My (M22) girlfriend (F21) earns nearly 3x what I do but rarely contributes financially. How should we navigate this?
I have been with my girlfriend for nearly 2 years now. At the start of the relationship I paid for alot of things, essentials and gifts. She was struggling a bit financially and I remember saying multiple times ‘I know you would do the same for me’.
Now the roles have reversed, I’m struggling financially. Her dad gave her a job that pays nearly 3x what I make. Additionally she got fired from her last job and got paid £1000 in lieu of notice.
Despite this, I still find myself being the one to offer to buy gifts and essentials. I’ve had to stop myself buying specific things I needed or wanted in front of her while saying ‘i can’t afford it’, and she doesn’t offer to help.
I completely understand it’s her money and she can do what she wants with it, but I’m not expecting huge elaborate gifts or anything, I want to know she’s willing to make small financial sacrifices that help me out like I did when I was making less than she currently is now.
Posted Jul 23, 2026, 10:07 AM UTC