What makes Leo interesting, though, is how he broaches the subject of his finances with 32-year-old Brittany.
Loading
In the first episode, Brittany tells the audience, “Some people want to be boss babes and make all the money and live their lifestyle, and that’s not how I want to live. I’m obviously a trophy wife.”
And so, on their second date, Brittany raises a question she has asked other men in the experiment: does Leo believe in splitting living costs evenly with his partner?
After thinking on it, Leo answers, “I don’t know if I believe in paying all of it, but I also don’t think I believe in splitting 50-50 if I’m making more. But I do like the thought of both of us paying something because it feels like we’re both invested.”
Brittany then discloses that in her previous relationship, she was “taken care of 100 per cent” and says she does not agree with sharing expenses equally, in part because women have expenses men don’t – like makeup, clothing and gym classes. As you can imagine, this was the exact moment fans started losing their minds.
Whether you agree wholeheartedly or disagree vehemently with Brittany’s position or Leo’s response isn’t actually the takeaway here. In my opinion, what’s significant is that in having the conversation so early on, there was a complete understanding of values, expectations, and goals.
Reality TV is mindless, vapid, 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 why people – myself included – love it so much.Credit: Shutterstock
And by laying everything out on the table, the risk of confusion, deceit and arguments significantly decreases.
For better or worse (I’d argue worse), money remains an incredibly taboo topic for many people. For that reason, when you enter into a new relationship, it can be tricky to broach the subject without sounding judgemental or as if you’re trying to decide if your new beau is a viable investment opportunity.
But the way a person spends and saves their money can tell you a lot about them. For example, are they saving with a specific goal in mind, or do they live paycheck to paycheck?
Loading
Are they generous and happy to shout their mates because they know that they earn more, or do they live frugally or wait for you to pick up the bill every time? Do they speak about the future with clear plans in place or take things day to day?
There are no exact right or wrong answers to these questions. But by looking at them, you can see how, in part, people value themselves and the people in their lives.
And what you’re really doing when you’re talking about money or asking these questions is trying to figure out if your values, goals and priorities align. As Leo admits at one point, “One of my biggest insecurities is that a girl will only want me for my money.”
Given how much of a stressor finances and money can play in a relationship, being armed with such honest information early on is easily preferable to finding out months or even years down the track. As Brittany quickly found, values did not align with a lot of the men there. With that information under her belt, she was able to keep looking for her person.
From the comfort of our couches, of course, it seems insane that Brittany and Leo go so deep and are so honest just a couple of days into knowing one another. But according to a 2020 paper from the US Institute for Family Studies, money is one of the most common topics of argument among couples with young children, second only to housework and chores.
Like all reality TV stars, whether we like Leo and Brittany as people is irrelevant. It’s the transparency of their conversation and their respective honesty about their financial realities and expectations that made for great TV.
Victoria Devine is an award-winning retired financial adviser, best-selling author, and host of Australia’s number one finance podcast, She’s on the Money. Victoria is also the founder and co-director of Zella Money.
- Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making any financial decisions.
