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human
How to pursue a PhD without feeling like (being) a massive financial burden to your SO?

Hi all,

I am very interested in pursuing a PhD, however I am really struggling to reconcile doing this with my situation. I have been with my SO for more than 6 years now, and we are still very young without much in the way of savings. He is completing a Master's degree soon and has no intent of pursuing a PhD, and will soon go on to make a lot of money. I want to be able to help support us and save for a family, but if I go for a PhD, I will essentially will make nothing until we have kids. I also don't want my SO to feel guilty about making so much more $ and feel like he has to support me financially either. I realize it sounds like there's a clear answer to this (don't get a PhD), but my heart is in doing research, and I'm sure I'm not the first person in this position. I just want to hear some other experiences. Thank you very much.
gpt
Relax.  Stop thinking of your relationship as a financial transaction.  Relationships are multidimensional and (hopefully) long-term.  Your Ph.D is an investment in the future of your family, not just you.