All is very simple. Ask her to tell about the her life. Be interested in all. That she today cooking, where was, that bought. From this it is easy to understand a level of its requirements. If she descended on the market buy food and has made a dinner this is one. And if has gone to have dinner in restaurant is another.
And about your the salary you can tell :) But it is not necessary to speak the all truth:)
I am not so sure this is so easy to discover. When I first started to help my former girl she saved every penney for fear the supply would dry up. Then after a month, she started spending; everything she purchased was a needed item with a few pizzas added for good times.
Seeing how they spend their money is not valid as most have very little so they are forced to economize just to get by. Maybe you can visit her, give her to money to manage during your trip (add more than you feel necessary) and see how she manages a wad of money this size during your trip. When you make 250-350 a month and you man comes to visit for a week with $1000, managing this amount will take some restraint and good planning.
Thanks for the advice.
But to discover before the visit that her spending habits are not to my liking could save me a ticket!
-and some time (for both of us).
Greetings, all! My tuppence worth on this interesting topic.
I think it's always worth bearing in mind just how much about our (FSU/CIS or western) partner's life is outside our own experience - that goes for earning and spending money in each other's countries, too. In the bigger picture, enrolling her into financial responsibility - without condescension or control and in an empowering way - could very well mean access to an abundance of love and intimacy.
On a personal note, I felt utterly ashamed of myself when I realised that I had been spending the equivalent of my girlfriend's Mum's (full-time speech & language therapist) monthly salary on... lunch at the Hotel Minsk.
I have previously quoted Oscar Wilde here and would like to do so again: in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', Wilde's Lord Henry defines a cynic as 'one who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing'. It would be a tragic shame to be cynical about love.
I think that asking about everyday life is not a good way to find out about her saving habits:) Do you think any girl will tell you about hygienic things she buys?:) Or about pantyhose? Or about things like that?:) But maybe watching what she tells, what she writes about may show you what the reality is:)
geriatrix
I understand you desire to know before hand and save the price of the ticket. Some things can only be seen in person, some things will take much time to see. I wish you well.
Every time when so called "western" men discuss economy here I think of my boyfriend : he speaks about economy a lot. At the same time he have all barbeque equipment what is in sail and all cofee machines what are in sail (he drinks mostly tea):):):)Typical man:)
I dont absolutely understand that topic. Whats the point to discuss how somebody spend her 50 dollars monthly salary (or how much they get in Belarus). What is to save from 50 dollars? People buy food, buy some clothes, pay rent, go to some activities, theatre, club, concert-what the .... is to discuss here! If somebody eats in restaurant : so what. She dont do that every day for sure, or if she does she have really welthy boyfriend!
What about how big is geriatrix salary, its very easy to find out. Tell where you work,in what country and its really easy to find salary in that industry generally in the Internet!
Maybe we I must translate it and send to "Russian women discussing western men" message board? Or woman just goes to that board and asks from some other girls : hei, you live in USA, tell me how much one taxi driver might got a year, or accountaint:):):)
MOney money money money money. Save enough for your escape pod ( in case you fall down or get rejected) and the hell with the rest. A 5 dollar chicken in a basket and 5 dollars worth of gas,a 10 dollar bottle of wine and a blanket to keep her ass off the ground. If a simple pleasure does not suit her--then she is too cosmopolitan or out of reach. If a simple 3 dollar bottle of bubble bath or bath beads does not thrill her--then she is beyond approach. Why so much about the bulge in a man`s back pocket,and so little about his character? If he was a cattle driver and had modest financial means,a huge heart, a good physique,and impeccable hygiene,would this make him unworthy of love from even the most materialistic woman? Masha told me she did not believe in Paradise in a tent,and forever after,I knew that a real woman will accompany you through thick and thin, luxury or poverty, sickness and struggle. And feel that being loved IS her paradise,no matter the structure which shelters her ( within reason of course) ANd what sort of person does not know that you take the good and bad with any relationship? Not from this earth. I hope that the women who write here--yes you Nika,are not consumed by the love of money. This is a moral debauchery,and a good man -repellant. I insist--the best things in life often come inexpensively,or with no price. By the way--a good taxi driver will not make a lot of money hourly,but as with any service,if he is pleasant, and knowledgeable about locations,he will make more from his tips than I do as a laser surgery tech assistant
Geri, here is an idea for a practical way to not only find out about her spending habits but also to make sure none of these beauties ever develops a real interest in you..:)
"Dear FSU woman,
Because I am scared shitless of any woman trying to get her paws in my tight wallet I want to know what your spending habits are like.
First and most important I want to know what brand of hygienic products do you buy (Pitchka's idea), how much you spend on them and of course how often do you run out of them?
Then I need to know whether you prefer and how often you make dinner at home, reservations at your favorite restaurant or do you simply eat exclusively what you grow, livestock included?
Do you make your own clothing, buy it at the store, rely on handy-me-downs from friends and relatives or make appointments at various european capitals to custom make and accesorize your wardrobe?
Are you one of those women who always has too much month at the end of the money...and why?
Have you learnt to balance a check-book yet?
Er....aahh....do you have a checking bank account?
Do you know what a bank is? Ever seen one?..."
Geri, it is us, the western men who are most often stuck up about money.
Once we weed out the obvious and sometimes not so obvious FSU moochers, freeloaders and scammers it is not so hard to see most women from the east do think 'money first' or 'money at all costs'.
"I have worked hard for what I have. I enjoy the idea of sharing it with a good woman and I know what needs to be done to protect it."...THAT is the kind of message about money I have always sent and has, most times, been properly accepted and even appreciated.