Money vs. Love

United States
November 23, 2009 9:03pm CST
When I met my other half we both worked at the same place and held the same position so other than time in service we were both making pretty much the same pay. Well, he got lucky and landed a job at a different company for almost $15,000.00 more a year. I supported him throughout the whole interview process and was thrilled for him when he got the job. The money part was nice, but I was more thrilled for him than anything because I watched him stress through like 10 interviews and tons of tests and all that jazz that goes with it. I used to joke with him to not forgot about the little peons when he started making the big money. And it seems he has. Am I wrong to be frustrated. I love him with every inch of my heart and it hurts almost every day when I call him up like 3 or 4 hours after he gets out of work and he says "oh I forgot you today". (he works first, I work second) Really - how do you forget someone whom you have been with for almost 2 years? Who lies next to you in bed every night? That is a hard slap and statement to take. It seems that he has moved up in the world and left everyone behind. I even ran into one of his brothers and they feel the same way. When I tried to talk to him about it he just got really upset and insisted I was crazy. Has anyone else ever had this happen to them? I really need advice here. How do I handle it? Should I just ignore it and make it a point to act a little less affectionate to him and maybe he will realize what he is losing? I just don't know who to do but I miss the man I fell for...I really do...
12 responses
@happy2512 (1266)
• Philippines
24 Nov 09
You're situation is pretty tough huh?Well if you really love him then try to understand his situation for now maybe he is trying to adjust between work & you. He is still in the stage of showing his superiors how hardworking he is. For sure when he can get used to it he will simply learn how to manage his time properly between you & his work. Just be patience for now.
@wandry (72)
• Indonesia
24 Nov 09
yes, happy2512 is right, you should be more patience and learn his problems. Getting to know each other and understanding is a good way to start. He need your support at this time. Maybe you can give some advice or start a little talk, so that he can share the problem to you and hope you can give a solution. I hope this problem will end soon with good solution to both of you
• United States
24 Nov 09
Time management has become a big part of our lives. I don't have the opportunity to see him at all during the week. He is up and off to work well before I get up and asleep well before I get home from my shift at work. We have both learned that at least a part of the weekend be spent together...Whether it be watching a movie, or window shopping, or even cleaning...But we do make sure we spend a few hours together. LOL, I am trying so hard to be patient. But it is tough to say the least.
@happy2512 (1266)
• Philippines
25 Nov 09
Don't worry atleast its worth the try for you. Never give up on him so that you will not make things worst. Just outstretch your patience even more. I know you love him just try.
• Philippines
24 Nov 09
money or love?... well for me both are necessary for man's survival.. but in your situation it's better for now to understand your partner. I guess you need more patience regarding the situation. Maybe your partner is just a little stress out of work but it doesn't mean that money is more important. The better thing to do is for you to talk about this matter... communication is very important in any conflicts especially in a relationship.
• United States
24 Nov 09
I absolutely agree that both are necessary for survival. I just wish we could both find that fine line where we could have both and be happy with it.
• India
24 Nov 09
Let me first say that I can really feel for you and there are many guys and girls who’ve moved up corporate / social ladder and forgotten their poorer/simpler better halves or relatives or friends and I do wish to see such people rot in their self-created hell. However, I do wish to mention here that its’ still early times to press the panic button. For one, he’s moved on to a more responsible position and now that you are married, you are no longer the former lovers that he needs to shower his attention on you as before. Marriage brings with it a certain stability which has both its pros and cons and one of the downsides is that there is much less outward romance and excitement in marriage. You both should definitely sit down and talk and he should listen and understand you priorities too…money is not the priority for everybody and if you feel that spending a weekend at home together or taking a vacation is more important, then he should listen to you. But even if he does, don’t expect that he’ll be there every weekend for you…and give him some personal space (and you take your own space too)…visit friends or relatives or go shopping individually and then return and talk about it together over dinner…basically it should not be like ‘you don’t spend time with me so you don’t love me’ OR ‘now that we’re married, don’t expect me to follow you like a lovestruck puppy’. Find out a middle path coz in marriage, middle paths work the best.
• United States
24 Nov 09
We are not married, but really we might as well be. We share the finances, the burden of the upkeep, etc...I know it is still early for panic button pressing. But if it continues on it could come to that point where I ultimately just don't have it in me anymore to keep trying. I hate the thought of it possibly ending. So I am just trying to hang in there for the ride and see what happens.
• Malaysia
24 Nov 09
Maybe he is just trying to adjust himself in the new workplace. Even for the strongest person it is hard to cope with a different situation, moreover it is the place of his earnings and he has to give the best impression to his employer. I guess he is an ambitious guy who wants to achieve the highest rank in life. A person like this is usually only comfortable when he has achieved what he wanted. I don't think he has forgotten you, from your writings I have a feeling he's just trying to joke with you when he said "oh I forgot you today". What I feel he is trying to tell you he is very busy that day and he almost forgot about everything. I think it is natural for a human being to forget about everything else when he or she is focusing real hard on something important. But it doesn't mean he has totally forgotten about you, he's just being too busy to think about anything else. I bet some of the times he even forgets to eat, but that's only my guess and please correct me if I am wrong. Maybe you should just give him time and encouragement so that he can speed up the time for adjustment. If you don't give him encouragement, this will only make things harder for him to cope and it will take longer time for him to adjust. I understand you miss the man, and I know how it feels like to be "forgotten" it is like he had begun to make you feel you are no longer number one because his work comes first. Well... in life there is always a sacrifice if you want something. In this case it's money and you have to remember he's working real hard because he wants to bring home the money to you - and it proves that he loves you so much and wants to give you everything that money can buy. Be patient, and with time when he's already adjusted everything will come back to normal. If you are not satisfied with him, you can always discuss your problem with him but try to do it with a clear mind and never judge him or giving him more stress. Try to talk without emotion first, and tell what you want in a way which is not hurting his feelings. I wish you luck. God bless you.
