Cutting Dating Expenses

If you have exhausted every possible source of money and you still don’t have enough, then maybe you must cut down on your dating expenses. The next time you go to the movies, try walking instead of taking the bus. Not only will it save you money but you may find that it’s a good opportunity to talk to your date and get to know her. Instead of that expensive movie in the next town, why not see the one closer home? Or a movie on television may be better than the one you’re going to pay to see.

You could cut down on expenses for a big prom by planning a party after the dance (with your friends) instead of going to a fancy night club in the city. By saving a bit here and a bit there, you’ll find that your date expenses can be cut considerably.

Avoid Embarrassment

Most girls understand if you don’t have a lot of money. They realize what expense a date entails and don’t expect elaborate plans every time. There are ways of letting a girl know that you can’t afford the most expensive thing on the menu. If you are at a restaurant after a dance and your money is getting low, suggest some low-priced item that you know she likes. Don’t risk the chance of her ordering more than you can afford. She can’t know how much your budget can swing unless you give her some indication.

Perhaps you could look at the menu and say, “The cherry cokes are very good here,” or, “What kind of sandwich would you like?” That way she will realize that your finances indicate something around that price range. If she doesn’t catch on, you may just have to tell her that money is a bit tight tonight.

A girl on a date often has difficulty figuring out just how much a boy has to spend. She is as anxious as he is to keep out of embarrassing situations. If he doesn’t come forth with suggestions within his price range, she can ask what he’s going to have. His order will give her some indication of the amount of money he plans to spend.

When planning what to do on a date, a girl should be considerate of the boy’s wallet. Instead of automatically suggesting something rather expensive, she might offer several possibilities so that he can pick the one most suitable to his pocket.

Some girls are quite willing to pay part of the expenses on special dates. When something is planned which is beyond the boy’s means, a girl may suggest that she pay her share. Dutch-treat dates, once in a while, can be a great help to a boy.

The Purdue Opinion Panel 1957 Poll of 10,000 high school students finds that the popularity of “going Dutch” is declining among teen-agers. In 1948, 37 per cent thought that boys and girls sharing expenses “fifty-fifty” was a good idea. By 1957, only 25 per cent favored the practice. Boys now have more money than they did in 1948, “and in most cases they like to pay their full dating costs.

Many young people would prefer to have a girl help out in other ways than by going Dutch. They enjoy the parties she gives, the special events she arranges, or occasionally a date at her home watching television, for instance. Whether or not you Dutch-date depends on how you and your crowd feel about it.