I like to rely on myself, as I believe (especially lately, with my circumstances) that you can't fully depend on anyone but yourself.
At the moment while I don't have a job, my partner pays all the bills, but it has been something I don't feel *too* guilty about because he used to owe me about $750. Now we're even. Also, he isn't the most reliable man in the world, you certainly can't pin the word reliable on him as a good description!

I have a job as a pizza delivery driver at the moment, and that pays enough to pay my rent, but I can't even afford petrol! So I get hand outs from Matt and my mum (who I owe an unbelievable - and uncalculated - amount of money).

But yes, I am fully for financial independence, I don't know if I will want to combine finances once I am married, I think it would be a good idea to each keep a savings account, in case of 'rainy days'.

If I did something nice for someone, I wouldn't EXPECT anything in return, however if they said they would pay me back (either financially or favour-wise), then I would expect them to. If I told a friend I wanted to take them out for a drink, I would pay for at least one of their drinks, especially if it was a special occasion such as their birthday.