Dating isn’t inexpensive. Anyone who has dated for a while knows that going out with a new person may be expensive, especially if you’re trying to impress that person. (While most romance apps are free, going on dates with people you meet through them is not.) Even if you split the bill for your dinner and drinks or movie outing, you’re still paying for the chance to fall in love—and, according to a recent survey, the cost of dating doesn’t go down once you’re in a relationship.
Why Does Dating Seem To Be Expensive?
This may not be a popular viewpoint, but pandemic dating hasn’t been all bad—at least in terms of our bank accounts. Video dates are now a thing, and they’re completely free. Instead of going to the movies, we’ve had “Netflix parties,” where we’ve binge-watched shows without needing to meet in person. We avoided restaurants and pubs until we finally decided it was worth it to see each other in person…According to the survey, a single person spends roughly $168 each month on dating; if they date for the rest of their lives, they will have spent at least $121,082 on dating, so it’s no surprise that seven out of ten people believe dating is costly.
People spend an additional $185 per month on dates to keep their romance alive after they’ve been in a relationship, and 49 percent of those polled believe that being in a relationship is more expensive than being single. Dinner and drinks, at least once a week date night, physical contact, seeing a concert or show, and commemorating anniversaries are all popular ways to keep a relationship alive.
Minimal Expense Is The Key
While there’s no certain method to keep your heart safe from ghosting and other modern dating tragedies, you can keep your wallet safe. Everything in life, including dating, is an investment, my friend. The first few dates are considered risky. They may pay off handsomely or they may prove to be a waste of time and money. You could be tempted to go all out to impress your date and show them a good time, but I’d suggest waiting until the asset in issue becomes less volatile and you start seeing some actual potential—whatever that means for you.
Although there’s a good possibility the other person may offer to split the amount, they may still expect you to foot the price. They might not be pleased if you then throw an unexpected bill in their lap.
Set the correct expectations from the start to avoid the high expense of first dates. Stay casual and avoid over-explaining anything. If you’re having dinner or a movie, for example, you may say something like, “I’ll pay for the meal, you pay for the movie?” If that’s a big problem to the other person, it probably wasn’t intended to be in the first place. That’s difficult, but then again, so is dating, if that’s right?
There are, of course, ways to cut down on the amount of money you spend on dates. Whether you’re single or in a relationship, you can always go on fewer dates or choose free or low-cost outings. According to the survey, many people choose the first option, with 24 percent of respondents saying they avoid dating because they don’t have enough money and 51 percent admitting they’ve canceled a date because they ran out of money suddenly.
It’s best not to give updating just yet, at least not because of the financial implications. There are many ways to enjoy a great time with someone without breaking the bank. Furthermore, the appropriate person for you will accept your existing financial status, regardless of how bad it is.
Also Read: When Expectations meet Reality
