link to original reddit post by /u/mrpenguin_86
My girlfriend and I have been together 2 1/2 years (which is equivalent to about 10 years in pandemic relationships), and we apply a lot of libertarian principles to our relationship, and it amazes me how all people don't do this. To start, moving in together was quite peak libertarian. We both had houses. When we were serious enough to move in together, she actually had to move because, under her divorce decree, her daughter had to start school (she was in preschool at the time) in a certain top-notch school district. At the time, I also had the option to move because my roommate of many years was deciding to do what socialists do and fail downward and move in with her mom.
Being libertarians and me being a housing provider as my job, I needed a lot of space for storing my tools, truck and supplies, and I was willing to pay for this privilege. My girlfriend, on the other hand, being just her and her daughter, wanted a small 2br townhouse. So, what do we do? I offer to pay sufficient rent to her to convince her to buy a larger house with a garage and all that. My parents were like "If its her house, why are you paying rent??" because statists wouldn't understand that I'm profiting nicely by renting my old house and she would profit nicely having a stable renter, aka boyfriend, helping pay for this big new house!
We bring these concepts into many things. I'm a renter, so I'm not expected to pay for repairs/upgrades to the house. She also absolutely hates cleaning, and I'm pretty efficient at it, so she pays me to do her share of the cleaning and laundry and such. I'm also handy with cars, and she hates mechanics, so I also fix her car. Lots of stuff like this where we basically trade actual money for the other doing things the one doesn't want to do and is literally willing to pay others to do.
It's honestly amazing because, like we all know, it's pretty hard to feel exploited, even by a partner, when you're being compensated at a rate you agree to in the first place. She doesn't need to do all these things she hates to do, she gets a nice house that has gone up like 40% in value since we moved in (and if she ever sells the house, even if we end up married, there's 0 argument over who gets 100% of the proceeds), and I feel justly compensated for all the work I do for her.
Tl;Dr: My gf and I practice free market principles in our relationship, and it's bitchin'. No resentment, proper understanding of ownership, no exploitation!