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Derrick* shares his love of food with his partner by taking her on regular restaurant dates. In this article, he tells us they dealt with long distance in their relationship, their ritual Sunday dates and how Prisca helps him better with money.

What takes the most money in your relationship?

Food. I like food a lot, so we go to restaurants on most of our dates.

What鈥檚 the most you鈥檝e spent on a restaurant date?

Our go-to restaurant is , and we spend about 鈧�40k on our dinner dates.听

Let鈥檚 take it back to how you two met

We met on the streets of WhatsApp in 2019. A mutual friend had posted Prisca鈥檚 picture, and I asked for her number and got it. But I waited for three months before I texted her.

Why?

I didn鈥檛 just feel like it at the time. I guess Prisca got tired of waiting because she texted our friend to tell her that I never reached out. When our mutual friend reached out to me, I decided to text Prisca. 

Our conversations at the start were mainly one-word texts until one day when I shared a post about pain and how God comes through on my status. She responded to it, and that was the icebreaker. We started talking about scriptures, and from there, we became friends. 

However, our new friendship was on and off. She鈥檇 disappear on me and reappear after a few months.听This happened for the first time in July 2020. We didn鈥檛 speak until November when she reached out to tell me she鈥檇 gotten a job and was moving out of Lagos.听

She went off in early 2021 again and we didn鈥檛 talk until July 鈥� I reached out this time to wish her a happy birthday.

All this time, did you guys meet?

Yes, we did. I鈥檇 visited her at her office twice when I was around the area. She鈥檇 also met me on two occasions at my uncle鈥檚 house, which was close to her place on the mainland. 

In 2020, we went out on a friendship date to get Pizza i. But there were still COVID restrictions, and the restaurant wouldn鈥檛 let us in because we had only one facemask. We took turns wearing the mask to enter, place our order and then pay. We spent the rest of the afternoon under the sun, gisting and eating pizza.

So how did your friendship evolve into a relationship??

In November 2021, she came to Lagos to see me. During that visit, I asked her out because it was clear we had developed feelings. She said she needed time to think about it. Two weeks after, she said yes. She鈥檇 returned to Ilorin where she worked and lived though.

So you鈥檙e in a long-distance relationship?

We were, but she moved back to Lagos in July 2022. Then, we鈥檇 do video calls every night and travel to see each other at least once every four months. Sometimes she鈥檇 visit; other times, I would. 

How were your Ilorin visits?

The place is dry, so there are not a lot of options. Still, every day after she closed from work, we鈥檇 drive to the mall or restaurant to buy food. The average budget for that is between 鈧�8k – 鈧�20k.

Interesting. What happens when she comes to Lagos?

I usually get her a dress and shoes, because she rarely travels with enough clothes. 

We haven鈥檛 done these in a while even though even we both live in the same city. Between work and our busy schedules, we try to make room for a new experience we could try together. Sometimes, it鈥檚 movie night at home. Other times it could be playing games at night. We鈥檝e also started this Sunday ritual where we visit a small restaurant. The average spend is about 鈧�10k – 鈧�15k.

How do you celebrate special occasions?

We don鈥檛 care much about Valentine鈥檚, but we try to celebrate our birthdays together. For her birthday in 2022, I got her an Adidas shoe which cost about 鈧�32k, two cakes and gifted her 鈧�40k to complete her money for a wristwatch. 

I also surprised her that day. She was out for her birthday dinner with her friends, and I showed up with the gifts I had gotten her. 

Do you give her money?

Occasionally. One online trend told people to ask their partners for 鈧�100k, and that鈥檚 what she did. She asked me, and I sent it to her.

Odogwu! Do you have conversations about money?

Yes. When we started dating, I used to be so reckless with money and struggled with saving, but she helped me. I鈥檇 send her about 鈧�500k to hold for me every month. I still do it now. 

So she鈥檚 better with money? 

Definitely.

Do you have a financial safety net?

I have some shares which my dad left for me. And my savings is currently over 鈧�4m.

What鈥檚 your ideal financial future as a couple?

My long-term goal is to get my PhD and become a professor teaching people about tech or co-founding a startup. We will also start investing in real estate, stocks, and startups.听

Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship? If yes, click 

Mason* (24) and Kelly *(24) are a young couple trying to make money off the thing they love 鈥� music. In this week鈥檚 Love Currency, Mason shares how they met during a music business course, curating music playlists for each other and their plan to take over the music industry together.

