GenZ refuses to date because they fear 'not being able to afford the cost of love'

Around this time last year, Le Thi Quynh Nhu (24 years old, from Vinh Phuc ) was admired by her classmates when she had just graduated from school and had a satisfactory job, and received a love confession from her boyfriend. However, that happiness did not last long when Nhu's monthly salary was only about 5 million VND. This amount was just enough to maintain the love between her and her boyfriend.

Many people wonder why Nhu, a girl, spends so much. The young girl explains that her boyfriend spends 2-3 times more than that. "My boyfriend often gives me expensive gifts, so when I give him something in return, I also buy him something similar. Last year, for my boyfriend's birthday, I gave him a pair of shoes worth 3.5 million VND and a cake worth 300,000 VND, which was almost the entire month's salary," Nhu said.

Dating takes up a large part of living expenses. (Illustration photo)

Having spent all her salary on love expenses, Nhu had to take on a part-time job selling perfume online to cover her living expenses. Being in a relationship where she had to struggle to match the other person, Nhu began to feel tired.

Even though her lover can cover all the expenses, this makes Nhu feel small and weak in the relationship.

After nearly a year together, Nhu decided to say goodbye with the reason of wanting to focus on work, but in reality, the young girl realized that she was not strong enough to pursue love maintained by material things. Although her salary has increased by nearly 1 million per month since July 1st this year, Nhu also told herself that she would not love anyone else until the economy improved.

Hoang Anh Tri (24 years old, from Hai Phong ) had a girlfriend for half a year but just decided to break up. During their relationship, his monthly salary of 8 million VND was only enough to last about 10 days.

To have movie nights, to go out to eat with his girlfriend, to go out in the suburbs... Tri has to eat instant noodles for many days. Since the middle of this year, the company has had less work, so Tri's income has dropped by nearly two million. Without money, he is often grumpy, even arguing with his girlfriend over trivial matters.

After the breakup, Tri found it easier to spend money when he could cut down on love expenses. "If we go further, how can I take care of my girlfriend? Let's break up so she can find someone who can protect and take care of her," the young man who lives in Cau Giay district gave his reason.

Earn money first, find a girlfriend later

Every morning going to work in a neatly ironed shirt, Le Anh Toan (Thanh Hoa) makes many young people jealous because he has a stable job at the age of 24. However, few people know that even though he has been working for several years, this young man still struggles with the worry of making a living.

"It's really stable because the office job of 8 million/month requires you to sit still and not have to move around much. It looks okay, but for me, this is just a job. In terms of salary, I'm not even as good as students who have just graduated and are freelancers," Toan said.

The young man said that the basic salary was not even enough to cover his monthly expenses. The rent alone took up almost half of that, not to mention food, meetings, funerals and weddings.

During the day, Toan works at the office, and at night he drives a motorbike taxi, earning an extra 2-3 million each month, just enough to cover expenses.

Toan is not only pressured by economic worries, but every weekend when he returns to his hometown, he has a headache because his family urges him to fall in love, get married, and have children. At 24 years old but still not having a relationship, Toan makes his parents worried, but the underlying cause is something no one understands about the young man.

Many Gen Z want to have a lover but don't dare. (Illustration photo)

"Seeing my friends on holidays having someone beside them to hold hands and go out makes me crave it, but my financial situation doesn't allow it." Toan understands that when in love, there can't be a story of "a thatched hut and two golden hearts." No matter how simple and understanding the girlfriend is, the boyfriend still wants to give the best to the one he loves.

It is impossible for both of them to just go for a walk in the park every time they meet, and to eat together at a street food stall would cost 200,000-300,000 VND. Toan added other expenses such as watching movies, buying gifts for anniversaries, etc., adding them all together, this amount could amount to several million VND per month.

Thinking about not being able to take care of the person he loves, Toan feels inferior. Although he has had feelings for a few people during his studies and work, he doesn't dare to flirt or fall in love with anyone.

For Toan, the age before 30 is the time for career and financial accumulation. "Well, make money first, find a girlfriend later, in a few years when the economy is better, it's not too late to fall in love, I'm just afraid that my parents in the countryside won't be able to wait," Toan shared.

According to Professor Dr. Nguyen Thien Nhan (National Assembly Delegate of the XV term), the reason why young people today do not fall in love or get married is because they face financial difficulties, are busy with work, want to pursue a career, etc. This leads to the trend of late marriage, with many people even choosing to stay single.

Professor Nhan warned that the above situation is partly affecting the birth rate. The average number of children a woman of childbearing age has is currently 1.96, at the lowest level in history and is forecast to continue to decrease.

Hieu Lam

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/genz-tu-choi-yeu-duong-vi-so-khong-kham-noi-tinh-phi-ar901676.html