She Strengthens

Romantic Spending: The High Cost of Love

When it comes to romantic relationships, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and splurge on lavish gestures. Whether it’s a weekend getaway, a new outfit, or a thoughtful gift, we’ve all been guilty of overspending in the name of love. But how much is too much?

The Dangers of Impulse Spending

In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to justify extravagant expenses as a way to show our partner how much we care. However, these impulsive decisions can lead to financial regret down the line. I’ve been there myself, splurging on a road trip weekend with my boyfriend that was absolutely worth it. But I’ve also made mistakes, like buying a new outfit or gift that seemed like a good idea at the time.

Real Women Share Their Most Regrettable Relationship Expenses

We’re not alone in our financial faux pas. Eleven women shared their most unnecessary expenses in the name of love.

The Fashion Faux Pas

De admits to going on a shopping spree for “cute date night” outfits when she first started dating her husband. She convinced herself that she needed new clothes to impress him, but in reality, he didn’t even notice.

The Bar Tab Blunder

Samantha surprised her college boyfriend by buying a round of drinks for him and his friends. However, he got angry with her about it, and the relationship didn’t last long. Looking back, she wishes she had spent that $100 on herself instead.

The DC Debacle

Melonie shelled out $800 for a weekend trip to Washington D.C. with her college boyfriend. He wanted to have a dream vacation on her dime, including visiting museums and eating out for every meal. The worst part? He used his graduation gift money to buy souvenirs, leaving her to foot the bill.

The Anniversary Overspend

Allie and her girlfriend wanted to celebrate their anniversary with a big trip to Hawaii. However, they couldn’t afford it, and Allie ended up shelling out $2,000 to make it happen.

The Lingerie Letdown

Jolene has spent around $400 on new lingerie that she thinks will impress her dates. However, it usually ends up being worn once and then discarded.

The Wedding Wardrobe Malfunction

Kayla bought an expensive fuchsia pink dress and pashmina for an Indian wedding she attended with her ex. However, she ended up having to change into a sari when she arrived, leaving her with a useless and unreturnable outfit.

The Denim Disaster

Katie spent $400 on custom Japanese selvedge denim jeans as a Christmas present for her ex-boyfriend. Unfortunately, he got them tailored in an unflattering way, and they broke up before he even got to wear them.

The Long-Distance Luxury

Laura and her fiancé went overboard on date nights when they were long distance, not realizing they didn’t have to go out to dinner every time they saw each other.

The Road Trip Regret

Jenn spent a lot of time and gas money driving across the country to visit her long-distance boyfriend. She wishes she had just flown instead.

The Airline Anomaly

Jen spent $250 on plane tickets to visit her then-boyfriend (now-husband) during college, when she could have driven for much cheaper.

The Babysitting Blunder

Terra spent $300 on a plane ticket to see her ex-boyfriend during college, using her meager babysitting funds to pay for it. She regrets not being more responsible with her finances.

In the end, it’s clear that we’ve all made mistakes when it comes to romantic spending. But by sharing our stories and learning from each other, we can avoid making the same mistakes in the future.