What鈥檚 your love language?

It鈥檚 always been quality time. But having my girlfriend send me constant business opportunities has made me realise it鈥檚 also acts of service. 

What type of opportunities?

She鈥檚 a music marketing personnel, so she usually takes me to events where I can network, and whenever she gets a talent to manage, she tries to bring me on board for the PR. 

Oshey, power couple. How did you two meet? 

I saw her speak at a friend鈥檚 event in 2021 and liked her immediately. Then, we met during an online music business course in September 2022. I needed help with an assignment, and she offered to help. From there, we started talking, but I tried to keep the relationship professional even though I already liked her. 

Why?

We had met with work so I didn鈥檛 want to cross the line. But then she found me on Twitter. I had tweeted asking who was interested in reading something I鈥檇 written, and she replied. I sent it to her, and she loved it. She said it resonated with her.

What was it about?

It was a piece about depression. While everyone else had interpreted it as a cry for help, she understood that it was just for documentation. 

I recently started giving her handwritten notes because she seems to prefer them. Whenever she isn鈥檛 feeling good, I write something for her to wake up to 鈥� words of affirmation. That鈥檚 her love language. 

Aww. How did you go from friends to dating?

We had our graduation party at a hotel in December 2022. A group of us had gone to the beach from the event, and when we returned to the hotel, we decided to take a stroll. That was when she kissed me. We started dating in January 2023.

How did you celebrate Valentine’s Day 2023?

She had work that day, so we didn鈥檛 see till the following weekend when we went to the beach.

What about gifts?

She made me a playlist. We make playlists for each other depending on the other person鈥檚 mood and what we鈥檙e trying to say. I also got her a necklace and earrings that cost less than 鈧�3k, but she liked them.

How often do you go out?

She’s more social, so she鈥檚 always trying to drag me outside to meet people and network. I鈥檓 more reserved, so most of our outings are to the beach, alone or with our friends.

How much does this cost?

Anything from 鈧�10k – 鈧�20k, and either of us pays at different times. Sometimes, one person pays for transport while the other pays for tickets. We don鈥檛 really pay attention to these things. We almost had to fight before she finally sent me her account number because I wanted to repay her for the money she鈥檇 spent on one of our outings.

What鈥檚 the most you鈥檝e spent on an outing?

I spent about 鈧�60k during a staycation one time. The plan was to stay at the hotel for two days, but we ended up staying for five. The room cost between 鈧�8k – 鈧�9k, but we spent a lot of money on The Place food. There were days when we spent 鈧�10k on food, but she chipped in sometimes.

Do you have conversations about money?

Yes, we do. We鈥檙e in the same industry, so sometimes, I help revise her marketing plan. She also helps me ensures I charge enough. She鈥檚 given me a target to start charging in dollars by the end of 2023. 

Wawu. Do you know how much she earns though?

Not really. I have an idea, but I never bother to ask because I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 important. I鈥檓 okay if she earns more than me because I know she鈥檒l flex me with the money.

What do you mean?

She knows I like eating, so she鈥檚 always surprising me with food. I know she鈥檚 planning something for my birthday because she recently tweeted how a perfume she wanted to get was over 鈧�100k. I鈥檝e told her she doesn鈥檛 have to do anything but she鈥檚 stubborn. That鈥檚 how she convinced me to start posting on TikTok. I started my fitness business towards the end of 2022, but I didn鈥檛 start creating content around it for TikTok until we started dating and she convinced me to. Now, I use it to redirect more people to my Instagram page where most of my business comes from.

Do you have a financial safety net?

Not right now. I鈥檓 currently using my savings to rent a self-con on the mainland, which costs 鈧�250k per year.

Not bad. If you see 鈧�400k now, how would you spend it?

I鈥檇 buy food so I can see road well. Then, I鈥檇 send my mother 鈧�50k, keep 鈧�100k for flex, give 鈧�50k to my babe and save 鈧�200k. I鈥檓 actually good at saving, but when you don鈥檛 make enough money, you have to save your life first.

FR

I鈥檓 currently searching for job at a record label that鈥檇 guarantee regular income.

What鈥檚 your ideal financial future as a couple?

I want to be one of the top PR professionals in the music industry, start my own brand, own a gym, maybe even try out song writing. But I can鈥檛 put a price to any of that.

What of Kelly?

