In this episode of the Mo Money series, we sit down with Lekan and Diana, a young Nigerian couple who have been married for three years. They’re open, honest, and ready to share how they navigate the sometimes tricky waters of money in marriage.
Spoiler alert: It’s not always smooth sailing, but they’ve found a way to make it work. Grab a cup of coffee or zobo and enjoy this insightful chat about love, money, and everything in between.
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today! Let’s start from the beginning—how did you two meet?
Diana: We met at a mutual friend’s wedding, actually. I was a bridesmaid, and Lekan was the best man.
Wow! Interesting
Diana: I know right.. It was one of those “eyes met across the room” moments, but instead of a fairy tale, it was more like, “Who’s this guy trying to outshine the groom?” [Laughs]
Lekan: [Laughs] I wasn’t trying to outshine anyone! But yeah, we hit it off almost immediately. We talked a lot about life, our goals, and even money. I think that’s when I knew she was different.
That’s amazing! Speaking of money, how did you start talking about finances as a couple? Was it awkward?
Diana: It wasn’t really awkward, but it wasn’t exactly romantic either. [Laughs] We both knew that money could be a big issue in marriage, so we wanted to get it right from the start. We talked about our individual finances, how much we were earning, our debts, savings, and all that. It was like a full financial audit!
Like full disclosure-ish
Lekan: Yeah. We were both on the same page about being open about money. No secrets. We wanted to know what we were getting into. It wasn’t always easy, but it was necessary. I think the real challenge came after we got married.
How so?
Lekan: Well, it’s one thing to talk about money before you get married, and it’s another thing to actually manage it together. We had to figure out whether to have joint accounts or keep separate accounts. We ended up doing a bit of both.
Diana: Yes, we each have our own personal accounts, but we also have a joint account for household expenses. At first, it was tough deciding how much each of us should contribute. We wanted it to be fair, but we also had to consider our individual financial responsibilities outside the marriage.
That makes sense. Did you ever disagree on how to spend money?
Diana: Oh, definitely! [Laughs] We still do sometimes.
Tell us about that
Diana: Lekan is more of a saver, and I’m more of a spender. I love buying little things for the house, or treating myself to something nice. Lekan, on the other hand, is always thinking about the future—investing, saving for emergencies, things like that.
Lekan: True, but it’s all about balance. I’ve learned to loosen up a bit, and Diana has learned to be more mindful about saving. We have a rule now: anything above a certain amount, we discuss it before making the purchase. It helps to avoid any surprises.
That’s a good strategy. How do you handle unexpected expenses, like emergencies?
Lekan: We have an emergency fund. It’s something we both agreed on early in our marriage. We contribute to it regularly, so whenever something unexpected comes up—like car repairs or medical bills—we’re not caught off guard. It’s been a lifesaver.
Diana: Yes, I didn’t really see the need for it at first, but after the first emergency we had, I was sold. It’s less stressful knowing that we have money set aside for those “just in case” moments.
Beautiful! Now, let’s talk about the future. Do you both have similar financial goals?
Diana: We do, but it took some time to align them. We both want to build a house, travel more, and eventually start a family. But we had different timelines for those things. So we had to sit down, map out our goals, and create a plan that worked for both of us.
Lekan: Yeah, it’s all about compromise. We’ve learned to prioritize and take things step by step. We’re also big on planning for the long term, so we invest in things that will pay off in the future.
It sounds like you two have figured out a lot together.
Diana: We believe we have. We’ve actually come a long way.
Any advice for other couples navigating finances in marriage?
Diana: Communicate, communicate, communicate! Don’t assume your partner knows what you’re thinking. Talk about your finances regularly, not just when there’s an issue. It makes a big difference.
Lekan: And be honest. It’s important to be upfront about your financial situation, even if it’s not pretty. It’s better to face it together than to hide it and let it become a bigger problem later on.
Really Great advice! Thank you both for sharing your story with us.
Diana & Lekan: Thanks for having us!
And there you have it—Lekan & Diana’s journey of balancing love and money. Their story is a reminder that while finances can be a tricky part of any relationship, with communication, honesty, and a bit of compromise, you can navigate it together.
Until next time, keep those money conversations flowing!
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