Contributed by: kellyseal on Friday, October 21 2022 @ 08:35 am
Last modified on Friday, October 21 2022 @ 08:52 am
A new study by Dating.com found that while meeting people through online dating is at an all-time high, people are concerned about the cost of dating in real life.
The company reported that 52 percent of respondents said they are content to hold off scheduling dates to prevent themselves from spending money on clothing, gas, and transportation, let alone the costs of the date like buying drinks, food or an admission ticket to a museum or concert.
"The increase in prices of food, gas, clothing and many other products and services has left singles rethinking their usual dating habits and patterns as they make an effort to save money," Maria Sullivan, Dating Expert and Vice President of Dating.com, said in a press release[*1] .
Fifty-eight percent of respondents said they wanted to get to know someone better before spending excessive amounts of money on activities, dinners, and other date night activities to avoid wasting time and money. In fact, 67 percent said they have cut back on their typical nights out for cheaper options. Eighty-three percent said they want to spend less than $50 on a first or second date.
Bloomberg noted that restaurant prices have risen almost 9 percent in the last two years, putting a dent in whether two strangers who met over a dating app would even want to meet for drinks, the standard first date option. As a result, more daters find that first dates look a bit different – many opt to meet for a walk (14 percent) or for a coffee (17 percent), or even doing “something creative” (13 percent) rather than going out to dinner.
Dating app Hinge noticed that among the 3,000 users it surveyed recently, 41 percent reported being more concerned with dating costs now compared with a year ago. Gen Z respondents were the most likely to feel cost pressures, according to Hinge.
Another interesting find of the Dating.com study is that because of soaring housing prices, many newer couples are rushing to move in with each other to cut their living costs. Forty-five percent of respondents have talked with their dates seriously about living together despite not being ready for it in order to save money.
"We're seeing that inflation has also led to many couples choosing to move in together within an accelerated timeline to help cut living costs in the short term. In some cases, this happens before couples are truly ready to take this next step in their relationship," Sullivan added.