I was one of those who used to think I had to spend a lot of money on a date to make a good impression. And guess what? Sometimes it's true. But not always. You'd be amazed at how many women just want a simple guy who does romantic rather than extravagant things.
So let's assume you've gotten dressed for your date in a $200 pair of shoes, custom-made pants and designer shirt. Then you decide to rent a limousine to pick up your date. This will really impress her, right?
But we're not finished yet. You next take her to an expensive restaurant where you spend $100 on dinner. You follow this with a movie, where you spend another $40.
After all that, she has to be impressed, right?
Maybe. But you might have created a problem. Now she might expect you to spend this kind of money on her every time you go out—and of course, you don't have that kind of money.
Let's consider a different scenario now. Maybe the woman you take out on a date has been raised right and she has class and self-confidence. She's the kind who doesn't need your money and instead wants a down to earth man. This kind of woman might actually be annoyed by your shows of extravagance; it makes you look desperate.
Having said all of that, I've found that the right amount of money to spend on a date ranges somewhere between $50 and $100, depending largely on where you live. For instance, in New York or Los Angeles, you'll probably have to spend closer to the hundred dollars, but maybe only half of that in a smaller town. Add dessert and even a movie and and you should still not spend nearly as much as the guy in our first extravagant example.
And all of this is assuming that you're going to take the standard restaurant approach. There are still many people who enjoy a trip to the park or the zoo as much as a night of dress-up and good food.
One caveat: A popular date is also a trip to an amusement park, and in this case, you might find yourself spending closer to the $150 range, especially if you're buying food in the park.
But for the mmost part, when you go on your date, take a middle ground. This shows you're not being cheap, but neither are you trying to show off or prove a point.
Balance is good in almost anything.
Tags: Dating
