Does More Dough Equal A Better Love Life? 
 

Sex and money are two things that are hot topics in most people's lives. Some seem to think if you have a lot of the second one, you'll get a lot more of the first because money makes the world go 'round.
 
That shiny, sporty little car will make your love life better; the house on the hill will make your spouse happier; and a reserved table at the best restaurant in town will make you stop arguing-right? If you could just have those things, everything else would be fine...
 
Maybe not. Could it be that having money is really secondary and there are ways to increase your satisfaction in love without having to just increase your bank balance?
 
Much of the time, the wants people have depend on money, or the lack thereof. It's true that the more of the green stuff you've got, the more possessions you can gain and material desires you can fulfill.
 
But acquiring goods doesn't necessarily translate to happiness in your love life. In the simplest terms, the belief that money increases happiness is an illusion. 
 
Not a Cure-All
 
When a man is in love, one of his biggest goals is to make the woman in his life happy. It's easy to believe that having the money to, say, treat someone to a luxurious vacation will put the oomph back in your relationship.
 
But it's often a danger for a man to think that more money and more "rewards" are all it ever takes to put a smile on a woman's face. The truth is, the old adage is right-it's often the thought that counts more than the gift.
 
What a woman really needs from the man in her life, more than anything material or monetary, is to have her primary needs fulfilled. That extra spending money might be nice, but it isn't the ultimate solution in creating a satisfied woman and long-lasting happiness in a relationship. 
 
When a man shows his partner caring, understanding, and respect, the road to happiness is a little less bumpy and the leisure and fun for which the money allows is icing on the cake because her needs are already being satisfied.
 
But a man isn't necessarily going to know instinctively what the woman in his life requires to be content. Women play an important role of helping a man understand her needs by preparing him to listen to her talk about her problems. Whether a woman is working or not, a woman still has to contend with her emotions, no matter the situation.
 
A man may be inclined to think that the money he earns and brings home should be enough to please the woman in his life. The woman needs to clarify for him that she truly appreciates his efforts, while articulating that it's emotional support she needs more than anything.
 
For women, the feeling of being overwhelmed may not subside with an increase in wealth. Even if a woman can afford to have a manicure a week, a personal chef, a maid, or more, she still needs to talk about her problems occasionally in order to pull herself out of the well. While men should work at understanding a woman's emotional needs, women must learn how to approach a man with her troubles, while still showing him appreciation, acceptance, and trust. 
 
The True Meaning of Success 
 
Money isn't a bad thing. The desire to have money and to be successful is normal and healthy. The key is to not lose sight of the self in the process of achieving personal success and wealth. While some people do believe that more money is truly the road to a happy heart, those who are wealthy-at least some of them-would be willing to admit that money becomes too much of a focus and the desire to improve ourselves emotionally can be lost in lieu of quick fixes with cash.
 
Having more sometimes translates to having less overall. Happiness has to come from within, not solely from someone else and not from outside sources (like money and the goodies it can buy.)
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