She just launched her entertainment business recently. She鈥檇 want it to be one of the best in the world.

Does this mean you鈥檇 be competitors?

Not at all. If anything, we鈥檇 be partners. She鈥檇 get the clients, and I鈥檇 work on the PR plan for them, or I鈥檇 refer talents to her team. 

Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship? If yes, click 

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Christabel* and Henry* fell in love after a year of working together for a social association. While Christabel is more prudent with money, Henry enjoys going all out for the people he loves. Now they live together as a married couple and tell 91大神 how their personalities complement and balance out each other.

What鈥檚 your most memorable date?

Christabel: Our second date. We went to a park to have a picnic and had the best time with each other. We talked, walked around and even did small PDA.

Henry: Mine was our getaway weekend in December 2021 鈥� we used to have those once every few months when we were dating. For this one, we. stayed at a fancy hotel for three nights, went on a date at a restaurant, and even did a photoshoot.

Christabel: Ah, sorry. That鈥檚 my favourite date, too. He had a car pick us up and take us wherever we went. I was convinced he would propose that weekend because of how extra everything seemed.

But he didn鈥檛?

Christabel: No, he didn鈥檛.

Henry: I just wanted to make you feel special.

How long was your relationship at the time?

Henry: It was about nine months.

Back to the getaway. How much did it cost?

Henry: I can鈥檛 remember everything but the hotel was 鈧�100k per night. Our photoshoot was about 鈧�40k, and the dinner date cost 鈧�30k.

Christabel: Ah, 鈧�30k? On top of small burgers and chicken wings? He didn鈥檛 tell me how expensive this thing was, I鈥檇 have freaked out.

Henry: Clearly. But it wasn鈥檛 expensive because we had lamb chops and wine too.

Do I need to ask who is better with money?

Christabel: It鈥檚 definitely me. He likes to go all out for dates, but after we started dating, I made him put a 鈧�10k rule on every date. We鈥檇 only go on dates that would cost 鈧�10k per person, except on special occasions. He won鈥檛 admit it, but I know it helped.听

Henry: You know what? I agree. She wasn鈥檛 a financial advisor for nothing.

Oh? Financial advisor?

Christabel: He was the president of the social group, and I was the financial advisor. That鈥檚 how we officially became friends, even though we knew each other in university.听

Tell me about that

Christabel: He was a year ahead of me, and we attended the same fellowship. But I never liked him. He was one of those brothers in fellowship that girls used to flock to after service.

Henry: Haha. We met after we had both graduated, at a summit in 2018, exchanged pleasantries and went on our way. In 2019, we saw at another event, and later in the same year, we met at our reunion.听

Christabel: He was voted in as the president, and I was the financial advisor. This time I asked for his number.听

Finally! 

Christabel: We got close during the pandemic in 2020. But when I asked him out in July, he turned me down and said he wasn鈥檛 ready for a relationship. I took my L, but we remained friends. I’d call him whenever I needed help with some design or Excel.听

In 2021, this oga sent me a cake with the inscription, 鈥淚 love you鈥�. When I called to ask him, he said it was platonic. I was talking to someone then, but that one didn鈥檛 send any gifts, so my family members already assumed Henry and I were dating. 

When did the relationship move past platonic?

Henry: I invited her to my family house in 2021. I had promised to cook, but we ended up buying food at a restaurant instead. And when we got to the house to eat, I asked her if she鈥檇 like to be in a relationship with me.

What of the other guy?

Christabel: It wasn鈥檛 working out. And looking back, Henry had always stayed consistent in trying to know how things were between me and the guy. The whole time I didn鈥檛 know he was trying to displace him.

Fair. But what was it like working with your partner?

Christabel: For a whole year, nobody knew we were dating. Most people knew about us when we announced we were getting married in August 2022.

Was there a proposal?

Christabel: Yes! It happened in March 2022. We were supposed to go out, but his mum called me and asked me to come over. The plan was to go to her鈥檚 first then return home to change. If I knew what they鈥檇 planned, I鈥檇 have dressed hot 鈥� church girl with a pinch of Cardi B.

Hahaha, I feel you

Henry: The house was candlelit, and there was a screen with pictures of us from over the years.听

Christabel: I tried to run, but he sat me down on the same couch we sat when he asked me out. This time, his question was if I鈥檇 marry him. I said yes. Then we had a small house party with our friends there.

