When Black Tax Affects Your Relationship

How to help your partner who won’t say no to his family’s demands

- Mo And Phindi Grootboom

Most black people know about black tax. It’s considered a given in many households – having to share your salary with your struggling parents and family back home. But this can conflict with the financial needs of your immediate family and create friction between you and your partner.

WHY WE PAY UP

Paying black tax can start well before your parents reach old age. To an extent, it’s a very noble thing to do. After all, many of our parents suffered under difficult financial circumstances while raising us.

The older parents become, the more challenging their situation gets. More often than not, because of the very limited amount they earned through their work life, savings and investments were a luxury if they happened at all.

SELFISH SIBLINGS

Your partner probably feels obligated to provide for his mother because he feels he understands the financial struggle she went through while raising him and his siblings.