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Dating has gotten so expensive that nearly half of U.S. singles say it’s no longer worth it, as the average night out approaches $200 (fortune.com)
submitted 2 weeks ago by return2ozma@lemmy.world to c/aboringdystopia@lemmy.world
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[-] jtrek@startrek.website 16 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

That's a ridiculous amount of money to spend.

Most of my first dates were like

  • walk to bar ($0) or subway ($3)
  • a drink for both ($10 - $30)
  • transit back ($0 or $3)

Even two drinks wouldn't probably break the $100 barrier.

There are cheaper options, too. Coffee. Park walk and snacks. Free museums.

I didn't have much trouble meeting people on the same page.

Edit: a full ass dinner date is a terrible idea for early dating. Don't go on early dates you can't quickly bail on.

[-] exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, the article (perhaps intentionally, for clicks) misreads the underlying survey as being about first dates when it's actually about all dates. Dates with someone you're already fucking and sleeping over with is going to be a bit different to budget for, compared to first dates (which the second study they quote says is at around $93).

[-] jtrek@startrek.website 2 points 2 weeks ago

That's an important detail. Clicking through, it says

A first date in our study means one shared starter, two main courses and two cocktails. For each restaurant, we pulled the median starter, main and cocktail price from the menu. For each city, we took the median across all fully-priced restaurants.

That's extremely heavy for a first date. It's a poor strategy for several reasons to go that hard the first time you're meeting someone.

[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 weeks ago

Most of my first dates were like

walk to bar ($0) or subway ($3) a drink for both ($10 - $30) transit back ($0 or $3)

Pack of condoms, $8.

[-] jtrek@startrek.website 1 points 2 weeks ago

As a real cheapskate, you should keep an eye out for places give them out for free. There's an LGBT center near me with a giant basket for free, and a free clinic a longer walk away that gives them out and also does free STI tests.

[-] Squirrelanna 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

The health clinic I go to has a jar of condoms in every single room I've been in so far. It's pretty cool

this post was submitted on 13 May 2026
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