Money Issues

My mom is bringing home the mulah because my stepdad, he don't got a job. But my sister pays some of the rent. My mom has been bringing home money so she's not tripping. I think if you are just now meeting a boy and y'all go out, he should pay, but if y'all been going out then it's like whoever got the money should pay. If a dude is having his lady pay for everything, than they just be using them.

- LaTajh

A Man Should Have a Job

My mom is the one that brings home the money. I think this money situation does affect the relationship between men and women. My mom’s boyfriend doesn’t have a job, but he relies on my mom for a lot. I don’t really think very much of him. If he wants to be the big man in the house, then he should at least be able to maintain a job. I think a man shouldn’t rely on a woman to provide for everything, including a cell phone bill. If you want to be a man, then you need to be a man. You don’t need to spend the whole day running back and forth to the store for cigars and Red Bull. I believe in the 50/50 rule in the family situation.

When it comes to dating, I think the boy should pay. It doesn’t have to be every time or anything. These boys who get girls to support them or buy them things are jr. low lifes. A man should never have to rely on a woman!

- Breanna Clark, 16

Some Men Are Lazy

My mother and sisters bring home the bacon in my family. I believe this does affect the relationship between men and women because most of the men and boys in my family don’t have a job or money. I observe that some men are lazy. I don’t think they have to pay for everything, but they do have to pay for themselves – especially if they are trying to do too much or spend the hard-earned money that girls work for.

- Akilah Stewart, 15

My Mom Supports Her Man

In my family, my mom is bringing home the money. She has five kids, plus a big 34-year-old kid (her boyfriend). She has to support everyone and pay the bills. Her boyfriend is okay with being broke and mooching off of my mom. This is bad because I can’t take my mom’s money because he takes it all. I think my mom will keep supporting him because they have kids together and she wants him to be around.

I think this trend does affect relationships between men and women because I don’t think it makes a woman think positively of a man that she has to take care of. I think it’s okay for women to pay for men sometimes, but not to make it a national habit.

I see boys my age asking girls for money and I think they are moochers. I believe in being treated like a lady and that your man should take care of you. News flash to ladies who are paying for their boyfriends: you are not his mother!

- Jazmin Watkins, 17