Marriage - Your Cost-Benefit Analysis.

[Barrister]

I'd leave out number 1 and replace 6 with video games.

Video games make women fat.

There's nothing wrong with fat women.

[crazy canuck]

But it is true when a person is single as well.

Yes but in that instance you are only paying for your own increase in standard of living.  When married you are paying for that increase for one other person who cannot pay for the increase based on their own income (keeping kids out of it).

From a solely "Dollars and Cents" angle I agree.  Over the course of our thirteen year marriage I have clearly brought home more money, yet my wife has historically outspent me in Discretionary Expenses (an Out-Of-My-Ass Guesstimate would be at a 3 to 2 or 4 to 3 ratio).

That being said, though, there are other factors involved with the delicate intricacies of maintaining a 2+ person home that transcend the scope of pure finances:  namely, Chores.  Cleaning, cooking, laundry, necessary errands (grocery shopping, etc), dishes, yardwork (if necessary) -- and this isn't even including what's invoved once you add children to the mix.

In my own situation, the disparity in monetary income has been more than offset by the reverse disparity in who does Household Chores, leading me to personally feel that the extra money that I have brought into the marriage has been an excellent investment towards Free Time that would otherwise be spent on less savory endeavours...

I agree.  Thats why I said in my first post that if you are looking at marriage from a strictly financial cost benefit analysis you ought not get married.

There are of course a whole host of other reasons to get married (and stay married) and that is why I have been happily married going on 19 years.

[Malthus]

I agree.  Thats why I said in my first post that if you are looking at marriage from a strictly financial cost benefit analysis you ought not get married.

There are of course a whole host of other reasons to get married (and stay married) and that is why I have been happily married going on 19 years.

The cost of a maid, cook and shopper *is* a dollars-and-cents cost-benefit issue. 

[crazy canuck]

The cost of a maid, cook and shopper *is* a dollars-and-cents cost-benefit issue. 

In a quantitive sense it is.  But definitely not in a qualitative sense.  If I was rich enough to have household staff for example it would not be the same thing.

[MadImmortalMan]

I will give you Ed Anger's marriage checklist. If I had Visio on this system, I'd make a flowchart

1) Is she smart? If yes, then continue

2) is she good looking? Is her Mom good looking? If Yes, continue

3) Does she nag? If yes, ABORT. No? Keep going

4) Will she sign a pre-nup? Yes? Keep going

5) Does she tolerate you quirks? Yes, keep going

6) Likes sports? Yes? JESUS TAPDANCING CHRIST, GET HER A RING.

Interesting. So I don't make another mistake, could you advise on a marriage checklist for women plzkthx.

1: Do you want to change him? If yes, ABORT, if no, return to "1".

[Malthus]

The cost of a maid, cook and shopper *is* a dollars-and-cents cost-benefit issue. 

In a quantitive sense it is.  But definitely not in a qualitative sense.  If I was rich enough to have household staff for example it would not be the same thing.

Heh, doesn't necessarily mean having staff - though it isn't really all that unaffordable (you are richer than I and *I* have had staff; even my parents, who are poorer than I, had a live-out maid in several times a week, and a guy to cut the grass).

Think of it in terms of "eating at home vs. at restaurants all the time".

[crazy canuck]

By staff I mean people that take care of all the household chores that we otherwise do.

We already have a maid and a chap that does the yard.

[Malthus]

By staff I mean people that take care of all the household chores that we otherwise do.

We already have a maid and a chap that does the yard.

*Sigh* I miss Anya. She did all the chores, everything. Like a chunky Ukranian Mary Poppins. 

[Brazen]

I recommend cohabiting with a chef, then the partner IS the staff 

[CountDeMoney]

A.) I've never given you shit for not being in a relationship. On behalf of the women of the world, I thank you for it daily.

Goddamned right you do.

B.) I have a wonderfully working marriage right now. It's 4.5 years along and stronger now than ever. In fact, it's lasted nearly as far along as my last marriage,

Don't use the term "last marriage" when "first marriage" is much more appropriate and less misleading about your inability to maintain relationships, mkaythxbuhbye.

[Caliga]

I recommend cohabiting with a chef, then the partner IS the staff 

You'd love me, baby.

[garbon]

You'd love me, baby.

I'm so not sure who to defend.  On one hand we have gas station food but on the other we have british food.

[frunk]

There is no winner, only gastro-intestinal distress.

[Brazen]

You'd love me, baby.

[gordonramsay]You may think you're a cook, but you're no chef[/gordonramsay]

[derspiess]

You'd love me, baby.

I'm so not sure who to defend.  On one hand we have gas station food but on the other we have british food.

Zing!