• United States
24 Nov 09
Encouragement is all I give him. And as I said in my original post I am thrilled for him. He truly deserves this opportunity that he has been given. I have tried speaking to him and like always I am just overthinking and I am not right about my ideas. I also know that I am not very good at verbally speaking how I am feeling. I am stronger at writing it down. I can do it with a clear head and it helps for him to because it gives him some time to think about it and re-read it if he doesn't understand. I have written him quite a few letters in the last few weeks. I can tell you honestly he has not read a single one. I am not sure why. But for now I will continue to encourage him and will try not to come across so strong or so demanding and we shall see what happens.
@krkavsy (191)
• India
24 Nov 09
If the love is true then money does not matter but alas one cannot survive without money. So both are important.
• United States
24 Nov 09
You are right in that both are very important. The key is finding the fine line in the middle where both can live together peacefully.
• India
24 Nov 09
love .u can earn money later but not love ones gone ,gone forever........
@krkavsy (191)
• India
25 Nov 09
Yes that is true but one cannot survive without money. So we have balance between the two so that you don't deprive yourself of anything
@vijayanths (7877)
• India
24 Nov 09
Oh, this is really painful for you. But I think love is one thing that can't be got through forcing or compulsion. It has to come naturally and unconditionally. If I were in your shoes I would rather go away from him and let him have his own life. If you really want him very badly, what you can do is to wait. Work hard, keep your status improving. Improve your personality. Improve on your appearances and become more attractive to him. Don't go to him, let him come back to you. Best wishes.
• United States
24 Nov 09
The letting him come back to me part is what I am thinking needs to be done. I am definitely not of a fashion model status but I am definitely not a bad catch - not in my mind anyways. He used to tell me that he was amazed he found someone like me to be at his side. As far as keeping my status improving, I am not sure what you mean by that. Personal or jobwise. But I have been trying to get a first shift job. It certainly isn't easy in these times but I haven't given up. I don't want him to love me or be with me because he feels like he has to be. I want him to be with me because I am the one he doesn't want to be without. I think he understands that at least.
@khayshenz (1384)
• United States
24 Nov 09
Hi Miss Cinque - I'm really sorry to hear that you're going through something like this. I was going through something like this at one point in my relationship and at one point, I just got so sick of it that I talked to my bf - told him what I've been feeling, and that I'm considering leaving him. That I've gotten so tired of giving and giving in the relationship - and i'm running out of "things" to give. You can only give so much of yourself - at one point, you won't have anything else to give. He needs to know that you're at the point of "nothing else to give." If he doesn't change, then it's time to call it quits. Unless you wanna spend the rest of your life like this, which I'm sure is not the case. Thankfully in my case, he's changed. He definitely makes it a point to call or spend some time with me. And always tells me that he's grateful for me. I hope for all the best. Hang in there! =)
• United States
24 Nov 09
I did try talking to him but he thinks I am over annalyzing things. Not quite sure how that works. It seems / feels like he really doesn't care to think about how I am feeling. Or isn't fully understanding. I have tried telling him that I can't make a relationship work by myself. I also make it a point to never make the fault all his. We both have things we need to work on to make "us" work. But he just doesn't seem to get it.
@junmae (1586)
• Philippines
25 Nov 09
It seems that you are just now the second priority of your husband. i understand that his work really is very stressful but I cant see any reason why he said those things in you. I dont know what is on his mind because i don't want to judge him. I suggest that you always try to talk to him although he is upset in you. Tell him what you feel.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
24 Nov 09
Just be as supportive to him as you have been in the past. Maybe you can also divert your attention to other things not for both of you to fall apart but just so you can both have a breather. Sometimes, men just take some things for granted even the important ones because they had they're head buried deep in the works but it doesn't mean that they've changed but more of having the feeling security that something is waiting for them at home. Cheers!
@sunnycool (12714)
• India
24 Nov 09
May be you must give him some time to realize what he is missing.he cant get along with this attitude too long and for sure he would call back asking about you and may be he is trying to concentrate more on the work coz you said he has gone through many interviews so he is trying make an impact by working hard so that the current job would be stable for him in the future too.hope this works for you.gud day.
• Philippines
24 Nov 09
I go with love. You can earn money but you can't earn real love. That's what I thought. But now, we must be practical. We must choose money first before love. For me, love can't stay longer without money. Do you agree with that? It's hard for me to accept that this modern era, money is now overwhelming love.