I am 29 years old and hold a position as a marketing director at a real estate company, earning a stable monthly income of VND60 million (US$2,363). I have been in a relationship with my girlfriend for four months. Initially, everything seemed fine. She was considerate, a good listener, and supportive. We enjoyed our time together—going out, engaging in conversations, and appreciating our moments. However, her demands became more explicit over time.
She began to request luxury items such as handbags, perfumes, and necklaces. Initially, I thought these requests were reasonable and decided to fulfill them. After all, I am financially secure and aimed to make her happy.
I purchased these gifts—they weren’t the most expensive options, but they were sufficient to delight my girlfriend. While she was initially pleased, her happiness was fleeting as her demands continued to escalate. It was no longer just about individual items, she now wanted luxury vacations, celebrations at expensive venues, and even large sums of money for unspecified reasons.
I felt burdened and overwhelmed by her continuous demands. Each time I tried to explain that my job has financial limits and that I could not spend frivolously, she would counter that she deserved more and that my reluctance showed I did not truly care about her.
Gradually, I came to realize that it wasn’t merely about her material requests—there appeared to be deeper issues in our relationship. I began to feel that her affection was not genuine, it seemed contingent on what I could provide. This realization, coupled with her unreasonable demands, left me feeling drained, not only financially but also emotionally.
I considered ending the relationship, but the thought of hurting her held me back, despite recognizing that I was in a one-sided relationship where I was the only contributor without receiving anything meaningful in return.
What should I do?