Wedding plans kicked off almost immediately, and we got married in August 2022. 

How was the wedding?

Christabel: There鈥檚 nothing like a small wedding. He had to tell me to cut down on some costs because the budget was already close to 鈧�6m- 鈧�7m. I鈥檓 usually the more frugal one, but I got carried away with the whole wedding. I was willing to pay 鈧�150k for my makeup for a white and traditional wedding each. But after I spoke to him, I realised it wasn鈥檛 just about me or that day, so I found an alternative that cost just 鈧�75k for both events.

Henry: We had a spreadsheet where we documented the different expenses and costs, so that helped us stay on track. In the end, we spent about 鈧�3.5m- 鈧�3.8m.听

Christabel: It was our responsibility, but he handled most of the expenses. I contributed about 鈧�1.5m or so.

Fair. How do you handle expenses now?

Christabel: It鈥檚 pretty much the same thing. He mainly handles things that involve heavy spending, although I help sometimes. We try to reduce our day-to-day expenses by buying stuff like toiletries, body essentials and consumables in bulk once a month. Sometimes it鈥檚 as low as 鈧�30k; other times, it鈥檚 as high as 鈧�100k.

Do you still go on dates?

Henry: Yes. We have evening dates. Most times, we just go out and eat. The last proper date where we dressed up was in February.听

Was it for Valentine’s?

Christabel: No. We spent Valentine’s indoors, and we exchanged gifts. I picked out pictures from three key events in our lives and framed them. He was going 鈥渁ww鈥�, but the real joy came out when he saw the wireless gamepad I got for him…听

Henry: It鈥檚 not like that. I liked the frames, but I鈥檇 been planning to get the gamepad for a while, so seeing it was nice.听

Christabel: His gift for me didn鈥檛 come until five days after because of some logistics issue. He got two Kampala dresses I鈥檇 been eyeing online. I started the conversation with the vendor until she mentioned the price. But he got them.听

How much did the gifts cost?

Christabel: You know you鈥檙e not supposed to tell people how much their gift cost sha. But the frames were 鈧�25k, and the pad was about 鈧�23k.

Henry: Both dresses were 鈧�40k.

Christabel: No wonder I didn鈥檛 buy it. Please, I鈥檒l look for a tailor to sew it next time.

How often do you gift each other?

Christabel: We try to get something nice for each other on special occasions. I can鈥檛 seem to remember most of it, but for Valentine’s in 2021, we were both busy at work. He got me a large picture frame, chocolates and perfume.

Henry: She got me those open-cut shoes.

Christabel: He didn鈥檛 like shoes like that, but now he loves them. I think we buy better clothes for each other than we do for ourselves. Like, during our first Christmas as husband and wife last year, we agreed not to exchange gifts, but he鈥檇 been going on about one kaftan, so I got his tailor鈥檚 number from his phone and made it for him. I also added perfume and some chocolates in a box. It cost 鈧�35k.

How do you celebrate birthdays?

Henry: We鈥檝e had just two birthdays together, and our birthdays are a month apart. For her birthday in 2021, I got her a dress, a picture frame, and a love book with 28 reasons why I love her.

Christabel: There was also the cake and photoshoot.

Henry: Oh yes, everything cost like 鈧�150k sha.

Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship? If yes, click 

Christabel, what about you?

Christabel: He鈥檇 said he wanted his birthday to be just us, so I booked a room at a hotel, got a cake, wine and two shirts.听

Henry: We talked and danced. It was a private party for both of us.

Christabel: I got a discount on the room because we weren鈥檛 going to spend the night, and the cake was baked by my friend. In total, I spent 鈧�70k.

And the second year?

Henry: Her mum was sick at this time, so we were too busy moving hospitals to celebrate her birthday. But I got her a custom box with her name on it, cake, juice, small chops and chocolate. I also got her an adire dress and custom-made affirmation cards. Everything cost 鈧�65k.听

Her mum passed before my birthday a month later, so we didn鈥檛 do anything for mine.

Quick question, who is your next of kin?

Henry: She鈥檚 mine.

Christabel: He鈥檚 not only my next of kin; he鈥檚 my unpaid business consultant. I have a cleaning business, and he assists with financial advice and solutions. I make about 鈧�100k in profit on an average month.

Do you have a financial safety net?

