That is no longer the case. Now women work - employed or running their own businesses - and thus interact with money. Additionally, a lot of banks have women’s dedicated funds to encourage their participation in the financial sector and improve financial inclusion.

If you haven’t joined this movement, you need to because there are a lot of benefits to you earning your own money. It doesn’t have to be in the millions. Just make sure you have something for yourself. 

One of the biggest causes of strain in a relationship is money. We all know this - whether we’ve been in a romantic relationship or not. There’s a lot of tension around it and no one wants to talk about it. 

We lend money when we don’t want to and we find it hard to ask for it back because of the arguments it might stir. When you have your own money, you will not always be going to people for it and thus, the dynamics of your relationships change. 

Men feel like they can do anything and get away with it. And when they are with a woman who is financially dependent on them, their arrogance becomes pronounced. They treat you badly to the point of humiliation. 

They blackmail you and make you do things you wouldn’t want to. He will rub it in your face that whatever little you have is because of him. You will have to toe his line and do as he says. You lose your ability to question him and even have a normal conversation. 

But when they come across a woman who is financially astute, they behave differently. They realise you can walk away when you want to and never need his financial muscle. You wouldn’t squeeze yourself in a tight space so they shape up. 

Money gives you the power to do many things and one of them is to make decisions. When you are living on someone else’s finances, your ability to pull the strings as it were is very limited. You tend to operate under their shadow, do what they do and maintain the relationship lest you don’t get any money. 

The moment you get your own, you can do what you want. You want to eat out, you just have to choose where to go. You want to make a new purchase, you just have to decide how much you want to spend. 

Men should pay for dates. That’s where the argument is at. That said, you can’t risk not having any cash with you when you are going out. We’ve heard of those men who refuse to pay for dinner or pay for themselves and leave. The only way to escape such humiliation is by having your own cash. Always. 

If he refuses to pay, guess what, you pay, leave and never see him again. This goes for everything else, not just dates. From being able to buy yourself a new pair of shoes, or a dress and going to the salon, always be in a position to protect yourself.

Men run out of cash too so you have to be ready for the day he tells you that he cannot shell out a few coins for you. What if he loses his job, dies or suffers a huge setback? Be in a position to step in and stabilise the ship.