Wining and dining is out, according to new research that suggests if you really want to impress your date, being thrifty is the way to go. It finds that today’s daters aren’t looking to be swept off their feet by someone spending lots of money and doing so can be a total turn-off.
The survey of 2-thousand U.S. adults finds that a lot of singles are embracing budget-friendly dating:
- More than half (56%) say it’s perfectly acceptable to use a coupon on a first date.
- Even more surprising? “Frugality” is an attractive trait in a partner for 61%, and 28% take it even further, saying frugality is actually “sexy.”
- Bad news for those who flash the cash to impress a date, as 56% admit they’ve been turned off by a date trying to show off by spending a lot of money.
- So, how much is too much for a first date? The max people feel comfortable spending is $125.
- Beyond using coupons, daters appreciate other ways to save, like going to happy hour for drinks or redeeming rewards points to pay for a date. More than a third (37%) say they’d be impressed if their date did that.
- While nearly half (48%) say they’re happy to split the bill on a date, women are less likely than men to want a second date if they paid half the bill. Only a third (32%) of women would be happy to go out again after that, compared to 70% of men.
- Far from a red flag, 60% of those currently dating say they’re looking for someone who frequently looks for deals.
- But that doesn’t mean they’re looking for a cheapskate, as 70% say there’s a big difference between being frugal and being cheap.
- A third (34%) say being “cheap” is “when someone avoids basic spending, like tipping,” 25% feel being cheap is “when it affects others negatively,” and 12% say it’s when someone refuses to spend on experiences.⠀
Source: Talker