The cost of living crisis is altering Gen Z’s view of life partners

What is a ‘financial flame’?

Looking for a ‘financial flame’ means intentionally dating a person who has strong sense of financial literacy.

This person understands that establishing a solid credit score, saving money, acquiring assets, and keeping up with bank statements and bills are a central part of being a stable and secure human being – and a good life partner.

Although money matters might not sound like the most tactful topic to discuss on a first, second, or third date, young people of all genders (42 percent) are doing what they do best and throwing out the narrative that warns in favour of modesty.

Looking at responses from older couples, this is a wise move. Though cases likely vary according to country, more than half of couples surveyed in the West say that when they argue with their partner, it is about money.

Sharing similar financial values can help a couple continue to strive towards their future goals independently, but also in harmony with one another. It also helps during the dating stage, where learning about each other’s personal boundaries and limits is essential.

Getting real

Having open and honest conversations about money when dating is a way to skip past guesswork and manage expectations from the start.

Thanks to Instagram and TikTok, where baecations in Bali and staycations at the Shard seem to be the norm, many people can be disillusioned with what the real dating sphere is like.

Many people may feel pressured to over-extend themselves in the first few months or weeks to schmooze a new love interest. This is a behaviour that becomes evidently unsustainable once next month’s credit card bill arrives.

On the contrary, when two people are transparent and discover that they have the same financial goals, a daytime picnic in the park or a trip to the cinema might take precedence over frequent fancy dinners or regular weekend getaways.

The relationship can flourish when no one feels slighted, pressured, or stressed about who is picking up the bill.

On that note, longstanding beliefs about which gender ‘should’ be the breadwinner are becoming obsolete as women climb corporate ranks and earn higher salaries – and as traditional gender norms are abandoned altogether.

All in all, the fact that money does matter isn’t a hard pill for young people to swallow. Dancing around the subject isn’t sexy, either.

It affects everything we do, even love itself. Gen Z might be breaking the rules set out by generations before them, but they certainly won’t be breaking the bank for the sake of a partner.