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Members of a popular internet forum were quick to call out one medical resident outraged at having to split rent equally with their girlfriend.
In a viral Reddit post published on r/AmITheA**hole, an anonymous Redditor (otherwise referred to as the original poster, or OP) said their partner makes double their salary and lamented over her refusal to take on a larger chunk of the couple's household expenses.
Titled, "[Am I the a**hole] for expecting my [girlfriend] to pay her share of the rent?" the post has received more than 15,000 upvotes and 5,000 comments since October 19.
"My [girlfriend] and I have been dating for a year and we want to move in together," OP began.
Continuing to explain that the couple is in the market for a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment or townhouse close to their job, OP said they are a pathology resident making $68,000 per year.
OP also said that their girlfriend makes $120,000 per year, and detailed why they believe that means she should pay significantly more in rent and utilities each month.
"Our rent [would be] $1,800/month + utilities and she wants to go half on both," OP wrote. "Because she is using one of the rooms as her office, I feel like she should pay more, so I should pay $700 and she should pay $1,300.
"I find she's being selfish because she makes much more than [me] and once I complete my residency I can easily make $350K a year or more," OP continued. "But according to her it's not fair for her to wait [three] years to 'potentially get paid back' because we could break up and she would have 'subsidized' me.
"To me if she isn't willing to pay a bit more to put some skin in the game she's being a gold digger and waiting for me to make bank without giving anything in the first place," OP added.
Along with airfare, food and fuel, the cost of housing in the U.S. is through the roof.
As median sale prices for homes across the country remain above $450,000, according to data published by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, many individuals, couples and families have been forced to cast aside any notion of ownership in favor of renting.
Renting, however, does not guarantee any financial relief.
The median monthly rent for an apartment in the U.S. is more than $2,000, according to an annual report released last month by Rent.com, marking an 8.8 percent increase from the same time last year.
Even working couples without children, long thought of as the pinnacle of financial freedom, have struggled to find affordable housing.
Business Insider reported in 2019 that money—and money issues—is the number one topic argued about by couples, and that financial problems play a factor in nearly 40 percent of divorces in the U.S.
Dr. Carla Marie Manly, clinical psychologist and Date Smart author, told Newsweek that concerns over money are a major contributor to relationship struggles, and explained how financial disagreements drive partners apart.
"Financial issues are super-charged in many relationships and can lead to a host of issues that can tear couples apart," Manly said. "When pushed to face simmering financial issues, it's common for partners to fight or shut down rather than respectfully getting to the roots of the matter.
"If one or both partners handle financial matters in negative or selfish ways, resentment and distrust will erode the health of the relationship," she added.
Throughout the comment section of the viral Reddit post, many Redditors echoed that sentiment and took issue with OP's assessment that their girlfriend's insistence on splitting household costs equally is indicative of opportunistic intentions.
"[You're the a**hole]," one Redditor wrote in the post's top comment, which has received more than 54,000 upvotes. "You're not married. You should be splitting rent 50/50.
"Also, in this situation, you're the gold digger," they added.
Redditor u/NotAMormon91, whose comment has received nearly 24,000 upvotes, offered a similar response.
"She's absolutely right that it's unfair to wait 3 years to 'potentially get paid back' because you're not guaranteed that salary," they wrote. "The only one asking someone to pay more...is you.
"Who's the gold-digger?" they questioned.
"She makes nearly twice what you make now," Redditor u/Finish-Sure chimed in. "But she's a gold digger?"
Newsweek reached out to the original poster for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have a similar monetary dilemma? Let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
About the writer
Taylor McCloud is a Newsweek staff writer based in California. His focus is reporting on trending and viral topics. Taylor ... Read more