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“Money can’t buy me love,” said The Beatles, but Australian singles are determined to prove them wrong. According to ING Direct’s 2017 Cost of Dating report, Aussies happily hand over nearly $12 billion per year in the name of finding their happily ever afters.

The exact figure is $11.65 billion, a price tag that’s sure to induce sticker shock in almost any dater, regardless of how deep their pockets run. Australians reportedly spend an average of $79 on a first date, with one third of singles going on at least one first date per month, and a further 32% going on two or more first dates per month. Additionally, almost one in five (18%) have paid for dating services, an expenditure that tallies up to $80.7 million each year.

When it comes to first dates, Australians err on the side of tradition. More than half (56%) of single men are prepared to pick up the tab. Baby Boomer males (33%) are particularly committed to this classic notion of romantic chivalry, followed closely by Gen X men (27%) and Millennial men (26%).

A dating app with a hook-up reputation is getting it on IRL, too. In July, the popular dating app hired event organizers to throw parties for its most exclusive members in a rented house in the Hamptons. Unfortunately, partygoers (and Tinder) were soon booted out.

According to an article in Gizmodo, the company threw “a series of parties at telecom mogul Michael Hirtenstein’s oceanfront home...Over the weekends of July 14th and July 21th, cops reportedly visited the property multiple times due to noise complaints from neighbors.”

According to Page Six, attendees were also cited for carrying open containers and illegally parking.

For 6 days eHarmony in the United Kingdom is offering free trial memberships to new members. From the 24^th - 29^th August, 2017 are when these trial memberships are available.

So what does a free trial get you? Well it means you are allowed to communicate (send and receive messages) to any match you receive on eHarmony.co.uk! To increase your chances of finding your long term partner all you need to do is signup to eHarmony and fill in the profile and questionnaire. No credit card is required. Then eHarmony's matching algorithm will send you a bunch of new quality matches everyday for you to review. If any spark your interest you can then message them right away. eHarmony is extra busy during the free trials so if you are interested, it is recommended you sign up at the beginning of the promotion so you have more time to use the dating service. One thing to note is that during the free trial period photos are not displayed with the profiles.

For more information about this United Kingdom dating service, please read our review of eHarmony in the UK.

In the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend, two dating app companies have stepped forward to ban white supremacists from their platforms and offer donations to organizations that fight against hate groups.

OkCupid has offered a donation to a Charlottesville victim relief group, which is helping support victims of the attacks that shook the community in early August. Bumble has also stepped forward, announcing its partnership with the Anti-Defamation League, pledging a “zero tolerance policy against misogynist, abusive, and inappropriate behaviour.”

Bumble stated it will use the ADL’s “research and terminology” to identify and categorize hate symbols, and prevent people who use hate speech and symbols from using the dating platform.

Singles in New York have a new way to date, network, recharge, and bee social in the big city. Bumble, the popular female-focused dating app, has opened its first physical location in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood. The pop-up installation has been dubbed ‘The Hive’ and is set to remain open for the month of June.

The space is decked out from head-to-toe in Bumble’s branding, featuring yellow walls, honeycomb shapes, and plenty of bee-related puns. The Hive is open to anyone who wants to stop by - users and non-users alike - whether they’re looking for a date spot, a place to hang with friends, a co-working space, or just a respite from the constant buzz of city life.

“It will follow the format of Bumble and offer something for everyone,” Whitney Wolfe, founder and chief executive officer of Bumble, told Mashable. “A place for dates to meet, friends to do activities together, and co-working for our bizz users. Bumble has allowed you to build your hive digitally, and now we’re giving you an extension of that physically.”

For a limited time eHarmony in the United Kingdom is offering new members a free trial membership. These trial memberships will be available this Bank holiday weekend from 25th - 30th May, 2017.

For 6 days you can enjoy this free trial (if you sign up on May 25th) where no credit card is required. With over 3.5 million singles registered with eHarmony UK this online dating service is one of the largest in the United Kingdom and is ideal for finding your partner. With the detailed relationship questionnaire eHarmony takes matchmaking seriously and their matching algorithm is designed to display matches to you that have the greatest chance of creating a long-term and happy relationship. Please note, during the free trial period photos are not displayed with the profiles.

For more information about this United Kingdom dating service, please read our review of eHarmony UK.