The Evolution of Relationships

Today I am sharing something near and dear to my heart... I love sharing love stories or dating advice or marriage advice etc.  We are going to talk about how the dating scene has changed:

   It has not always been called Dating- my in laws considered my husband and I “seeing” each other.- to me we were dating, this was 19 years ago. They didn’t want us to court just for fun, we needed to be planning to spend forever together.  They did not want you to just date for fun 

2018- Dating includes:
Relationships are not monogamous until you mutually agree they are. In other words, unless you and a guy explicitly agree that you are not seeing other people, then both of you are free to date other people. This can be intimidating, but once you embrace it, you might find it liberating. After all, it means you can date multiple people.

Texting is part of romance. Everyone has a smart phone. Text is how you set up dates. Texting is how you flirt. Texting is how you can express your interest (by responding favorably to said flirts), or disinterest (ignoring said flirts).

When we were dating there was no online dating, no date app's to find someone, there was no smart phones,facebook etc. It was either pick up the phone, write a letter or meet face to face.

Also, we did live together before marriage but we never slept in the same bed, he lived with me at my parents house, we always had someone home with us which was healthy and kept us inline. 

 These days couples are

1. Moving in before marriage.

In the past, it was customary for couples to court each other, propose, get married and then move in together. Nowadays, moving in prior to marriage has become the norm, especially among millennials. According to Millennial Magazine, couples choose to move in earlier on in relationships for a number of reasons; some reasons include saving money on rent and getting to know your significant other on a deeper level. Many couples also choose to live together to ensure marriage is right for them. In addition, countless millennials believe that cohabitation is an essential step to take before marriage.

Two-thirds of adults believe it is a good idea to live with someone before marriage, in line with research done by Barna. From this data, seventy-two percent of millennials were twice as likely to trust that cohabitation is a good idea, compared to thirty-six percent of elders. Boy, how times are certainly changing!

2. Combining finances prior to marriage.

Not only are couples moving in before marriage, but they are also beginning to combine their finances. Millennials aren’t finding it necessary to put a ring on it before opening up a joint checking account or racking up points on a shared cash-back credit card with their significant other. For them, merging finances has become the norm in the modern-day relationship. It's also a big step if you don't plan to get married at all. A wedding is an expense many can no longer afford, so combining finances is now seen as the formal way to solidify your relationship. Of course, if you don't plan to get married, it's a good idea to write a Cohabitation Agreement in Calgary, or where you happen to live, to ensure your living arrangements are legally recognised. If the worst were to happen to one of you, you need the same legal protection to your finances as marriage offers!

According to Census data, men and women ages 25 to 34 are living with a partner two times more often than twenty years ago.. With that being said, this often means unmarried couples are not only sharing the keys to an apartment, but are also discussing how to budget; this dictates who takes care of certain financial responsibilities and holds one other accountable for joint expenses.

3. Looking at engagement rings together.

Traditionally, this momentous occasion would begin with one partner dropping hints about wanting to get married. Meanwhile, the other partner is purchasing the ring and planning to propose alone in a romantic, meaningful setting. Today, the element of surprise has dwindled, with couples browsing for, picking out and even purchasing an engagement ring together.

According to The Knot 2017 Jewelry & Engagement Study, thirty-three percent of couples shop for their engagement ring together. Traditionalists might find this particular case bizarre, but, eighty-nine percent of grooms are pleased with their partner’s level of involvement in the purchasing process. Naturally, this means more brides will know how much their ring costs, which also doesn’t seem to bother the groom. It is said, on average, a person will spend 3.5 months looking for the perfect engagement ring, and will look at 26 different rings before purchasing;, so no wonder they look to their partner for help!

4. Online dating taking the forefront.

Every once in a while I hear a woman say: “I’d really like to meet someone, but I don’t want to go online. I want to meet them naturally.” Translation: “I’m not really ready to meet anyone.”

Today, there is zero shame in online dating. People use OKCupid, Match.com, Tinder and other sites for all kinds of needs – romantic and otherwise. I’ve made platonic friends and professional contacts through these sites. One single mom told me she connects with other single moms in her area for friendship through Tinder. You and I are all online, all the time. Your dating life is not except from this. Embrace 

It is no secret that online dating has changed the way couples meet. In fact, today, nearly half of the public knows someone who either uses online dating or has met their partner via online dating. With all of the proven success, positive attitudes toward online dating have certainly skyrocketed over the years.

The Knot’s 2017 study, previously mentioned, showed that nineteen percent of brides reported meeting their partner through online dating and social media. Also, according to Pew Research, the share of 18- to 24-year-olds who use online dating has roughly tripled from ten percent in 2013 to twenty-seven percent in 2018. One factor behind these stats has a lot to do with the use of mobile dating apps such as Hinge and Match.com. Regardless, the times of hoping to run into your soulmate by chance have taken the back seat as online dating progressively takes the reigns.

The dating scene has changed for sure over the years. One thing is for sure, if you are going to date someone online, or go on dating sites please stay safe!!.