I was made redundant 6 months ago & am now skint, 90% of my savings gone. My partner works & occasionally treats me to dinner out. In turn, I cook, clean & am busy doing all the DIY jobs around the house which have been left and my job search. Quid pro Quo. Relationships are about SHARING not posing

James, London, United Kingdom

Oh, I get it now. This column is meant to be humourous! And there was I thinking it was just more silly middle class girly gossip...

Mark, Reading, UK

It must be hard for a rich woman, having to put up with a poor man. Oh well. At least you aren't starving or diseased or terminally ill. Bless, i would suck a rich woman dry just to watch her sorry face, if that's all she judged herself by. GET A GRIP.

Paul, Gateshead, Mine

Family? At 34 i don't have any, HA!!!!! No ties to anyone who judges me by my paycheck. Just friends who love me for who I am. Many of them good people and many of them women. Unfortunately the world is full of idiots. Of both sexes. You want them? You have them.

Paul, Gateshead, Mine

Why has he no savings? That betrays a deeper problem than mere pride. Obviously a serial killer who has spent his existing dosh covering up his numerous killings a la Dexter. I have lived hi and lived lo , and believe me Hi is better, if only for the money.

RonZ, London, UK

If a woman has a lot of debt then she is stupid, therefore I would not consider her girl friend material.

Jeremiah1974, London,

Your friend in the article sounds ideal... can I have her number? My recent girlfriend earned 12 times my salary, and still expected me to pay more than 50% of the time. She would even invite herself then say it was my shout....

richc, alicante,

I totally disagree with the above, im in a lot of debt (from my student days). My gf has cleared most of her debt off (she is 3 yrs older than I am) and most of what we do is financed by her.

We both figure its best to clear me debt ASAP (even if that means her helping out)

steven, glasgow,

slowly learning the lessons of the above. when i met my girlfriend she'd maxed every card she had - shes now gone too far through maxing mine out splitting is becoming difficult but very attractive. of course when you tackle her about her spending I'm accused of being money obsessed.

Simon, Luton,

A woman with debt can still do what she was designed to do: bear children. A man with debt is less easily able to fulfill his side of the bargain: to care for his family. These are still key factors when we look for a mate.

Vic, London, UK

Woman in debt? It makes her vulnerable. Plenty of sexual attraction & exploitation in that . Thank God I have lost interest in sex.

ian cheese, london, uk

Elizabeth from Kent, you are an unbelievable sexist. Having just read an article about women and their right to a career, debates about equal pay, why the hell should it be "a social decorum" that men pay? Why is that "normal society"? Some women want equality only when it suits them.

JimmyB, London,

True as ever.... In my experience 85% of the lasies would not shaer the dinner bill (and that's over 200)...

Once dated a girl that was skint but always happy to offer me drinks or dinner... rare example of an assertive woman

marco, London,

Here, in Scotland, a pint a pint of heavy and a half for the lady goes a long way to a pleasant evening. Who needs excess? Feet on the ground for all! I worked in Manhattan where the WASPS judged a real man by the bulge in his back pocket. You can keep them.

Wallace, Miami, USA

Thank you for explaining to me why I am not married. My parents believed that science was the way to go and were also against 'earning extra money' during a poverty-stricken PhD.

3 years of no money and debts and no drop-dead-gorgeous body to sell as an 'escort'.

In the bin in women's eyes!

Rhys Jaggar, Leeds, UK

Rather broad assesments made on the strength on person's story. It's uncomfortable for anyone used to providing to have to be the receiver for everything (m or f). Alex's beau needs to learn graciousness in accepting...to the same degree she's shown creativity in offering.

Dan, Portland, US

Dream on baby, when a woman is in debt she tends to be even more mercenary than usual, you may think men don't notice these things, being the poor helpless fools that we are, but we do. Unfortunately some men will put up with some fairly awful behaviour as long as they are getting what they want.

Paul, Carlow, Ireland

Women are terrible golddiggers.

Mark Taylor, Cambridge,

Having heard many young professional women justify a new car, a luxury apartment, and many other things they really can't afford with "I work hard, I deserve it!" I have to say that it is unattractive. It indicates a lack of critical thinking, and selfishness.

John Crowley, Ojai, CA, USA

My boyfriend does'nt work and as a result I'm so bored with him and paying his bills and buying his drinks and dinners I'm moving on. I want to be someones equal, not to be a keeper or to be kept.

Theres nothing wrong with being treated nice once in a while. It should work both ways.

fiona, ireland, ireland

This kind of things are happening in my country all the time and when you go through this kind of event you d see pride issue over the men.ı believe every men ,from man who has self-confidence to coward one,have a huge ego as to women issue and try to be seem stronger in every angle than we actually are and as we all know in this capitalist world money is the strongest power in comparison with the past therefore a man who is lack of money ,cant bolster his pride instictively, thats the whole issue.:))

Koralp, Istanbul, Turkey

Woman with no money - fine and has no bearing on their attractiveness.

Woman in debt - pretty unattractice unless there's a good reason.

Joseph W, Seattle, US

This has nothing to do with money... it's a social decorum that the man holds the door for the woman and then if they are eating out, he offers to pay the bill. Its up to the woman to decline the offer (many wouldn't but some would). It's just how normal society operates,

elizabeth, kent, uk

Women with debts are a complete turn-off. Debts tell me that they are either vain, stupid or ready to take advantage of you.

Dave, Slough,

So I really can't understand. If the man insists to pay fully, then he's trying to show off and to "buy" her as in using money to sleep with her later in the night. If he splits the cheque, then he's cheap. Puzzling!

Stu, Oxford,

I have observed that females I date suddenly develop expensive tastes on a date. There is no harm if one wants to be exploratory, just do it at your expense. Humbulani, Makhado (Louistrichart) South Africa

Humbulani Seth Mukwevho , Makhado, South Africa

I once dated a guy who also insisted on splitting the bill. I did not object to as I have no problem with going dutch. However, this guy was not only wealthy he was also a skinflint and actually got out his calculator to work out what to charge me. Not surprisingly I never went out with him again.

Jane, Bath,

Actually that's not the case at all Ariel .. those high maintenance WAG or Sex-in-the-City wannabe types are a huge turn-off to men. Who wants to contemplate a long-term relationship with a woman who's Visa is maxed out on label purchases & 'because I'm worth it' excesses?

Karl, auckland, new zealand

I never thought women would have to go to such extreme circumstances to pay for things! However, anything to maintain the man's pride... Certainly strategic deception.

I love the reference to Ariel's grandmother and to Sophie.

Suzanna, Fresno, California,