Love has a way of making people spend money they don’t have, ignore common sense and convince themselves it’ll all be worth it.

We asked these Nigerians to share the wildest financial decisions they’ve ever made for love, and whether they’d do it again. Here’s what they said.

“I borrowed money from loan apps to impress a babe” — Deji*, 29, M

I met a beautiful woman at a wedding in 2024. She was three years older, and I desperately wanted her to give me a chance, so I went all out. 

I took her to expensive dinners, rented beach cabins for weekend getaways and cleared her skincare carts. She thought I was spending my ‘tech money’ as a software developer, but I was actually borrowing from loan apps to fund the lifestyle.

Then she asked we spend a week in Ghana that December. I checked my account and realised I couldn’t fake it anymore. I told her no and slowly pulled away. We fizzled out shortly after. It took me eight months to clear the loans. I suffered like mad.

“I funded my man’s dream to be a star” — Dunni*, 30, F

Back in uni, I dated an upcoming musician and genuinely believed he was one hit away from success. For almost two years, I paid for anything that would advance his career. I bought beats, paid for studio sessions, and cooked for him so he could focus on the music. At one point, I even changed his wardrobe after someone trolled his outfit at a show. I didn’t mind that these things swallowed chunks of my allowance and savings because I believed in him.

Three months after we graduated in 2019, he moved to Lagos to pursue his dream and dumped me for another girl. What pains me is that he still hasn’t blown up. I should have just used my money to eat or save for things that actually benefited me. 

“I flew to Abuja for a situationship” — Demilade*, 34, M

In 2025, I started talking to this girl who lived in Abuja. We’d never met, but we’d spent months talking on the phone every day. One day, she asked if I was ever going to visit.

The next day, I dipped into my rent savings,  booked a ticket to Abuja and told her I’d see her soon. I spent a week in Abuja with her, and we had a fantastic time. It honestly felt like the beginning of a relationship. We even talked about me moving to Abuja. Then, on my last night, we hung out with some of her friends, and she introduced me as “my friend from Lagos.” 

That’s when I knew I’d misread the signals. When I asked where we stood, she said she wasn’t looking for anything serious because she wanted to finish her master’s first. I don’t regret it, but I’m never booking a flight to see someone who’s not my official partner again.

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“I sold my car so we could have a bigger wedding” — Wale*, 47, M

When my wife and I were planning our wedding in 2014, we’d saved enough for a modest wedding. But her family insisted on something bigger because she’s their only daughter. I begged and asked them to scale things back, but they insisted.

Instead of taking a loan,  I sold my car. It was a lovely event, but I couldn’t afford another car for two years afterwards. Looking back, I have no regrets because it was worth the discomfort for the woman I love.

That said, if my son ever suggests selling an asset for one day’s enjoyment, I’ll personally knock his head.

“I bought aso-ebi for a wedding I wasn’t invited to” — Loretta*, 28, F

My ex-boyfriend’s cousin got married in Ibadan in 2024. I wanted his family to like me, so I bought the aso-ebi, contributed to the bridal shower, bought a gift and even helped with wedding prep.

A week before the wedding, I asked my ex for affordable hotels in Ibadan. He sounded surprised and said, ‘You’re coming? The wedding is only for family and close friends.” 

I’d already spent almost ₦150k. I was so angry. The painful part was that he’d watched me buy the aso-ebi and contribute to the shower, knowing I wasn’t invited and never said a word. I still feel foolish when I think about it. It was one of the reasons we broke up. The funny part is his cousin still follows me on Instagram.

“I got into debt taking care of my boyfriend” — Diana*, 30, F

In 2025, I got into a long-distance relationship with a man who lived in Europe. I’d always promised I’d spoil him silly whenever he came to Nigeria. Unfortunately, I lost my job in May. 

He’d planned to visit in June, and I didn’t want him to cancel, so I didn’t mention my unemployment. For two weeks, I paid for meals, bought gifts for him and his family, and made sure he enjoyed every minute of the trip. I spent more than 70% of my emergency funds to keep my promise of giving him a good time. Two weeks after he returned, he broke up with me because I didn’t have a ‘submissive spirit’. I cried for days. Not just because I’d lost the relationship, but because I burned through money that should’ve kept me afloat while I searched for another job. I can never be that financially reckless for any man again.

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