'Penny Method' Is The Most Toxic Dating Trend Of 2023, Know Why

Relationships are supposed to be all about giving and taking and trying to keep each other happy in the long run. However, some initially take you high up in the sky, making you feel on top of the world, only to cut the chord slowly and steadily until you have nothing but a last piece of rope to hang onto.

The process of gradually ''cutting down'' on affection by a partner in a relationship while putting in a little effort and feelings once in a while to keep things steady is known as the penny method. This is also known as the ''piggy bank'' method since it functions similarly to how we add money.

The coins being added to the bank are the ''investment'' your partner is willing to add to a relationship. In the beginning, they will do anything and everything possible to woo you and be in a relationship with you. This will make you feel happy and interested and once you have been hooked, they can slowly start putting in less effort, which could be in the form of making excuses declining to help around the house or spending quality time with you.

As time passes by, they will continue to reduce the efforts until you decide to talk about it, after which they might raise the level a little so as to give an illusion of investing their time and affection for you once again. However, this doesn't last long as you might see them slacking off once again. By this time, you start doubting and begin to wonder whether you are not doing enough to earn your partner's time and effort.

The process goes on for a long time, increasing and decreasing the level as and when they please until they drop the bar too low, leaving you to manage with the remaining scraps or ''pennies.'' At this stage, you will be happy to receive even a single penny they might occasionally throw at you during the relationship.

This dating trend is not only cruel but extremely manipulative as well since it involves a partner consciously taking advantage of the other person's love and affection and baiting them with bits and scraps to keep them ''alive'' until they get bored and move on.

It is, therefore, important to be aware of your partner's intentions and call them out the moment they choose to toss and play around with you. One can either confront them and give them a chance to mend their ways or choose to break ties with them altogether to protect their emotional and mental well-being.