h2>Dating : Over two-thirds of Americans expect their date to at least offer to split the bill
It’s official — splitting the bill on a first date is the way to go, according to new research.
The study polled 2,000 Americans who’ve ever been in a relationship and found that 56% believe the bill should always be split on a first date.
Even if respondents plan on insisting to pay — 68% expect their date to at least offer to split the tab.
This new dating norm may be because respondents state they have less disposable income when they’re single (66%) versus when they are in a relationship (34%).
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Affirm ahead of Valentine’s Day, the survey revealed the hidden costs of relationships — costs that typically go unaccounted for — like paying for dates, gift-giving and lending money to friends or partners.
When it comes to spending and gifting in romantic relationships, respondents spend the most money on food (at an average of $406) and gifts (at an average of $314) for their partners.
The most common types of gifts respondents buy their romantic partners are clothing (48%), perfume (43%) and jewelry (38%).
And these trends will stay true this Valentine’s Day, with respondents planning to spend an average of $270 on their partner’s — with the top gifts being clothing (38%), perfume (37%) and jewelry (34%) for their partners.
“Knowing that Americans are planning to spend a significant amount to make their loved ones feel special this Valentine’s Day, it’s not surprising that more than half (53%) of respondents are interested in using a buy now pay later solution to buy their gifts,” said Silvija Martincevic, Chief Commercial Officer at Affirm.
The results also uncovered that 58% of Americans surveyed are comfortable lending money to their friends and romantic partners.
When it comes down to what this money is lent for — the top reason respondents lend money to both friends and a romantic partner is to help them cover an unexpected expense (23% and 29%, respectively).
For friends, respondents shared they lend on average $70 at a time, and nine out of 10 respondents confirmed they were paid back.
However, the same rules do not apply for romantic partners and exes — while respondents are comfortable lending more, an average of $96, to their partners at one time, 36% stated they were never paid back.
Overall, respondents suspect that their ex romantic partners owe them an average $170, and more than half (57%) said they think badly of an ex romantic partner because they owed them money before their relationship ended.
TOP REASONS AMERICANS LENT MONEY TO A FRIEND
- Helping them cover an unexpected expense — 22%
- Spotting them and paying a bill on a night out — 19%
- Helping them pay rent/mortgage — 16%
- Paying a bill (i.e. phone bill, utility) — 14%
- Making a payment on their credit card — 10%
- Making a payment to their student loans — 9%
- Paying for a school expense — 7%
- Paying for a business expense — 4%
TOP REASONS AMERICANS LENT MONEY TO A ROMANTIC PARTNER
- Helping them cover an unexpected expense — 20%
- Helping them pay rent/mortgage — 16%
- Paying a bill (i.e. phone bill, utility) — 16%
- Spotting them and paying a bill on a night out — 12%
- Making a payment on their credit card — 13%
- Making a payment to their student loans — 10%
- Paying for a school expense — 7%
- Paying for a business expense — 4%
>> Download the video and infographic for this research story <<
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