Print
Email
RSS
Boy, talk about pressure! Some of the toughest dating dilemmas, especially early on in a relationship, have to do with how much money you should spend on a date. What’s the lower limit I can spend without looking like a cheapskate? When should I splurge a little? When is it expected that I go all out? How far into a relationship is a cheap date OK?
There’s no rule book that offers concrete answers to these questions, but there are some pretty clear guidelines you can follow about how much dough to lay down. Here are a few suggestions:
First off, relax, because …
You Don’t Have to go Hog Wild
Still, that being said …
A Good Date does Demonstrate that you’re Investing in the Relationship
By “relationship” we don’t mean that you’re necessarily headed toward marriage; it might even be a first date we’re talking about. And we’re not necessarily talking about a financial investment either. But whether it’s early or late in a relationship, it’s important that from time to time you show the other person that you’re making a real effort to plan a date that’s fun and meaningful. Any effort and thoughtfulness will go a long way toward creating a real connection.
But don’t put constant pressure on yourself to come up with perfect date after perfect date, because …
Good Dates can also be about Relaxing and just Being Together
Especially once you’ve gotten into a rhythm in your relationship, you may just want to hang out and watch TV—if that’s what you both enjoy doing. But even when you’re just getting to know each other, you don’t have to spend hours planning a perfect date that requires loads of creativity and expense. Instead, just make sure to provide the time and opportunity to be together and talk about who you are. There’s nothing wrong with just going to a cheap and interesting burger joint, or taking in a ball game, or going out with friends. The point is that dating is about getting to know each other better and deepening your relationship. So make an effort to provide the environment and opportunity for that to happen.
Still, don’t use that as an excuse to get into a rut, because …
You Don’t Want to be Cheap and/or Lazy
As we said, it’s not necessary that you rent a white horse and medieval knight costume every time you plan something to do together. And again, your date needs to understand that going out frequently—even just for dinner and a movie—can get expensive. There are plenty of dates you can plan that don’t cost a lot of money but show that you’ve put at least some thought into how you are going to spend your time together. (For example, think about hiking, going to a museum, attending a free concert in the park, etc.) Still, keep in mind that there are times when there’s just no way around shelling out some dough. For example, you may need to spring for valet parking instead of saving a couple of bucks by making your date walk six blocks in stilettos. (And if she’s wearing stilettos, it’s probably worth the extra money.) On the other hand, don’t expect money to replace thoughtfulness, because …
| Page: | 1 | 2 | Next >> |
Recent comments on this article
Read all comments