So yeah. Sometimes you need to go to the fucking opera because your wife has a need that you are attempting to meet; she needs to feel appreciated, like she's worth the effort of a lovely, classy night out, doing something that is widely acknowledged to be both expensive and culturally intimidating. What those commercials don't show is that, after the opera, they watch the football game he tivoed and she makes him some popcorn and asks questions so he can feel smart answering them.

Finances are a big deal, and money decisions should be made together in a marriage.

All of this gets even more fucked up when you start looking at multiple long-term relationships. When two of the spouses are working, but the third isn't, and the fourth is on maternity leave, things get really complicated. ^_^

I can't tell you how many times I seen guys attend the ballet at my work just for this reason alone.

I agree but disagree with this statement. I disagree with it because if one partner is better with money than the other that one should be making the big finical decisions as well as manage the money. But at the same time the other partner should be keep in the loop just so they know what is going on. Tho is only goes for if the couple has a joint account.

I think the people in Utah got it figured out.

Other than "I actually really like the ballet," (which, personally, I do), it's the best reason.

Keeping your life partner "in the loop," isn't good enough. If you're far better with your money than your spouse is with his or hers, you have a responsibility to help your spouse better understand the ramifications of the financial choices he or she makes. His or her responsibility is to help the financial situation by learning how to better handle his or her money. If either of you fail in these responsibilities, there will be drama. Drama kills perfectly good relationships.

Actually, really no. The "people in Utah" are a few deranged sects of fundamentalists Mormons. They engage in incest, child molestation, forced marriages and serial rape. The "people in Utah" you're referring to are assholes and criminals and they should be behind bars.

None of those things are related to responsible non-monogamy. Google "polyamory." Those people have their shit figured out.

The Third: Being financially dependent on one another can be a terrifying prospect. When you own a house together, and you're feeding a family of four, and you're trying to pay down the last two months of bills that seem to be piling up more than whittling down, money becomes a huge stressor. Finances are the biggest reason for divorce in North America. If you go out and buy a new sports car with all the trimmings, of course she's going to be pissed off. Even if you just buy a new car, doesn't matter what kind, that's an extra financial burden that the family, not just the man of the house, has to absorb into the monthlies. If you're both working, some of the money that goes into that car is hers. If she's not and you are, then she is relying on you to provide for her and the kids and the dog and the cat, and has every right to be concerned when you start adding new financial loads to the budget. If you're not working and she is, and you just bought a new car, she should divorce your ass right now because you're obviously a motherfucker. Finances are a big deal, and money decisions should be made together in a marriage.

All of this gets even more fucked up when you start looking at multiple long-term relationships. When two of the spouses are working, but the third isn't, and the fourth is on maternity leave, things get really complicated. ^_^

My mother hasn't worked since I was 2 and she gets a new car every couple years, but when my dad wants a new car he has to jump through hoops