Dubai: No matter how commercial the world has become, residents say you still cannot put a price tag on love.
Although for some, the paycheque is a consideration, it is not the be all and end all in expressing that love, said three out of six residents Gulf News interviewed for Valentine’s Day.
“I feel it’s more about your attitude towards money than the amount of wealth you possess that matters in a relationship. If both partners have a similar approach towards money, they won’t have issues,” says Sharmaine, a beauty queen-turned-media practitioner.
“Money is not a big deal, if it’s true love; it’s (money) only a part of it. Love is what makes the relationship,” says Aryan Nabakhteh, 21, an Iranian music producer.
Rajesh Sharma, who has been married for 13 years, agrees that money doesn’t matter at all when it comes to relationships. Although, a lack of money can affect how a man expresses that love, he says.
“Men [traditionally] have to earn the bread and butter for the family. But whenever a man is disturbed about money, it affects how he expresses his love. But that doesn’t mean he loves you less. He loves you the same, it’s just that he is preoccupied by the need to provide for the family,” Sharma tells Gulf News.
But for Marian, a Filipino personal assistant, love plays a crucial role in maintaining a relationship. “Money has different levels of importance to people. I think on a long-term basis however, it matters. How will you raise your kids or go out on dates when you don’t have money?”
Indian resident Joshua Pereira, 30, who works in banking and sales, shares Marian’s thoughts. “You cannot live on love and fresh air alone. Love can’t pay the bills. Money is important when it comes to planning the family.”
Although all interviewees said money cannot corrupt true love, Shankar Gyawali says the way a partner handles money can.
“We can’t compare money with love, but it does play an important role in a relationship. If money is not managed properly, it can lead to friction in the relationship,” says Gyawali, who is flying back to Nepal this week to be with his wife as they celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary on February 14.
Although the group is split when it comes to the importance of money in relationships, they are united when it comes to making a relationship work. They say love is the utmost need of a person, but it’s not all that makes the relationship last.
“Love is one of the important needs but you cannot isolate it from other human needs. If a relationship, for example, robs your peace, erodes you of your self-esteem and so on, no single emotion, even love, can help it,” says Sharmaine.
Pereira says understanding each other, being connected not only to your spouse but also to the rest of the family matter.
But the most important element for love to prosper is communication, says Sharma. On average, he spends two hours with his wife and family on Skype daily 99 per cent of the time. As an additional expression of his love, he flies home every 35 to 40 days.
But to do that he needs money. That’s how money and love can sometimes be related.
