I see two conflicting ideas tossed around here frequently. One is that most men should date/LTR/marry 18-25 young women. Another is that women are always after men for their money.

Personally, I started dating my husband at 21 (he was 30), he wanted to get engaged quickly. I knew he was the man for me but wanted to wait a few years to get my career started, because I didn't think it was right that he should have more financial burden than me. We were married at 23/32. We make around the same now, and split finances equally.

Essentially, what I'm wondering is, if you advocate dating/LTRing/marrying a woman 10+ years younger, ideally in her early 20s, how can she be on the same level as you financially?

And if you marry an 18 year old, she raises your babies, keeps house, and never goes to school or has a job then something goes wrong in your relationship, shouldn't she have at least some cash to get back on her feet?

Legitimately not trolling folks, just heard this come up in my family recently and want to know.