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Where a group of predominantly single people is there is never a shortage of banter over dates - where the date should be, what beverages to order, and that defining question; "what do they do for a living?!"
It's usually this question that could erupt in guffaws, stereotypes, and a pinch of classism - albeit often only in jest.
Going beyond the superficial nature of first impressions though, perhaps the reason the question of how much a potential partner should spend on you is a conversation that is based on the notion that this particular aspect of a dat informs us (somewhat) about the financial security of the party in question.
READ MORE: How much do class differences matter to you when it comes to romantic relationships?
One might also interject here that this too, is a superficial reason and that there isn't enough data, so to speak, to support whatever conclusion you reach on a first date about their finances - it could be a bad time of the month, for example.
However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, there is also the argument that it shows how much of an effort someone is willing to put in, in order to impress you and ultimately date you.
In light of this and a few anecdotes shared by women who ended up paying the bill on a first date (much to their surprise), W24 conducted a poll recently, asking readers what they think is a reasonable amount for someone to spend on a first date with them.
The bill brackets were as follows - as suggested by real women;
- Between R300 and R500
- Between R600 and R800
- Anything under R1000 is fair
- Ball out so I know you can sustain me
READ MORE: Finally, a study reveals what women actually want from their partners - and it's surprisingly simple
With over 1 500 votes on the poll, this is what the results revealed:
An astounding majority are happy if a suitor forks out between R300 and R500 on a bill, and the general sentiment appears to be that a first date need not set you (or rather the paying party) back more than R1000 overall.
Only 134 women expect their date to secure a second date by proving how healthy their wallet is (personal shoutout to the queens) - I mean, there's no need to go Dutch when you're eating Italian and sipping French champagne, right?
These results are by no means a scientifically conducted study, but insightful on the issue.
READ MORE: I went on 3 different dates with 3 different guys in 1 day - this is what I learnt
It's also important to note here that in this particular article, we're referring specifically to first dates where the suitor has explicitly expressed that they are covering the bill.
With that said, we also spoke to women who were successfully wooed on their first dates. A colourful array of responses were provided - from bagging free flights home to getting hitched a few years later - the world was clearly each woman's oyster here.
"It cost him a flight to another city"
"It cost him a few groceries"
"It cost him a return trip to Durban that he wouldn't even be a part of"
"It cost him a month's rent worth of food and bevs"
Do you agree that first dates don't have to cost a lot in order to ensure more in future? Tell us here.
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