Love or Leverage? How Inflation and Expectations Are Rewriting Modern Relationships

Love or Leverage? How Inflation and Expectations Are Rewriting Modern Relationships

There was once a time when relationships were seen as sacred unions built on love, companionship, and mutual growth. But now, a growing sentiment is surfacing—particularly among men—that many women no longer seek meaning in relationships. Instead, they seek relief from expenses, with inflation serving as the perfect excuse for transactional expectations.

This isn’t just anecdotal—it’s cultural.

In an old episode of The Drew Carey Show, a woman admitted she didn’t want marriage—just the wedding. That moment, once played for laughs, now feels eerily prophetic. More people are asking: Do women want the relationship, or just the benefits that come with it?

The Shift: From Emotion to Economics

As cost of living continues to rise, dating expectations have shifted. Traditional gestures like buying dinner or paying for dates are now often assumed responsibilities for men. But many feel that those gestures are no longer appreciated as signs of honor—they’re seen as obligations in a transactional exchange.

Online dating culture has magnified this shift. Social media is filled with viral clips declaring:

“If he’s not paying, he’s not serious.”

“Don’t date broke men.”

“I need a man who can provide.”

Inflation and Expectations

In a time where many are struggling financially, these messages can hit hard. Men feel used. Women feel entitled. And the meaning behind relationships gets lost somewhere in between.

Inflation Is Real—But So Is Intention

Yes, inflation has driven prices through the roof. Rent, groceries, gas—it all adds up. It’s understandable that some women are looking for security.

But when financial contribution becomes the only metric of a man's worth, it devalues emotional labor, character, and integrity.

At the same time, women argue they’re tired of being expected to split bills, perform emotional labor, and still uphold traditional roles like cooking, cleaning, and maintaining beauty standards. If they’re going to invest themselves fully, they want men to lead financially. For them, it’s about value and effort.

The Dating Disconnect

This leads to a frustrating disconnect:

Men feel they’re being reduced to wallets.

Women feel they’re underpaid for their emotional and domestic contributions.

Romance has become tangled in resentment. The result? Relationships feel more like negotiations than partnerships.

What’s the Solution?

It may be time to redefine value in relationships—not just by who pays, but by why they pay. Is it to show honor? To build something together? Or is it just a way to avoid carrying one’s own weight?

If love is now measured in dollars, perhaps the question isn’t “Where did the romance go?” but “What did we sell it for?