Success Stories > Who should pay on dates?
 By Talia Mana |
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Traditionally, men were the primary income earners, and paying for dates was an extension of their role in life as family breadwinner. Today things are less clear-cut. There are many women that run their own businesses, high-powered corporate executives with substantial incomes and professional women that are earning more than the average wage. So is it reasonable to expect a man to pay for everything when their date could earn as much or more than they do? |
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There's also the question of pride. Some women regard having a man paying for everything as an affront to their independence -as an attempt to control or dominate her - or fear that it will in some way weaken her. Many women want to be seen as equals and money is a powerful symbol of worth. Being able to contribute half or taking turns to pay for a date allows a woman to show a man that she is his equal. But just to make things tricky there is still a large group of women who like the traditional way of doing things. They feel they are not being truly romanced or courted unless a man puts his money where his mouth is. Conversely, some men are insulted when a woman tries to pay for part or all of a date. As a guideline, a woman will often expect the man to pay on the first outing, especially if he has made the invitation. After the first few dates, it may be appropriate to suggest sharing costs. Make sure you make arrangements to share costs BEFORE the date - It can be very awkward to get to the end of the date and then find that neither of you have enough money to pay for her share. |
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Here are some suggestions to help you deal with potentially
tricky situations:
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