Investing... Love List Thursdays

"Oh, you look good to me.... Your silky words are sweet.... But your pockets sure look empty"

I was recently talking to my father and as always he talks about being married to my mother and what occurred between them that prevents them from living under the same roof (they have been married for almost 33 years and separated for half that time). He usually focuses on the negative things but in this conversation he seemed a little upbeat when he spoke about their finances.

My father was the bread winner and he paid the rent, half of the Con Ed, the life insurance and bought the food. My mother paid the phone bill, half of the Con Ed and bought clothes for both me and my brother. Whatever was left over was split between their joint bank accounts and then on themselves. My father never knew what my mother's take home pay was, she never knew his. My mother took care of the home, washed all of our clothes and cooked all of our meals while working a 9 to 5 just like my father. Is that ideal? Not for some but it worked for them.

I don't need to know what someone's take home pay is or what he spends his money on, but I do want to know HOW he manages... if his bills are paid, if he was a checking and/or savings account, if he has direct deposit or if he's waiting outside the check cashing spot until 12:01 a.m.

I've had my share of stingy brothas even a brotha or two who laid up unemployed while I toiled and he looked to me for damn near everything including hair cut money. I'm so glad for a mother who got in my butt for being young and dumb and I'm certainly glad for lessons learned.

"`Cause nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin'... You got to have somethin' if you wanna be with me... `Cause life is too serious, love's too mysterious.... A fly girl like me needs security"

If a man is going to be with me, he's going to have to spend some money on me. The thing is I'm a really simple woman. I like little things and I am financially sound so I'm not looking for someone to help me out of any bind, but as Mary sang in "Feel Like A Woman"....

"If you're on your way home, stop and buy me something, ohh.

Boy, buy me a bag.

Or buy me some shoes.

This is a part of me I'm tryna get you used to, ohh.

Boy, buy me diamonds.

Buy me pearls.

Buy me this.

Buy me that.

Make me fall deeper in love with you.

I'm tired of screaming independent.

I wanna start depending on you."

And it's not about being a gold digger, it's not about being taken care of, it's really about investing time and money into a relationship.

I like this article I found... Investing In Relationships

Another blog post on investing in relationships... If A Man Loves You, He'll Spend Money on You

K's Love List

21. Has a healthy relationship with money and all financial matters

22. Must have a checking and savings account

23. Has a life insurance policy

24. Doesn't mind treating me to something nice every now and again and especially on special days (birthdays & holidays...)

25. Generous but cautious in his spending

26. Knows how to creatively date me

27. Won't take me, my time or my "investments" for granted

28. Physically healthy and takes very good care of himself

29. Passionate about living

30. Welcomes his role of being the Head

If you want to check out a love list supreme, check out Lovebabz's Love List

If you want to know just How "Magic" Lists Work