TLDR: Partner lives solely off credit cards. No income in 2025. Be patient? Expect a career change? Ask for them to have a side gig?
Info: 34 year old males. 14 month relationship.
Full: I’m in a relationship that is going relatively well, but it’s my first real relationship so I’m not sure how to go about things. We are both 34. They are a realtor, and if you have any realtor friends you know that in general it’s a challenging career to actually be successful in. Many licensed realtor’s don’t really make enough to support themselves, especially this rocky year.
I make decent money but not enough to properly support 2 people, nor do I have any desire for that. I would hope for fair splits for the most part, unless I dramatically increased my salary.
We don’t really talk about finances and are yet to live together. My concern/issue is that they survive fully off credit card debt. They’ve not made any money this year and I’ve been quiet about it, but at what point do you expect someone to start bringing in positive cash flow? I’m starting to worry based on this years commission (or lack of) that they can’t reasonably support themselves. I’m very cognizant of savings and my future.
Do I wait to even approach the topic until the end of year if there is no improvement? Give it more time? Hope that something will shift in the next few months? I’ve never dated someone with this type of income stream and it’s challenging. Im not willing to put myself in a negative financial position because of someone else.
There are undertones and expectations that if I ever want to travel, I will foot the entire bill. I’m not sure I can handle a long term partner that isn’t contributing equally and is so frivolous with credit cards.