Christabel: I try to keep aside some money whenever something enters my hand. Sometimes it鈥檚 鈧�20k, sometimes 鈧�50k. But I have a 鈧�200 auto daily savings.听

What do you think about your financial future as a couple?

Christabel: We鈥檙e going to be wealthy. I can鈥檛 say how, but we鈥檙e both open to exploring different business opportunities, so that鈥檚 bound to happen.

Henry: I agree; we鈥檙e a good team. We will make money from whatever we decide by creating and giving value.

With each new season of the show, we find previous housemates striving to remain relevant in the face of their successors. But what happens when a housemate leaves the show and either chooses to disappear or simply fails to hold our attention as an audience? Well, it has happened before, and these are what some of our former Big Brother faves who disappeared have been up to lately. 

Igho Karen 

Karen was the real bad bitch. Funny, audacious, and five seconds away from showing you craze. She walked so that housemates like CeeC, Tasha and Phyna could run. 

After emerging as the first female winner of the Big Brother Africa show in 2011, she made a few appearances on some Nollywood shows, popped up in and hosted a radio programme on Naija FM. She also had a . While Karen may have left our minds, she’s maintained her presence on social media and recently appeared in an episode of , a sequel to Sex and The City.听

Katung Aduwak

Katung was a contestant on the first season of Big Brother Nigeria in 2006. While Ebuka has become a celebrity sweetheart and fashion icon now, he lost to Katung Aduwak in BBN 1 back in the day. After winning the $100k prize, Katung went to a film school, taking a more behind-the-scenes approach to the spotlight. Since then, he鈥檚 directed a few short films, and become and public speaker. His most recent project is a masterclass on becoming a reality star.听

Michael Efe

Michael Efe, known as Efemoney, went into the Big Brother house looking to blow. His strategy was his musical talent, poverty sob stories about drinking garri without sugar every day and his life in Warri. These were enough for Nigerians to vote for him as their winner of the See Gobe season of Big Brother Naija.

Efemoney went straight from the Big Brother house to the studio, but Nigerians were quick to turn their attention from him once they realised his songs didn鈥檛 slap like that. That hasn鈥檛 stopped Efemoney because he’s still in the music business, and recently released an EP, .听

Miracle Igbokwe Ikechuckwu

Even though Miracle won Big Brother Naija: Double Wahala in 2018, it was pretty evident the pilot and model had no desire to remain in the entertainment business. After the show, he went back to aviation school and graduated a year later. Since then, he’s focused on being a pilot and scarcely updates his social media posts. Miracle really won and said, 鈥淎ired, dfkm鈥� to the Nigerian entertainment scene.听

Ezekiel Bright Osemudiamen

Brighto may not have made it to the top five, but his impact during the Lockdown season of BBN was felt. The audience couldn’t choose which version of Brighto they liked more: The one that made semo at midnight like a thief or the Chiwetalu Agu-inspired one that kept pitting housemates against each other.听Since he left the house in 2020, he’s started a car dealership business, Lord B Autos, and occasionally features in comedy skits on Instagram.听

Olamilekan Agbeleshebioba

Laycon didn’t just win BBNaija season 5, he won the hearts of Nigerians with his grass-to-grace story and display of intelligence. Like Efemoney, this artist was in the house to build his brand and amass recognition, which he succeeded in doing because his fans were streaming his songs while he was still in the house.听

Three years later, it seems his fame from the show is dwindling because even though he’s still very much in the music industry, there’s hardly any buzz around his music. The most recent mention of him is the MA he’s since received from Portsmouth University.听

RELATED: Rating Big Brother Fights Over the Years

Folake* (27) met her partner, Ezra* (26) during their NYSC in Kaduna, and they bonded over their knowledge of God and shared birthdays. In this article, she tells 91大神 about their initial fake relationship, celebrating their birthdays together, and how they plan to finance their upcoming wedding.

What was the first gift your partner gave you? 

Bread. It was on Valentine鈥檚 Day in 2019. He鈥檇 asked me what I wanted, and I told him that I was fine. But I also added that he could get me bread if he really wanted to buy me something. He got it and added a happy Valentine鈥檚 Day note.

LMAO. But why didn鈥檛 you want a gift? 

I didn鈥檛 see the need. Even though we pretended to be dating, we were really just platonic friends. It started a month after we met. One of his roommates was trying to hit on me, but I wasn鈥檛 interested. And since people had already started to speculate Ezra and I were dating because of our closeness, we started to call each other 鈥渂aby鈥�. 

