This TikToker Created A Five-Year Plan For His Relationship After Being With His Girlfriend For Less Than A Year
We’ve all heard of creating a five-year plan for your career but have you ever heard of making a five-year plan for your relationship? TikToker James Hunt did and it created quite a buzz on the social media platform. James, whose TikTok name is mba_huntboy, shared the five-year plan he implemented with his girlfriend on TikTok, breaking down their goals each year.
The couple has been together since Dec. 2021 and they came up with the plan less than a year together, which took a lot of people by surprise based on the video’s reactions. But there were others who supported the plan and admired it.
So what’s the five-year plan? In the TikTok video, James is sitting in front of a green screen that has the document displayed in the background. The real estate investor then goes through the document and explains his motivation behind it.
According to James, the plan doesn’t have to be limited to financial goals and family goals, but it can encompass an array of things such as reading and learning new skills together.
Year 1
In the first year, James lists getting engaged, a trip to Europe, moving in together, investing, paying off personal credit cards, reading three-minute books together, and saving $375 per week each.
He revealed that he and his girlfriend opened up a joint savings account. “If you humping somebody and you can’t start a bank account with them to see what type of saving habits they have or see if you can motivate them together, you need to be done with that right now,” he says. “I don’t know too many people actually coming together to save money, invest, do certain things. It's just all messed up.”
Year 2
In the second year, they will increase their saving strategy to $425/ week as well as their joint reading from three minutes to five minutes. They also want to get married and are planning for a baby, (he clarifies in the comments that they are wanting to have a kid in 2024), more travel, and more investments.
Year 3
By year three, they want to have $100k minimum saved, move into a new home, take a family cruise and continue investing.
“What I discovered was if we do this for the next three years, you can see how year one ties into year three here because that’s $36,000/ year if you do that $375 a week each,” he says. “We’ll have $100,000 saved collectively to invest or go right into our year four. We want to get a house in San Diego. We have a [$100k] cash, that’ll take you a long way on a down payment.”
Year 4
Year four says private banking, San Diego home, and making baby #2.
Year 5
Year five wraps up with educational attainment, moving again, mentoring, and civic engagement.
James wants viewers to know that while this plan works for him, you don’t have to follow everything he does. Do what works for you.
“Just use this as kind of like a guideline. It don’t have to be exact. We put some specific stuff in here but I didn’t put what type of books we gonna read. I just said we gonna read three books each,” he explains. “Put this together for your relationship. Definitely, if you got a girl, you got a dude, tell them hey, I wanna open up a joint account. Let’s start putting in $25, $50 a week and that’s gonna show you a lot about a person and if that becomes a problem then you know that you don’t need to be with that person. But if y’all can really buckle down and really see what you can do. You can make some great things happen.”
He ends his video with the popular old saying, “Two heads are always better than one.”
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Feature image by Halfpoint Images/ Getty Images
London Alexaundria is the contributing editor for xoNecole. She is an alum of Clark Atlanta University, where she majored in Mass Media Arts and has worked in journalism for over ten years. You can follow her on Instagram and TikTok @theselfcarewriter
Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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Feature image by Franco Zulueta
"Nia Long Fine" is a thing for a reason.
The Brooklyn-born actress, best known for her roles in films such as Boyz n the Hood, Love Jones, and The Best Man, is a baddie on and off screen. She has also starred in several television series, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Third Watch, and Empire. Long has received critical acclaim for her performances and has been nominated for several awards, including an NAACP Image Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In addition to her acting career, Long is also a producer and director.
Yes, the resume is shimmering with Black Girl Magic and that’s many thanks to her acting chops and her undeniable beauty. For decades, Nia has been the standard, given her natural and charming aura.
Nia expressed gratitude for being called "ageless" but emphasized to PEOPLEmagazine that she doesn't strive for an unattainable ideal of perfection or a perpetually youthful look. “There’s so much pressure in this industry to stay beautiful and to stay young. And I’m really not interested in leaning into this idea of perfection,” she said.
While Hollywood often holds women to unrealistic beauty standards and limits their career opportunities as they age, men are often celebrated for their distinguished looks as they get older. Nia continues to restructure those double standards and embrace the natural aging process because she is the epitome of Black, not cracking.
"I am a proud 51, and eventually I’m going to age in a way where it’s obvious and I want it to happen beautifully and gracefully. I don’t really want the pressure of feeling like I have to be beautiful and perfect because I think beauty comes at any age…But I honestly think the real beauty comes from within."
Embrace Simplicity in Skincare
Nia believes in a "less is more" approach. She prioritizes keeping her skin hydrated and healthy rather than focusing on anti-aging. She told New Beauty that she swears by regular facials, exfoliation, and using moisturizing products like Yonka eye cream and almond oil on damp skin after showers. Microdermabrasion and oxygen treatments are also part of her skincare routine. These practices help keep her skin glowing and supple.
Stay Active with Yoga and Pilates
Fitness is essential for Nia, who stays in shape with yoga, Pilates, and jump rope exercises. She believes in maintaining a healthy weight to avoid common problem areas, especially for women of color. Consistency in movement helps her maintain her vibrant energy. In the New Beauty interview, Nia said, “I eat healthy, organic foods and keep the weight off with a lot of yoga, Pilates, and jump rope, which I try and do every day for the length of at least one song.”
Hydrate with Rosewater
To combat dryness under studio lights, she uses rosewater spray to refresh her skin and moisturizer to touch up cakey makeup areas. This keeps her face looking dewy and bright throughout long workdays. Nia explained in an interview with Glamour, "And what I've learned over the years is—Chantecaille has this amazing rosewater—and I spray the rosewater on my face, and then I dab a little bit of moisturizer in the areas where I see the foundation or powder is cakey. It just instantly brightens your skin. But the key is you can't wipe, you have to dab."
Listen to Your Inner Self and Ancestors
Nia emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and connecting with one’s inner voice and heritage. She credits her mental clarity and resilience to being attentive to ancestral guidance and focusing on a holistic sense of wellness. During the American Black Film Festival this summer, the actress shared a heartfelt story that made this all so real.
“When I was a young girl and my grandmother used to make me meditate, and she talked about therapy. This is in the very early ’70s when Black folks were like, ‘If you go to therapy, you’re crazy.’ She was very innovative in her thinking. And so her therapist’s name was Dr. Curtis. My therapist is Dr. Henry McCurtis. So as we’re talking, I go, what’s that black and white photo behind you? And he goes, ‘Oh, that’s my mentor. His name was Dr. Curtis.’”
She understood then that there was a purpose behind everything that was unfolding. “So listen and pay attention to those things, because angels are real. They’re real. Our ancestors are always pushing for our greatness. And so if you just settle into that listening and receiving, you’ll feel a sense of ease as you walk through this life, no matter how tough it gets.”
Celebrate Aging Gracefully
Nia rejects the pressure to remain "ageless" and instead embraces the beauty of aging naturally. She focuses on maintaining health and vibrancy rather than adhering to unrealistic beauty standards. This mindset allows her to enjoy her current phase of life with confidence.
A Natural Beat
The mommy mogul told Allure, “My look changes, but I do love the Nars lipstick pencils. I also love Laura Mercier's [Tinted Moisturizer]. [I use] a bronze powder by Nars called Punta Cana — that's my new favorite bronzer. Then, I usually top it all off with a Chanel gloss. I don't [get done up] so much unless someone else is doing my makeup. Then, I let them do whatever they want to do.”
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Featured image via Nia Long/Instagram