Just Say No to Gold Diggers

Dear Dink,

I stumbled upon your site sort of by accident. You say you have answers so maybe you can help. I am 24 years old and considered a good looking guy. I work as a video production assistant for one of my local TV stations. I don't make much money but I have a good future as experienced professionals in this industry can make some good dough. I have recently started participating in dating dinners, where young professionals get together for dinner once a week and get to know each other. It is a fairly organized event, we each have 15 minutes to get to know others in a round robin musical chairs type of dinner. This experience has not been very enjoyable for me though. I have participated in two such dinners with very little luck. Often a woman's eyes light up when I tell them what I do for a living, and then I tell them about how much I make and it seems to turn them off. It is not a requirement to talk about our finances, but I have tried to leave this out and that doesn't seem to work either. Should I be doing something differently? Do I make a point not to tell them what I am making? I do have a bachelors degree in Mass Media, it just takes some time to get experience and build a resume in my field. Any advice?

Broke in Minnesota

Dear Broke,

There is only one thing you can do, tell them you are a wealthy Television executive. Just kidding. Continue to be honest with your prospective dates. If they don't like the fact that you aren't making a ton of money at this point in your young career, then you don't want anything to do with them anyway. Many young women today are looking for get-rich-quick men, and they are nothing more than GOLD DIGGERS!

Some would say that women are looking for security when they are looking for a mate, because they want to make sure that they, along with any future children, will be safe and "okay". I can understand this argument for women in their late 30's, but this concept makes no sense "at all" for someone in your age group. I could also understand a woman looking for nothing other than safety and security if this were the 1950's, when women stayed at home to raise the children while the husband went out to earn a living for the family. There is just one problem, this isn't the 1950's! This isn't how our society works anymore. Households today generally have two working adults and pool their wages for the common good of the family. Also, most women are deciding to have children much later than days of old, many waiting until they have finished college and established their careers before deciding to embark on motherhood and in many cases marriage itself.

So the next time this happens flat out call them a gold digger. No wait, don't do that or you will never get a date. These kind of women want it all, they want a man that is going to pull in $50,000-$150,000 per year, plus have their career, and raise a family. This is not reality. No Women, you can't have it all. Hey, try this, build your wealth together rather than trying to strike it rich instantly. It used to be that two people fell in love, got married, and started from scratch, and built their lives TOGETHER.

So, Broke, until you find true love, and someone who is willing to like or love you for who you are, rather than what you can give them, just keep looking. I truly believe there is someone for everyone. If you do find your true love, over time not only will your love grow, but your wealth will as well.