Fair enough. How did you meet him?

After NYSC camp in December 2018, I moved into the NYSC accommodation in January 2019. I only talked to my roommates and barely knew anyone else because I was always indoors reading. One day, a roommate dragged me along to one of the rooms she went to chill. That鈥檚 where I met Ezra and his roommates. I became friends with them, but I was closer to Ezra. 

Why? 

We used to gist about God. Our ideologies aligned on most issues, and then I found out we had the same birthday. He was also trying to build me up to succeed him as Prayer Secretary in our fellowship when he passed out. He was in Batch A while I was in C. 

Did you? 

No. They made me female co-ordinator instead. He must鈥檝e figured I was nervous about this because it was a higher position, so he asked us to do a prayer walk. 

At what point did the relationship move from platonic?

April 2019. He started his master鈥檚 degree immediately after finishing his NYSC, so he moved to the MSc hostel in a different area. 

Not long after, one of his roommates came to complain to me that it seemed Ezra had forgotten them, and I decided to call him. The call started with me accusing him of forgetting me, and sometime during the four hours of conversation that followed, I told him I loved him. 

How did he react? 

He asked if I was giving him permission to pray about us now because I had always warned him against falling in love with me, saying I wasn鈥檛 interested in a relationship during NYSC year. I agreed and said I would do the same on my end. 

He returned with the word, 鈥淗e who finds a wife has found a good thing, ” and he asked me to date him. I told him to send a mail first. 

Wahala 

It wasn鈥檛 until June 2020 before I gave him an answer. 

It took over a year? 

I knew all about NYSC relationships 鈥� they鈥檇 start during the year and end when service ended. So I wanted to finish NYSC first, and I also wanted to tell my uncle and pastor about it because I was a little reluctant due to our age difference. I鈥檓 a year older.

Have you had to talk to them about other boyfriends?

This was the first time I was sure about someone, and I wanted them to have a say. Getting their approval reassured me, and some days after, I excitedly called him to check his mail because I had responded to that question. 

Did anything change?

Nothing. He already used to send morning and evening text messages, so we continued. He surprised me on our birthday that year, though. 

How come? 

He had a job interview in Lagos that month. But I didn鈥檛 know he had come earlier and planned with my uncle to show up at the beach hangout my family and a few friends organised to celebrate my birthday. When Ezra arrived, my uncle made up an excuse about leaving and asked us to close our eyes as he prayed. During the prayers, Ezra slipped behind me and notified me of his presence. It was one of my best birthdays ever. 

How did you celebrate birthdays after that? 

Usually, we go to church and then go out after. I buy the cake while he pays for the outing. The cake is usually about 鈧�15k. In 2021, I got two cakes which were 鈧�25k. 

What about gifts?

I often don鈥檛 get him birthday gifts because I don鈥檛 have the money. But on Valentine鈥檚 Day this year, I got him a cake and mocktails package I saw online for  鈧�10k. 

I also get him gifts on random occasions. I鈥檝e gotten him adire fabric twice; they cost 鈧�8k. I recently got him a man purse and a journal he was very excited about. Both cost  鈧�5k and 鈧�4k, respectively. 

Is he still in Kaduna? 

No. He got a job in Lagos at the end of last year, so he moved. Now, he鈥檚 another reason for me to visit Lagos. He also tries to come to Kaduna to see me. He proposed during one of such trips in April 2023

Tell me about it

I visited Lagos to see him and my parents. When I was returning, he decided to come with me to Kaduna to see our pastor since he was on Easter break. On Sunday after church, I suggested going to a new restaurant with some of our friends, but the plan didn鈥檛 work. Instead, we hung out at a friend鈥檚 house. Two days later, a friend called and said she wanted to check out that same restaurant I鈥檇 suggested because her Aunty was coming to town, and she wanted to sample the place before taking her there. She invited our friend group and said the bill was on her. 

I decided to nap because I鈥檇 just returned from a church programme and knew my friends were latecomers. My boyfriend woke me up about two hours later to tell me they were waiting for us. I picked out a nice dress I鈥檇 been saving for when he was around. It was fitted and short, and I also wore heels, so I looked really good.

