MarketWatch Advice Column: Weighing the Cost of a Long-Distance Relationship

A MarketWatch personal finance advice column published Sept. 21, 2026, examines whether a reader should spend money and paid time off to visit a new partner who relocates to Mexico for six months each year. The reader, based in Denver, has been dating the man for two months. Relationship therapist Lisa Marie Bobby warns that long-distance arrangements can introduce a "component of fantasy" that clouds judgment, particularly early in a relationship. The column advises spending only what remains after covering rent, bills, retirement contributions, emergency savings, and debt repayment — and never taking on debt for a trip. The columnist suggests the reader ask whether the partner will fly back to Denver to share the financial burden, noting his answer would signal his level of commitment. The piece also urges honesty about long-term geographic preferences, as a permanent split between Denver and Mexico could limit the relationship's viability.