Is a 'girlfriend allowance' a good or bad thing? Couples weigh in

When it comes to relationships, it’s different strokes for different strokes.

While some believe in having a certain amount of space and privacy, thus having living separately until they decide to get married, if at all. 

Others go with the idea of cohabiting sometimes with the discussion of marriage being somewhere in the future, but sometimes without having the discussion and it not being a priority.

When it comes to finances, couples also have different dispositions.

There are some who believe that the man should pay the majority of the bills, because ‘that is his role’, while there are others who believe in going Dutch and splitting bills.

For those who belong to the latter school of thought, there is a trend of giving what has been referred to as a ‘girlfriend allowance’ and men who go by this principle allocate the amount in their budget.

Moses Ndumbi spoke to Wananchi reporting about his views on giving his girlfriend an allowance:

I give my girlfriend an allowance twice a month on the 15th and 30th. I set aside about Ksh. 30,000 for this.

She uses it for her pedicure, manicure, shopping for things that she loves such as hair, shoes, make up and accessories. 

Sometimes she takes her siblings for a date and gifts them if she still has some cash to spare, she gifts me with whatever she wants. 

It has strengthened our relationship since I am able to give her financial security. 

I don't feel like it's too much or she's asking for too much, I believe in appreciating her and it encourages me to work for more money. 

My girlfriend is smart, so sometimes she tries to invest and build herself since she's also financially stable, it doesn't intimidate me. 

Another perspective was given by Kerry Nelima, who receives a girlfriend allowance:

My boyfriend came up with the idea of giving me a girlfriend allowance. 

It has helped me to attain a certain stability level since there are things I don't have to worry about. 

Sometimes I also send him some money to get stuff done but he enjoys it when I use the allowance to make myself happy. 

He sends me a fair amount twice a month. He says it's not fair to have a lady that you can't keep.

I have a cyber business that I invest in and he enables it's progress. 

It's a good feeling as a woman to get appreciated for things such as cooking for him and making a conducive home that ensures his peace of mind, so he's able to give me what I require.

However, not everyone sees the trend as positive, with some viewing it as a sort of ‘gold digging’.

Before couple decide on whether to adopt giving an allowance, each person should evaluate their financial circumstance to avoid resentment down the line.