Ever go out with someone just to get a free meal? It turns out, a lot of people have. A new survey shows that nearly four in 10 (39.9%) of American adults admit to going on a date just for the free food. Another 27.5% haven’t done it, but would consider it, and only 32.6% have never even considered the idea.
While dating has always been expensive, a new survey suggests that a lot of people feel the cost of dating is starting to feel increasingly high. Financial services company J.G. Wentworth asked 1,538 U.S. adults about dating and finances and found:
The average American spends $93 on a first date and expects their date to spend about the same ($92).
So, where’s all that money going? That’s a good question since the top three first date activities are getting a drink at the bar (37.5%), enjoying a board game night (35.5%) and taking a walk in the park (8.2%). Dinner at a restaurant and going to the movies are far less popular, ranking below 5%.
Spending expectations around dates are higher now than they used to be, according to 60.1%.
For 86%, money concerns have led them to delay dating at least once.
Nearly a third (29.5%) have turned down a date because they couldn’t afford it, while 85.7% have said no to a second date because they felt they didn’t align financially with the other person.
And 87.3% have canceled at least one date as a result of financial pressures.
Among those who aren’t currently dating, 13.7% admit they’d like to date, they just can’t afford to now.
Almost half (48%) of active daters confess that concerns about money have sometimes knocked their confidence about pursuing romantic relationships.
The question of who should pay for the date is still a tricky one. For 27.9% of those surveyed, it “depends on the dynamic and what both parties are comfortable with.” But a quarter think the person who suggested the activity should pay, 24.1% say it should be whoever offers to pay at the time, and 9.3% believe it’s the responsibility of whoever asked for the date.
While 8.1% say the couple should split the bill, 92.3% have felt uncomfortable suggesting it on a first date, mostly over a fear of seeming cheap (79%) or uninterested (79%).
Source: Asbury Park Press
PHOTO: GETTY