But what’s interesting about Leo is how he broaches the topic of his money with Brittany, 32.
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In the first episode, Brittany tells viewers: I’m clearly a trophy wife. ”
So on their second date, Brittany posed the same question she asked the other men in the experiment. The question was whether Leo believed in splitting living expenses with his partner.
After thinking about it, Leo replies: “I don’t know if I believe in paying the full amount, or if I’m making more, I don’t believe in splitting it 50-50. But the idea of us both paying something is mutually beneficial. I love it because it feels like I’m investing in it.”
Brittany then revealed that in her previous relationship, she was “taken care of 100 percent,” and they shared expenses equally, as women sometimes have expenses that men don’t, such as make-up, clothes, and gym classes. He said that he could not agree to share the burden with the government. As you can imagine, this was exactly the moment fans started losing their minds.
Whether you wholeheartedly agree or vehemently disagree with Brittany’s position or Leo’s reaction isn’t really the point here. The key, in my opinion, is that by having the conversation this early, we had a thorough understanding of values, expectations, and goals.
Reality TV is senseless, empty, and brings out the worst in people (and often stars the worst people). And you know what? you’re right. But that’s one of the reasons people, including myself, love it so much. Credit: Shutterstock
And having everything on the table greatly reduces the risk of confusion, deception, and arguments.
For better or worse (or worse, I think), money remains an incredibly taboo topic for many people. So when starting a new relationship, it can be difficult to broach the topic without sounding critical or like you’re trying to decide whether your new lover is a viable investment opportunity. .
But you can tell a lot about a person by how they spend and save money. For example, are they saving with a specific goal in mind or are they living paycheck to paycheck?
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Are they generous and willing to shout out to their peers because they know they earn more, or are they living frugally or waiting for you to pick up the bill every time? Is it true? Do they talk about the future with clear plans, or do they think day-to-day?
There are no exact right or wrong answers to these questions. But when you look at them, you can see, in part, how much people value themselves and the people in their lives.
And what you’re really doing when you’re talking about money or when you’re asking these questions is you’re trying to determine whether your values, goals, and priorities are aligned. As Leo once admitted, “One of my biggest fears is that girls only want me for my money.”
Considering how much stressors money and money can be in relationships, having such honest information early on can be much more rewarding than finding out months or even years later. This is desirable. As Brittany soon discovered, her values didn’t align with many of the men there. Knowing that information allowed her to continue searching for her person.
Of course, watching from the comfort of our couch, it seems crazy that Brittany and Leo have gotten this deep and been this honest in just a few days of knowing each other. But a 2020 paper from the American Institute on Family Studies found that money is one of the most discussed topics among couples with young children, second only to housework and household chores.
Like all reality TV stars, it doesn’t matter whether we like Leo and Brittany as people or not. The transparency of their conversations and their respective honesty about financial realities and expectations made for great television.
Victoria Devine is an award-winning former financial advisor, best-selling author and host of Australia’s number one financial podcast, She’s on the Money. Victoria is also the founder and co-director of Zella Money.
The advice provided in this article is of a general nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions regarding investments or financial products. You should always seek professional advice, taking into account your own personal circumstances, before making any financial decisions.
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