Quest

I'm a married man and I've been working 2 jobs for quite some time (1F/T, 1 P/T). I have a family to raise and life is not easy at times.

On the flip side: when my main job goes bad, I can still partially sustain our living w/o facing any major financial impact. Life of a typical Canadian can be hard for we pay too much taxes trying to make a living (sustain a living) here but I'm not complaining for the environment here is so much better than some asian countries.

If your GF does not appreciate you (using you working 2 jobs as an excuse), I would just dump her if I were you (she's not worth it). Also: if you are doraemon 1002's GF and you are reading this, plse take note:

Life as a grownup isn't as comfy as you think: everyone has to make sacrifices and work hard to achieve financial independence and such. If you aren't considerate enough to think it that way, I'm afraid that this society isn't for you afterall, perhaps you should go find a billionaire elsewhere and get married.

*geesh*

Q-TD

doraemon 1002: look at it this way: you are now single again and you are entitled to look for a better GF (partner, whatever) that will share your lifestyles, point of views, etc. Canadian caucasian gals are more "realistic" in a sense that many of them realise that money doesn't grow on trees and they too, may have to work/maintain a 2-income earnings in order to lead a decent living here in North America. I have seen many unrealistic immigrant gals from the orient who, perhaps parents brought along lots of mullah or so, became unrealistic and demanding from their BF or spouse, to the point where at times, I consider them to be loosers and if I'm in such situation, I would just file for divorce/dump her right away and start all over again financially.

Good luck and just go easy on yourself. You are entitled to a better, more understanding SO you know.

Quest

That is something that you just have to strike a balance somewhere along the line.

IMHO 70 hrs is a bit too much, unless you can endure the suffering of sleeping 5hrs a  nite to make up for the time necessary for maintaining relationships. IF you are still young then you shall have no problems in doing so. Me? My aching, old body is betraying me whenever I work close to 70hrs, so I'm now doing between 55 to 60hrs max in 2 jobs. (my 2nd job is flexible, just work from home).

$$ can buy you a lot of things indeed but if you have a goal and you are working hard to achieve that goal (like financial independence, house/apartment, etc.) in preparation for your living further down the road, any GF shall at least learn to understand and appreciate your effort in laying down a better future for the 2 of you, period.

When you are young and vibrant, work hard and study hard and try to climb up the stairs of financial independence, when you get older, you'll appreciate your effort as you grow old. I missed portion of my youth when I should have struggled harder to achieve a higher financial goal, and now I'm sort of paying the price (my family isn't starving to say the least, but it would be much better off if we can lay down a more solid long-terms plan). I'm planing on working until 70yrs old, and my son is independent enough to go after his dreams...I'll then retire and die...

Q-TD

Quest

doraemon1002: I would respond back to her and sez: what do you mean by "happy"? Define!

If all she could mention was nothing short of materialistic stuff, then she is just naive and shallow-minded. I would have no problem dumping her right on the spot (I would be so pissed).

$$$ can buy steadiness in life and living so not enough $$$ may become an issue further down the road (everything down one's life costs $$, you and I both know that), so when reality settles in after romance, life is nothing but reality filled with cruelness ....so if she cannot accept the fact that you are working hard to build a house, a future and a family to settle into, she will never get it.

Move on bud, don't look back. Life can be short and worthless if you keep on dwelling on the same gf w/o any future plans and such...

(*mind you tho: it took me 5 yrs after marriage before we decided to have kids...that's all about planning you know*)

Quest-TD