I feel like I’m doomed romantically

I’m 25, an only child living with my parents, who are in their early 60s. I recently passed the bar exam and work as a lawyer at a small firm. While I don’t make a high salary, not having to pay rent or cover a lot of other expenses helps. But living in a high-cost city, it feels like financial success is a pre-requisite for dating or even thinking about a long-term relationship. I have no trouble meeting women—I’m constantly getting messages—but sometimes I feel like I’m being used or that there are hidden expectations tied to wealth.

All of my previous relationships have been with women from wealthy backgrounds, and that lifestyle felt like an unspoken standard. It makes me wonder if I’m at a disadvantage here. I stay active with boxing three times a week, work out daily, and have a vibrant social life with interests ranging from rare book fairs to motorcycle rallies. Yet, there’s this nagging feeling that to be an attractive partner (if I even want that right now), I need to achieve a much higher level of financial success. At 25, I even wonder if dating someone younger would be a better fit.”