I Got My Own

MISS TLC SAYS: That's right. Miss TLC is a true independent woman, and so, I can appreciate this here lil ditty. However, I need to take a moment to break something down for the bruthas out there who go a bit too far with this "I love me an independent woman" ish. It's one thing if you don't want to be taken by a golddigger, or get caught wasting your time with a girl who claims she's just "old-fashioned" when she refuses to ever reach for her wallet when the bill arrives. However, do NOT use the "I prefer an independent woman" excuse just to cover up your own extreme lack of funds or a J-O-B. And do NOT take advantage of a woman who is willing to lay out the cash for gifts, vacations, and dinners, just because you think it makes you look like a mack to never pay. It makes you look like a loser. She knows it too. She's just sick of dealing with the other losers out there and feels comfortable enough with you to put up with it until she realizes you ain't worth it. Now I have a lot of friends who put me down for EVER reaching for a dollar when I'm around my man, but I am way too confident, secure, financially stable, and intelligent to do otherwise. Money = power. And why wouldn't you want the power? Power = control. Why wouldn't you want to control the situation? Now this isn't a method to be used 100% of the time. NEITHER one of you should do all the bill-paying, check-balancing, or gift-giving. It should be an equal partnership. And there should be no plan or schedule for it either. It needs to be genuine, spontaneous, and thoughtful. You stick to that mantra, and your relationship will only benefit from the adult way in which you handled it. If it doesn't? Then you're not with a top caliber man or woman anyway, so bounce. :)