If you want to save or have a lot of money, you may have to choose your mate carefully. While love is fine and even great, there are plenty of people who enter into marriage in the full knowledge of exactly how it will help (or hurt) them financially. While it may sound cold, it’s no colder than the person who marries because their partner looks good on their arm, or the person who marries because their partner can lift their social status.
I don’t think I, personally, could marry only for money. I need love in my life to keep me happy. But some people do just fine with someone they like or can be friends with, even if they don’t love them. Others don’t even need friendship. As long as the money rolls in they can be happy. (Watch a few episodes of “The Real Housewives.” Few of them, in my opinion, look like they are in love, but they sure are happy about having money to blow.) Some people use money as the first or only criteria for choosing a mate.
There are four ways you can marry for money:
Marry someone with money: (Or marry someone who will inherit a lot of money.) This is the most effective, if not the easiest. If you marry someone who already has a lot of money, you know you’re set. The money is already there. If you marry someone who stands to inherit a lot, you’re taking more risk. Wills can be changed or inheritances blown before the giver dies. However, if there is a big family fortune or business, your odds are better. Finding “sugar daddies” or “sugar mamas” isn’t easy. If you’re not already a member of the wealthy social set, you have to find a way to meet the rich people. Fortunately, there are online dating sites like SeekingArrangement that can match those wanting a wealthy partner with the right people.
Marry someone who is already good with money: You might choose to marry someone who, while not wealthy today, is very good with money. Even if your prospective mate isn’t earning a fortune, if he or she is managing what they have well then they might be a keeper. If the person isn’t in debt, knows how to budget, has some frugal tendencies, and is setting aside large amounts for the future, you may find yourself financially well off in just a few years.
Marry someone who can fix things: Even if your partner doesn’t earn a huge income, if they can fix or build things you can save up a large fortune over the years. If your partner can fix cars, repair the house, or build furniture, you can save enough money to create a large nest egg. Don’t underestimate your partners’ skills when thinking about how much money they bring to the table.
Marry someone who has the potential to earn a lot: Maybe your potential mate isn’t earning a fortune today, but does he or she have the potential to do so? Are they in medical or law school? Do they have some rare talent or ability that can earn them millions? Do they stand to inherit a high-performing family business? A partner that will earn a lot later in life is a potential keeper in the marry for money stakes. These people are easier to find because a lot of people that are looking for money now pass them by, not content to wait for them to “earn out.”
If you can find a combination of these things, for example someone with money who also knows how to fix things, you can double your savings. You’ll not only have a lot of money to start with, but you’ll also keep more of that money since you won’t have to spend it on home repair.
Even if you don’t want to “marry for money,” per se, it can’t hurt to give some thought to your partners’ money skills. A marriage is generally happier when there is no money stress and both partners are on the same page financially. It can’t hurt to choose someone who isn’t a big spender without the resources to back it up. If you can find someone who has skills, is good with money, or is frugal, that can be just as good as finding a sugar daddy.
Jennifer Derrick is a freelance writer, novelist and children’s book author. When she’s not writing Jennifer enjoys running marathons, playing tennis, boardgames and reading pretty much everything she can get her hands on. You can learn more about Jennifer at: https://jenniferderrick.com/.
Comments