Savvy or stingy? Almost 1 in 5 Aussies split the bill
Potential partners are tightening the purse-strings on the first date as the cost of living crisis affects love lives, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,070 respondents revealed more than a third (36%) have taken steps to save money on a first date.
That's equivalent to 7.5 million people who have taken measures to save money while trying to woo a potential partner.
The research found 17% asked to split the bill with their potential mate, while the same amount (17%) chose a cheap venue.
One in ten (11%) used a voucher or a coupon to cut costs, while 5% planned the date during happy hour to save money.
A whopping 4% – equivalent to 835,000 people – asked their date to foot the entire bill on the first meeting.
Rebecca Pike, money expert at Finder, said it's a challenging financial climate for singles.
"The end of a first date can be an awkward affair when the bill lands on the table – especially during a financial crisis.
"Financial stress is an instant mood killer."
Pike said singles are having to become more creative when planning dates as the cost of living bites.
"Instead of a meeting at a swanky restaurant, consider going for a walk or sharing a coffee.
"It's never been more important to bulk up your emergency savings fund – you always want to be able to have spare cash on hand to get yourself out of a precarious situation."
Pike said finding a partner with similar money habits and financial goals could make you much more compatible in the long term.
"Money can be one of the biggest causes of relationship breakdowns.
"Whilst chatting about finances can be taboo, it's important to be upfront early on so you can set clear expectations and make sure you're on the same page," Pike said.
| Have you done any of the following to save on a first date? | |
|---|---|
| Chose a cheap venue | 17% |
| Split the bill | 17% |
| Used a voucher/coupon | 11% |
| Planned the date during happy hour | 5% |
| Asked my date to pay the full bill | 4% |
| Other | 1% |
| I have not done anything to save money on a first date | 64% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,070 respondents, February 2024 |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,070 respondents from February 2024.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics, an SAP company.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
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