So, you’re on a date with someone for the very first time. You got to a nice restaurant then the bill comes. Who pays for dinner?
Just curious what everyone’s thoughts are about this…
Does the man pay?
If it’s two women or men on a date, who pays?
Or should the one who asked the other out pay? What if it’s a blind date (Should the one who who set up the date pay? Kidding…)?
Does the person who earns more pay?
What are the rules?
We are a group of people who have gathered to share our experiences with money. We’ll post tips on saving cash, discuss lifestyle changes and write about very personal money decisions from real people. We’ll share our thoughts about the important stuff one should be spending money on as well as our investment ideas - things that we don’t normally think of as investments. We’ll post our cheap recipes, affordable gift ideas for the holidays, ways on how to live creatively, and publish ideas about life and money issues. And our money stories, because everyone has a money story. More...
The one who asked you out on the date and then made the reservations at that really nice place PAYS. I consider it part of the wooing and the asker is obviously bringing the woo when they make a reservation at an expensive restaurant. Why would I ever pay for somebody to woo me? If I asked somebody out and made the reservation at a nice place, I would always do it with the thought that I would be paying so I expect the same in return.
Of coarse, if they took me to a burger joint where you just go up to the counter to order, I would expect to be paying for my own since the pay up front thing leaves little room for expectations - if I’m ordering before my date and they ask for my $8.99 it would just be weird if my date passed me a tenner. Then again, it’s also easier in that kind of situation for one person to say “I’ll get this” without the awkwardness of the bill arriving at the table thang.
Asking somebody out and then taking them out is called a date. Asking somebody out and then expecting them to pay for their own is called dinner, and no I won’t be calling you again.
I can only speak about straight relationships, no idea what 2 guys or 2 girls would do, but the person that asks out the other is the one that pays. There are a few exceptions such as the burger joint idea by Nat, but if it is any sort of sit-down restaurant, the person who invited the other pays. This doesn’t mean that the other shouldn’t offer to pay, its always nice to get the reach for the check. Another factor is if you are planning to see the other person again. If the date has gone horrible, and you don’t plan on ever going out with the other person. In this case, split the check, but be sure to notify the other person that you plan to do so. If you never plan to see them, don’t burn the bridge and make them pay for everything, simply inform them that you’re just not interested.