CeceI can usually weed out people on Tinder within the first five to ten chat messages. And that’s what happened a few months ago with Jeff. I quickly decided I never wanted to meet this guy, but as it turns out, Jeff and I chatted nearly every day for a week. Why? We were debating as to whether a guy should pay for a girl on a date. Needless to say, I have something to say on the topic.
The truth is, deciding where to go and who’s paying for what can lead to awkward or uncomfortable situations, so here are some tips.
Take Control
This may not be the answer you want to hear (or read), but as a general rule, just pay for the first date. Do not, however, spend outside your budget.
If you’re an online dater and it’s the first time you’re meeting a girl, this is not the time to wine and dine. This is a time to get to know each other, so treat it like that. Meet at a cafe or a park and buy her a drink. Then decide if you want to take things further. If things are going well, you can escalate from there.
If it’s a girl you’ve already gotten to know through other social situations, draw on a shared interest to inspire how to spend your date.
The important thing is to be confident, comfortable, and in control. You decide where to meet. This means you’re taking the lead and that you can choose a place where you feel comfortable (psychologically and financially). You decide when it’s time to move on to a new place. This means you maintain the alpha role (the leader) which will keep the girl stimulated and engaged.
In general, too many dates involve meeting in one place and staying there — mix it up! More importantly, sweep her off her feet not by spending a lot of money, but by keeping her on her toes.
Consider the Situation
Telling the girl where and when to meet you is an easy and generally well-received way to take the leading role in the relationship. But it also means in some sense that you’re taking on a financial responsibility. Here’s why:
Let’s say you choose to attend a show, eat at a high-end restaurant, and then grab drinks. If you’re proposing to do all of these things, most girls will anticipate that you’ll also pick up the bill. I would not be a happy camper if a guy took me to a pricey restaurant and then told me he wasn’t paying for me.
That puts me in an uncomfortable situation. I would have never agreed to go to a place so expensive if I knew that I was paying, but I also don’t want it to seem like I’m just looking for free food and drinks. If you want to do something not cheap and not pay, be up front about it.
Still, it’s more likely today that a girl would be totally fine paying for herself. It really depends on the situation, so this becomes another time to “test.” See how she reacts when the bill comes or when you approach the cashier.
Some Girls Even Insist on Paying
As a college student myself, I would be more willing to pay on a date with a fellow student as opposed to one with an older, employed date.
If I were on a first date with a fellow struggling student, I would not want him to take me to a fancy place and spend more than he realistically should. The atmosphere and the prices on the menu would put more pressure on him. This pressure would leave him feeling uncomfortable and less confident, and at the end of the day, that extra money spent would have been a waste.
Confidence will always win more girls than money. Since I practically live in cafes anyway, this student would have been much better off taking me for a coffee. The atmosphere and prices would lessen the pressure, and he could likely afford to pay for me. And let’s face it, paying for the girl is the more masculine thing to do.
On the other hand, when I dated a guy who worked in the financial industry and who was eight years older, I fully expected him to pay on the first date–and he did. He took me to nicer restaurants because that was where he would normally go, where he felt comfortable, and therefore, where he could feel confident.
Remember It’s a Two-Way Street
One thing that’s important for guys to remember is that dating is not just about making a girl like you, it’s also about finding out if you like her. Treat her well, but don’t bend over backwards. Trying too hard is not attractive. It shows insecurity and makes is seem like you’re overcompensating for something you lack.
If a girl doesn’t respond well to the fact that you didn’t spend a lot of money on the date or to the fact that you didn’t pay, it doesn’t mean you failed at winning her over, it means she failed at fitting into your lifestyle and at not being spoiled. Be glad that it didn’t work out, and focus on finding someone better.
Splurge Later
You don’t have to roll out the red carpet on your first date. In fact, I advise against it.
Spending a lot is not sustainable over time and can attract a girl for the wrong reasons. If you impress her with your money and not your confidence and personality, and then you don’t keep spending as much or even more, she’ll move on, you’ll be out whatever money you spent, and you’ll have no relationship.
However, if you really hit it off with a girl, go on a few dates, and then have the more expensive date, it will make her feel special and she’ll really appreciate it. I’m smiling just thinking about it. Do that. You’ll be glad you did.
Bruno Rivard
On being masculine and paying on dates.
Sometimes I wholeheartedly pay for a date if the girls is a student, or is manifestly in a worse financial situation than I but usually I date mostly professional women who have nothing to get from me than companionship and perhaps love and affection. Then, paying for the date is an aberration and is truly sexist for both men and women as it installs an uneven balance of power. It has nothing to do with being masculine, that’s macho mumbo jumbo at best or a greed-motivated argument at worst. Young boys and girls should better be socialized to understand this, that equality of the sexes is what it says on the tin.