By Adedotun Ajayi

|

Love is one of the greatest motivations that a person can have in life. The role love plays in a relationship is endless, the presence of love is an imperative element of a successful relationship. Love is a combination of emotions, cognitions, and behaviours that often play a crucial role in intimate romantic relationships. But as many often would say, love is not enough in a love relationship.

The importance of money in relationships can’t be ruled out. At the same time, it is not wise to believe that money can buy good relationship.

In many relationships, both love and money play critical roles, and finances can be one of the most common topics of disagreement. Entering a relationship for love or money is generally a decision that each person must make for themselves. Sometimes, family and cultural factors can impact an individual’s choice, but in most cases, it is the individual themselves that can determine which relationship they choose to be a part of.

This brings us to the billion dollar question that attracted controversial answers as The Hope went to town and asked people ” what is the way to a woman’s heart; money or love?

Marbie Biodun, a relationship expert said money can’t buy love, it can only sustain the individuals co-existence, when there’s money they both would be comfortable and that comfort may reflect on how much they grow strong in love. She said “Money shouldn’t be mistaken for happiness, because happiness is spiritual and it goes a long way in connecting a man’s state of mind in which his physical man must be at peace with the inner man and with so doing, he would be happy and also would be able to give out love and create room for it being returned.

“Money cannot buy love or happiness, but it sure can sustain the individuals by providing comfort and when you can give a woman comfort, you would have her support and attention which i believe almost all men want,” she added.

Abiodun Damiloun, an entrepreneur said anybody who is struggling financially should not think about love. She quipped, “you should never consider pursuing a relationship when you have no source of income. Because, love is quite difficult to prove when you’re very broke.

 “People should also learn how to date within their financial bracket. Everybody needs to acknowledge this. Date someone that won’t require you to over-flex your financial muscle”

On the contrary, Aina Elizabeth, a business woman said: “Love is money, money is love, before you practice love, make sure you have money. I have heard of relationships that crumbled because it lacked money but I haven’t heard of the one that crumbled because of too much money,” she added

Khalid Okunade, a lawyer said it depends on the values and spirituality that dictate the intentions of the persons in love.

“To tell you a joke, some ladies were talking about love at first sight, some of them told their stories, and one lady said i fell in love at second sight. First sight was when i saw him coming towards me in the street with a big smile, handsome face, tall, dark skin and the second sight was when he crossed the road and entered his Benz. In her own view, she definitely can’t love when there’s no money.

“There is a huge connection between love and money. Love can motivate and charge up a person to work hard, so you can provide for the person you dearly love, it’s normal for a lady to feel comfortable and secured around her man, what makes her secured and comfortable? Definitely money.

“Although, money cannot buy love, because love is hidden, out of reach within the heart, and has to be won not purchased. Love can only be given freely and never bought. Love is where the heart is, and it is given only to that person who wins it and deserves it” he said

Adenike Ogunshola, mother of two said “I don’t know about this current generation but I married my husband because i love him with the whole of my life. When we were dating, i never for once knew his salary, because it was really unimportant to me.

“I fell in love with him as a person and not with the contents of his bank account, love is the foundation of our union,” she reacted

Semilore Adeola said food is the biggest need for life and to get that you at least need to secure the means through which you are making it possible to get the food and everything that is indispensable for life. So that’s how capacity, worth of making money plays a big role in determining a person’s attractiveness with basic sense of decency.

“If a man doesn’t have the means or security that allows him to fill up his own stomach, then how can a girl feel love for a person that can’t even take his own responsibility,” she queried.

She continued: “I may sound materialistic and I hate myself for thinking that way, but I have been a fool emotionally and now that I have grown up, I am not reluctant to say that love brings much but money brings it all”.

In the same vein, Ifeoluwa Adedoyin said “of course, it’s possible to love anyone in the world without having a penny.

“Love doesn’t need money, but to survive with your loved ones money is necessary.

You can care, help and show concern on your loved ones without money.

“But money is a major factor, if growth and happiness is needed, then love needs money,” he said.

Damilola Olatunji, an entrepreneur said there’s no love anywhere, because money controls everything. “Anytime i hear “Love is blind” it always sounds funny to me, Nowadays, relationships are just like buying and selling of goods and services, when one is not profitable, you switch your line of business for another,” she reacted.

Ayomide Olaitan, an undergraduate said there is always a price to pay for love. For some, that price might be money. That means the person seeking love must be rich before love is found. To other people, the price for love might be good looks. For another person, it can even be intelligence, humour,etc, so, it’s an individual thing. Bottom line is yes, love can work without money as long as the price to pay is something else, not money,” she said.

Fisayo Ilori, a businessman said “You cannot have a relationship based solely on love. It doesn’t work out that way. Things get in the way and money is a major issue. How well you get along with someone is important, so is how you feel deep inside you about the other person. It won’t be enough to get you through though. You need to have money in order to survive, it’s a necessary ingredient when talking about love,” he added.

Emmanuel Olaiye, an entrepreneur said “there is no love without money. Money sustains that love. Crave for the right attitude towards money. Love for her will make you realize that you need money for her upkeep. If you do not take care of her, who will? To take care of her, you need money. She loves you nonetheless, but then hunger can also kill her. Therefore, while love can exist without money, but money still has a vital role to play,” he said.

Feranmi Adebayo, a lawyer said “anytime this topic comes up, there’s one fact that would always remain true, which is “a woman is a creature of comfort.”

“Therefore, money would always remain a major factor in any love affair. Once you meet or have the potential to meet her ideals of what life is supposed to be, she would be all yours.

“If she has money or sources of money, you really don’t need to worry but on the other hand If you’re both broke, she won’t stick around you for too long and you really can’t blame her either, would you hang around friends who are poor? even if you do…it won’t be for long.” So, if you ask me, I’ll say love can’t survive without money,” she said.

Speaking with a clergy man, Jolade Kehinde, he said love is not love if it is conditional. To love someone is a choice you make unconditionally  “the perfect example of love is God who is LOVE Himself – 1John.4:8.

According to him; “true love is unconditional, anyone who builds a relationship base on money is like that man that builds his house on sand, when the turbulence of life arises it will crumble. A solid relationship is built on love (unconditional love) no matter how hard the turbulence might be, it won’t shake!

True Love attracts God who is LOVE Himself and if it does attracts Him, that means He will bless it. What am I trying to say. You can’t love each other genuinely and not be blessed by Him, it’s not possible! Any relationship that is not blessed by God, there is no genuineness in it.

Therefore, there’s perfect love without money, it is the perfect love that brings the blessings; money, good health, etc., he added.