Author	Thread: Dating Dollars
Elisa View Profile History	Dating Dollars Posted : 1 Jan, 2011 12:01 PM Gentlemen, A comment was made in another posting concerning how much a gentleman expects to spend on a date. The amount REALLY surprised me. So my question for you is, how much do you (or someone you know) typically budget to spend on a date? Does the amount increase or decrease with age? Does geographic location (within the US) have a significant impact? What are the anomalies to the typical? This is a curiosity question, not a gotcha question. There is no hidden agenda other than clarification for correcting a possible misconception I have. Post Reply
Tulip89 View Profile History	Dating Dollars Posted : 1 Jan, 2011 11:16 PM Call me cheap, but I haven't spent much money on a date in years. If I don't know a girl particularly well (such as meeting off the internet), our first date is at Starbuck's or the local equivalent. I made the mistake of not picking up a girl's coffee once, and she never called me back, so I make sure I pay for that now. That usually totals less than $7 because I get black coffee. You may think it's bitter, but I think it's great. If we know each other through friends or whatever, I just go ahead and invite the girl over to my apartment and cook her dinner. I have yet to meet a girl who's had another guy cook for her, and I have yet to meet a girl who objected to my cooking (except for one girl who was trying to lose weight and objected to my liberal use of butter when saut�ing the shrimp. I told her she was too pretty to be worrying about her weight like that, which shut her up). The grand total after I cook for a girl may approach $10 if we have a glass of the finest Charles Shaw blend. The thing is though, I'll ask a girl out before I've decided I want to date her. I have nothing wrapped up in impressing her. When I ask a girl out, it's an opportunity to get to know her better in a more private setting to see if I like her enough to do it again. Girls have had the traditional first date experience so many times, I like to do something a little bit different. I have little interest or success in buying a girl's affections, so I don't try to anymore. Instead, I try to give them the experience they're looking for without necessarily spending all the money so many guys do. Post Reply
rainbowian View Profile History	Dating Dollars Posted : 2 Jan, 2011 09:58 AM My preference would be Dutch. I don't think it's a good idea to be spending money on someone I don't know is in it for the long haul. What if there is no second date? I'll have spent money for nothing. Plus, it would force her to make an investment in the date beyond merely showing up. I want to know that she's interested in me and not just a free meal. I'd be looking to pay as little as possible. The reason for the date is to get to know the other person, not to have an extravagant meal. Remember, the concept of men paying for the date is based on a time when men had all the money/power. So it was out of necessity that the man paid. These days, with women working, they should be able to pay their half. Post Reply
View Profile History	Dating Dollars Posted : 2 Jan, 2011 10:52 AM Tulip! How goes it? Nice to see you! If a man pays for the date, in my opinion I think it shows he is 1) a gentleman and is treating me like a lady and 2) is serious about a finding someone to have a serious relationship with. This may be an age thing --- perhaps the 20-30 year olds might feel differently? Which is fine and dandy, as I'm not dating them! :laugh: If a man is on a limited income or (common now-a-days) unemployed or working part-time, I have no problem at all paying my share, after the first one or two dates. And he does not have to spend a lot on me for the first one or two dates - not at all. It is the quality and not the $$ amount that mean the most. Post Reply
Tulip89 View Profile History	Dating Dollars Posted : 2 Jan, 2011 11:12 AM I definitely agree. I would rather give a girl a high quality date than an expensive one, regardless of my monetary situation. You can do quality on the cheap if you are willing to put a little extra effort into it. Post Reply
View Profile History	Dating Dollars Posted : 2 Jan, 2011 01:19 PM Courtship Dollars? Hmm.. that sounds less worldly but also like a major contradiction. Dating is a secular term from the world of decay, when you go dutch there can be no expectations from anyone! With today's economy it almost seems wiser to meet for coffee and conversation to keep things affordable. Courtship is something that seems to be an abandoned topic here strangely. I can't be the only one who finds the word "dating" cheap, much like test-driving a car? Post Reply
View Profile History	Dating Dollars Posted : 2 Jan, 2011 05:55 PM I love the concept of Courtship and have made it clear to my children that they will be Courting rather than Dating (when the time comes, many many many years from now :P). But I feel the question still applies - how much would a guy be expected (by either party) to spend on an outing? Post Reply
View Profile History	Dating Dollars Posted : 2 Jan, 2011 06:47 PM @ 2 --> $40 for a picnic?? Really BC, and Aly, Love the new pics. Tulip, welcome back Post Reply
View Profile History	Dating Dollars Posted : 2 Jan, 2011 09:52 PM Violakat, $10- beef jerky $7- salami $6- cheese $4-crackers $3-string cheese $5-sodas/water $5-trail mix $5-fruit Total = $45 Post Reply
View Profile History	Dating Dollars Posted : 2 Jan, 2011 11:11 PM Well, if I ask out the lady I expect to pay for what ever we might do. Some women might think I was cheap for 1st date or might I call it a meeting to get to know you better, Winter time I'd suggest meeting like Pizza Hut, Burger King something affordable for me and also not a loud place where we could chat and get to know each other a little. If it was Summer time I'd ask how you felt about meeting at a city park or something and I'd prepare a picnic again looking for place quite and I could afford doing. Main focus of the date would be to get to know you. Also if dating a person for longer time that feelings are growing both ways I'd still be one that would pay. Now on the other hand, lets say you knew me and know I am on tight budget and you called me and said lets go out Friday night it's my treat, I would grasiously acceppt. I'd just hope the lady did not try to outdo herself by tring to spend a lot of money on the date, that would make me nervous. However if she spent in appox range I had been doing and we had fun doing. I'd think she cares about me and wants my company. Also this is more likely the time I would show up with a couple roses or box of candy as a gift. I also think there are a lot of very affordable dates to do that do not cost a lot and could be lot of fun. Nature Walk and picnic, Canoeing down a river watching wildlife, Food Tasting fair, Going to a childs ball game or school function and then treating them to ice cream afterwards, Finding something we both might be passionate in like I love cooking and you might enjoy helping retired people, we could volenteer our time at senior citizen center that offered meals. I help in the cooking and you might want to help them by calling Bingo numbers. Afterwards we both go for soda and share how we felt about helping someone else. Just a few ideas I have for affordable dates :bouncy: Post Reply
View Profile History	Dating Dollars Posted : 3 Jan, 2011 12:03 AM Well, I'm not so much into how much is spent as the quality of the food. My dates have always paid for the whole shabang. Food, drive, airplane ride, (that was cool!) concert, movie, art show, dancing, boat ride or whatever. I have offered to pay the tip or help with gas at times and was always thanked, but told no thanks. My big thing is that I choose to eat very healthy after being sick 8 years ago and changing my eating habits. I don't eat fast food, junk carbs or drink soda and like farm fresh eggs, real butter, cheese, free-range meat, sprouted breads and fermented foods, so most guys think I'm weird and tease me about it. I take it well, but really don't care for our FDA and all the junk on the market today. I do eat some bad stuff every now and then like cheesecake, but it's not the norm. :laugh: I like chivalry! You guys are alright. :applause: Post Reply

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