Saving Up For Love?

Do you spend more money when you’re single or in a relationship?

The University of Minnesota conducted a study which correlated perceived sex ratio to increased spending in males. According to the results men living in an area with more men than women are less likely to save and more likely to borrow money. Are these men trying to impress prospective mates with faster cars and shiny watches, or are they simply uninspired to save without the prospect of marriage in their immediate future?

Although most women have encountered a defective model, men are biologically programmed with the need to provide for their family. If they don’t have one then presumably they see no need to save up for one. Which means more stuff, which means less savings. Women have been branded as shopaholics, but when men are left to their own devices they are clearly perfectly happy to spend their money on male pleasures — like soap and power tools.

Part B of the study discovered that when it was suggested to women that single men were plentiful they expected men to spend more on them. Presumably with the aid of a bank loan. At least both parties are in agreement.

I think single men and women are both more inclined to spend selfishly than when they are in a partnership. There are no shared expenses to account for so they have only MasterCard to answer to.

Not the most romantic findings, but it is interesting to see that after all the effort spent on dating psychology that it can all be boiled down to basic business. The shorter the supply the higher the value.

Perhaps dating coaches should be advising women where to locate themselves geographically to increase their stock. Financial advisors can then advise men to stop lending and start saving for a theoretical wife and family. Then everyone can go out for ice cream. I think a few of us are now wishing we had paid a little more attention in high school business class. Who knew finding love was as simple as supply and demand?

Contact the author here: lacey@morningquickie.com