’ve never had a date where we haven’t split the bills. And when he does gift me stuff, it’s always monetarily low (for example he knew I love Jellycat and got me a knock-off one).

I don’t wanna seem like I mind this because part of me doesn’t because I know what sort of financial situation he’s in, but also part of me also wishes to be treated like a typical girlfriend.

He has mentioned sometimes that he feels bad that he can’t do as much, but there are times where I feel like he doesn’t have the drive to excel in life. Like, I don’t want this to be our financial situation for our entire lives. I don’t know if I’m thinking with the wrong mindset or if this is much more common than I think it is? please give any advice!

Posted Aug 4, 2025, 11:15 AM UTC

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