Jennifer alternates sleeping in her husband’s room 2 nights and her boyfriend’s room 2 nights. All three of them pool money to buy a house together and are all satisfied with their polyamorous lifestyle.
Jennifer Martin (35 years old) and her husband Daniel (36 years old) live in Richmond, Virginia, USA. They got married in 2008 and had 2 sons in 2013.
On January 31, Jennifer shared her story with the New York Post , saying that she feels happy with her current living situation, with one more person in the family paying the rent in a difficult financial context and high inflation.
“Daniel and I were struggling financially before our new tenant, Ty (33), moved in. Housing prices in this area are very high,” said Jennifer.
In 2015, Jennifer Martin and Daniel realized they shared a similar view of the polyamory lifestyle – a relationship that is polyamorous, not monogamous.
In 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple decided to welcome Ty to live with them to share some of the rent because they were having financial difficulties. Unexpectedly, after 3 years of living with Ty, Jennifer fell in love and they became lovers.
Jennifer Martin poses with her husband Daniel (right), boyfriend Ty (left) and two sons. (Photo: NYP)
The three of them pay $1,537 (VND37 million) in rent each month, of which Ty pays $700 (VND17 million) for his share.
Not only was the rent reduced, Ty also took care of the electricity, water and wifi bills. Jennifer and her husband paid for groceries. Ty also gradually became close to their children, occasionally giving them money.
Jennifer is a freelance editor, Daniel is a private school teacher, and Ty is a bank manager. Their combined annual income is about $150,000. The three of them are saving together to buy a house.
In December 2023, they put down a deposit on a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home for $325,000.
“I’m sure we wouldn’t have been able to buy a house without Ty,” Jennifer said. “Most people my age own a home in Richmond. The financial situation over the past few years has been so tough and desperate that it’s left a lot of people devastated.”
Currently, Jennifer alternates two nights in Daniel’s bedroom and two nights in Ty’s bedroom. That routine will continue when they move into their new home next month.
“I know other polyamorous couples have separate bedrooms, but with our kids we don’t have enough space,” says Jennifer. “So I’ll sleep in Ty’s room and Daniel’s room every other night.”
Jennifer has a personal care basket that she carries from her boyfriend’s room to her husband’s room and back, containing cleanser, night cream, night pads, and books. She tries to make it as fair as possible to go to Ty and Daniel’s rooms.
Jennifer said she is happy living with her husband and boyfriend in the same house. (Photo: NYP)
She said that both Ty and Daniel are also dating other people: “Daniel also has someone he sees once a week, while Ty has another lover who lives far away and dates occasionally. I feel like our relationship is normal when we live together.”
While their lifestyle may surprise many, it could be considered America’s “unique version of inflation,” according to the New York Post . The tough economy has led many couples to move in together to cut down on living expenses.
“We are really happy, we get along really well and the kids are happy that my boyfriend lives with the family,” Jennifer said.
Polyamory phenomenon is becoming more and more popular.
Jennifer grew up in a conservative evangelical family. She says she is “choosing to raise her two children with a more open mind.”