Is it legal to pay someone in rent credit? That's like a liquor store paying you in booze. I've never heard of that, outside of things like free carparks and stuff which are essentially a form of income tax evasion.

Otherwise, uh no one thinks about marriage off the bat. You're young enough, find someone to be with who is a friend first and foremost. The creepy conversations about proposals and such can wait a few years, it's not like there's an expiry date on you.