Mismatched spending habits are a common cause of conflict in relationships—so when one “90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days” cast member saw his wife’s oversized home in the Philippines for the first time, it left him with major doubts about their compatibility as a couple.
Jovon and Annalyn Fox are one of eight couples featured on Season 8 of the hit TLC dating series, which premiered Dec. 7. The spinoff show serves as a prequel to the original “90 Day Fiancé” series and follows Americans as they travel overseas to meet the romantic partners they’ve so far only known online.
Jovon, 38, is a nursing home employee from Alabama, while Annalyn, 38, is based in Dasmariñas, Cavite, the Philippines.
The hopeful romantics initially connected six years ago on Filipino Cupid, an online dating service, and their long-distance courtship led to the couple saying “I do” in a virtual wedding even though they had never met in person.
Now, nearly three years into their marriage, the Foxes are seeing each other offline for the very first time—and much to Jovon’s dismay, he discovers he is not in love with the lavish lifestyle Annalyn is leading.
In an exclusive clip from the upcoming episode, “Prepare for Arrival,” Annalyn gives Jovon a tour of her house in the Philippines.
“Here we go, Boo, yes, come on, yeah, welcome home,” she says as the front door opens up to a narrow cream hallway.
Jovon wheels his luggage into the entryway and immediately reacts to the style and size of Annalyn’s abode.
“I see, OK, it’s very colorful, very big spaces,” he notes.
The couple makes their way into an open-concept great room that uses different colored walls to delineate the kitchen from the living room area of the layout, which is anchored by a leather L-shaped couch.
In the kitchen, peach-toned walls complement the neutral, tan backsplash and countertops, while black cabinets provide a dramatic contrast. Cooking tools and appliances are displayed on the counter and various open shelving units, and a large hutch containing glassware and fine dishes sits behind a rectangular dining table draped with a red tablecloth, runner, and floral centerpiece.
Kitchen decor includes a piece of nature-inspired artwork framed on the wall and a large model ship sitting atop a white refrigerator.
Despite the kitchen appearing spacious enough for cooking, dining, and gathering, Annalyn describes it as modest.
“This is my little kitchen, I know it’s pretty little,” she says.
However, Jovon’s reaction reveals he doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Annalyn’s assessment of the square footage.
“No, it’s big enough,” he fires back.
The two head upstairs through a green hallway and enter a lavender-walled bedroom that boasts a bed with a white, tufted headboard, two white nightstands, a matching patterned chair and loveseat set, flatscreen TV, and LED ring light.
Behind the scenes, Jovon reveals his shocking first impression of his wife’s large living quarters.
“Seeing my wife’s house for the first time, I’m surprised by how big it is—it’s one of the biggest houses on the block,” he says.
Back inside Annalyn’s home, Jovon shares his reaction with his wife.
“Oh wow, Boo, this is a lot bigger than what I initially thought,” says Jovon, as Annalyn emphasizes her need for extra room.
“But it’s pretty hot here, that’s why I sleep downstairs most of the time,” she explains.
Annalyn leads Jovon to show off “another closet” space comprised of floor-to-ceiling cabinets and open glass shelving for her handbags and shoes, and Jovon really starts questioning whether Annalyn needs so much extra space.
“I think Anna doesn’t need two floors,” he says. “I mean, I live in a very small house, and I have three roommates. She definitely could live a more modest life.”
Jovon and Annalyn’s final stop on the house tour is in front of a glass-and-metal display case that’s adorned with colorful jewel-shaped glass accessories on top and a smattering of framed photos inside.
“What are you looking at? Oh, some travel photos,” Annalyn explains, before detailing all the places she’s pictured in. “This is Palawan. This is in Batanes. It’s in Albay. Look, the Mayon, doing ATV.”
While Jovon outwardly tells his wife the photos look “pretty,” his internal monologue fixates on cataloguing the cost of Annalyn’s housing and lifestyle, leading him to rethink the financial generosity he’s given his wife.
“Everywhere I look, you know, I just see dollar signs,” says Jovan. “I see a lot of travel photos. She has huge closets with clothes she’s not even wearing.”
“I mean, she’s always complaining that I’m not romantic enough but seeing how she lives and where my money is going, it definitely makes me feel taken advantage of, so yeah, I think she just needs to downgrade a little bit.”
Beyond the 9,000 miles stretching between their hometowns, it seems Jovan and Annalyn’s attitudes toward money are also worlds apart.
“90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on TLC.