Oshey

When we got to the restaurant, the waiters started to bring out the food. We usually ordered platters, but there was no plate in front of me. When I asked why  I didn鈥檛 have one, they said there was still a lot of food coming, so they were trying to make space. Tell me why they brought a covered plate to my front? My mind started to race, thinking of all the engagement videos I鈥檇 seen. My friends were already asking me to open it. I was right. He knelt and me to be his still waters, and after nearly going under the table, I said yes. 

Lmao. What was the drama for? 

I knew we would get married, but I never thought he鈥檇 propose on that trip. He repeatedly said that since we knew we were getting married,  there was no need for a proposal.

Aww. So when is the wedding? 

Our introduction is in June, and the wedding will be at the end of this year. 

What about your school? 

I should be done by June 2023, so I can plan properly with him. 

What鈥檚 the plan to make money? 

After my MSc, I鈥檒l work at my father鈥檚 laboratory until the wedding. It鈥檇 be better than getting a job and asking for leave a few months after. 

Fair. But what about the wedding expenses? 

My parents have agreed to fund my part of the wedding, while his parents will also assist him because he鈥檚 still starting up. It鈥檚 going to be a small wedding with only our close friends and family.

Do you have conversations about money? 

We鈥檙e very open about our finances, and this makes it easier for our relationship because we know what each person can do, and we鈥檝e learned to be content with what we get. We have simple dates where we buy shawarma and ice cream or food from Chicken Republic when we can鈥檛 go to a restaurant. The expensive dates are for when we go out with friends, and he usually offers to pay. I think the bill for our birthday last year was about 鈧�40k. He didn鈥檛 show me. 

Interested in talking about how money moves in your relationship? If yes, click听

Does he give you money? 

Occasionally. Sometimes he does this when I鈥檓 broke, and I want to get something. At other times, it鈥檚 when I go out with my friends. 鈧�10k here, 鈧�10k there. 

He also randomly sends me money when he gets an allowance or wins a gift voucher at work. The most he has given me is 鈧�120k. I added 鈧�50k to it and got a phone last year. 

I鈥檇 saved up 鈧�150k for the phone, but in September, I had to get a flight ticket for my uncle鈥檚 birthday in Lagos. I also wanted to see my parents, and they weren’t comfortable with me going by road. The ticket was 鈧�100k.

Do you have a financial safety net? 

I don’t. I try to keep aside some money I get from my uncle, parents or partner, but currently, I’m broke. I am waiting for the end of the month so I can call home. 

What’s the ideal financial future for you as a couple? 

Having assets in our name. Ezra is already talking about getting land in Delta State. 

Why Delta?

Because some Lagos house rents can get you decent land in Delta. His parents also have property there, so we can use their plug. 

So instead of dealing with the stress of distance-induced friendship heartbreak, here are some things you can do:

Ask them to swear

They always say they won鈥檛 forget you but don鈥檛 take their word for it; ask them to swear on their unborn child鈥檚 edges. They鈥檒l have no choice but to remain besties with you because they can鈥檛 risk their children walking around looking like a rat ate their baby hairs鈥�

Send them pictures

This is perfect for people with different time zones. Send them a selfie before they wake up because your beautiful face needs to be the first thing they see before they start their day.  

Disturb them with memes

They already have to live with the darkness and void that comes with being away from you, and you need to remind them that you鈥檙e the source of their happiness.   

Become their personal amebo radio station

You owe it to your friend to keep them updated on the lives of everyone they鈥檝e left behind. And what鈥檚 a better activity than gossiping giving unsolicited commentary on the drama in other people鈥檚 lives?  

Try virtual movie dates 

If you want the relationship to last, you must be intentional. Sacrifice a little data, and block out a time of the day to watch a movie together with your friend. 

Surprise them

Take note of the days that are important to them, and do something special for them. It could be as little as a heartfelt text or as much as money. Even though there鈥檚 a high chance they have more than you, you need to remind them that you care about their special days and you鈥檙e looking out for them.

Go and meet them

You love them, but you鈥檙e okay with them living miles apart? Chelsea, come on now. You better go online to buy the next ticket to wherever they are. Don鈥檛 worry about money; your love should be the currency you pay with. And if love is not enough, you can quickly meet your Edo friend to borrow their broom. 

READ THIS: The 91大神 Hack to Japa Without Money听

Manifest it

Do you not know the power of manifestation? Get a piece of paper with your names and bond them to you forever. You鈥檙e welcome.

RELATED: All the Emotions You Experience When Your Friend Japa

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