The Cost Of Dating Is Crippling My Bank Account

The dating game has definitely changed and these days, if you want to keep playing, you have to be prepared to part with some cash. The amount of money being spent on the search for love and all it entails is insane—all you can do is hope it won’t be wasted.

  1. If you want to up your chances on dating apps, you have to shell out. If you’re well accustomed to the dating circuit, you know the drill: unless you’re a ninja at sliding into the DMs, you need to be on an app. By the year 2022, the number of online daters is expected to hit 10.3 million in the US alone. So many couples meet online because it just makes sense; the bigger the pool of potentials, the greater your chances of finding your perfect match. Signing up is a good start, but if you want to really up your chances, you’ll have to pay for those extra features.
  2. Better odds don’t come cheap. By that logic, signing up for multiple dating sites should increase our chances of finding the one. But with some dating sites costing in excess of $50 a month, multiple memberships suddenly equal a pretty hefty price for only the possibility of finding love, no guarantees. Is it really worth it?
  3. Travel costs to and from your dates add up quickly. After hitting it off virtually, a real-life meet-up of some sort usually follows. But if you and your special someone live more than a few miles from each other, you have to start considering transport costs. Is one person expected to drive to the other? Will you meet in the middle? Regardless, public transport fares (or at the very least, a tank of gas) are pretty expensive. And that’s not even counting road tolls or Ubers home after one-night stands.
  4. Food and alcohol are some of the biggest bank account drainers. Dating someone usually involves candlelit dinners and intimate coffee dates, right? And if things are going well, they happen frequently. It’s no wonder the average dater is spending hundreds of dollars eating out monthly. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not heralding the death of the dinner date. But consider putting a two-month rule in place before shelling out for on fine dining for people you barely know yet.
  5. Bonding activities aren’t free. Beyond sharing meals, it’s nice to do activities together to help get to know each other. Unfortunately, free outings like beach walks or forest picnics can only get you so far. Stereotypical date nights may involve a trip to the movies, hitting up a local arcade, or seeing a live performance. None of it is free and eventually, if you’re not financially well-off, it could make you go broke.
  6. Cute gifts = $$$. For some people, giving and receiving thoughtful gifts is one of their main love languages. And if you happen to be dating someone who craves that kind affection, it can start to put you out of pocket real quick. Sure, it’s nice to give a thoughtful keepsake to someone you’re dating, but at what cost (literally)?
  7. Work hard, play hard. Realistically, spending more time getting to know people in bars and coffee shops means less time working. So instead of picking up that extra shift or getting paid double time on a Sunday, I used to find myself trading in much-needed dollars for dead-end dates. Over time, it can be damaging and really disheartening. I’m sure I’m not the only one in this position.
  8. My shout? The debate of who should pay for what in dating has been playing out for years and I’ve heard both sides of the story. However, guys do tend to pick up the tab more often. In fact, 86% of men prefer to pay the bill, so I’m not being sexist, just realistic. In that case, the poor guy’s basically shouldering all of the financial responsibility in the relationship, feeding and entertaining two people. So if anyone’s bound to go broke prematurely, it’s him!
  9. Is it a wise investment or what? I’m not saying an amazing person that ticks all the boxes isn’t worth the fancy dinners or overpriced movie tickets, but maybe you should reconsider extending that kind of generosity to every single person you date. Trust me, your wallet will thank you for it later. I know mine has.
Adrianna is a twenty-something-year-old writer, who is never seen wandering the streets of Sydney sans coffee in hand. A self-confessed sugar addict, she is a lover of sweet treats, sweet words and even sweeter fashion finds. When she isn't hitting the gym or buried in a horror film of some sort, you'll definitely find her on Instagram at @adri_zapp.
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