Splitting the Bill on a Date
According to a Match.com study, over 50 percent of men are spending more than $50 per date. That can add up very quickly. But speaking to your significant other about chipping in can also be a tricky situation. The idea of “going Dutch,” or splitting the bill, is nothing new. However, it can be difficult to discern when it is time to enact this practice.
How long do you wait to discuss sharing costs?
To truly know when you can bring up the idea of splitting the check on a date, it is good to first take into account how traditional your significant other’s ideals and values are. If your S.O. is very progressive and does not believe in traditional gender roles by any means, then you can bring it up on the third date.
Although view points differ on this, I do not agree with going Dutch on a first date. To me, that’s not really a date. Others argue that it levels the playing field. I suggest paying for the first few dates, but take her somewhere on the cheaper end such as a coffee shop. This will make sure that she doesn’t feel smothered. By the third date, you’ll have an idea of where things are going and you can go ahead and suggest splitting the bill.
Other women don’t even want to shell out the money after the first three dates. This may not really be due to their view point on traditional gender roles. One of the potential reasons behind this is that women are spending more money before the date even begins. As noted in the above study, 65 percent of women are spending over $50 to prepare for a date. That’s the cost of the average date! Generally, for a woman who is not quick to pull out her wallet on a date, wait a month or two for her to feel more comfortable with the idea of going Dutch.
Don’t overspend
If your partner is very traditional, it may take up to four months or more for her to feel that she should be helping foot the bill. If you think this is too much, keep in mind that 58 percent of women don’t want an expensive date. So get creative! Take her to a museum or on a picnic. And when the time comes where you are both comfortable talking about money, she’ll take out her wallet and let you know.
Dating and Relationship blogger, Sara Maldonado is a writer and social media guru currently navigating the sea of men while having an affair with the city of Washington, DC. She enjoys coffee, laughter, and a good hair day.