Latest news with #AlyBullock
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Love ain't cheap: Here's where Americans splurge — and skimp —on first dates
Romance is in the air — and it's charging by the minute. A new survey has exposed the price tag on first impressions, revealing just how much Americans are shelling out for that all-important first date. And let's just say: folks in the Northeast are dropping dollar bills faster than hearts in a rom-com, as reported by Newsweek. Single people in the Northeast are the biggest spenders, topping the list at $138.40, followed by the West at $133 — while Midwesterners are keeping things humble at $118.50. Nationwide, the average amount people say they'd cough up for a first date is a whopping $125.60 — with regional wallets telling very different love stories. And while 34% of Americans opt for the relatively reasonable $51–$100 range, 10% of Northeasterners are willing to dish out $151 to $200, with another 4% fine to blow past $300. But don't confuse spending with sentiment, warns relationship therapist Aly Bullock. How much people spend on a first date '…could also be influenced by the types of activities and restaurants available in your area…' Bullock told Newsweek in a recent interview. Still, that first-date fever comes with financial consequences. The average American has gone on $3,025.12 worth of dates over the past year, according to a 2023 survey conducted by OnePoll in partnership with LELO — with each romantic rendezvous ringing in at around $189. And good luck splitting the check. While 27% of daters alternate tabs, men still overwhelmingly foot the bill (54%) compared to just 12% of women. That gap adds up — especially for Gen Zers, who are leading the love economy with $194 per date and nearly 14 outings per year, according to a February 2025 study by BMO Real Financial Progress Index. This totals a heart-thumping $2,676 annually. Even so, younger singles aren't all-in on pricey meetups — 46% say they feel pressured to plan expensive dates. Bullock warns that breaking the bank too soon could blow up in your face. 'Spending too much can look like love-bombing and set you up for unrealistic expectations in the relationship, and spending nothing can indicate that you're not super excited about making a great impression,' she said to Newsweek. Translation: Don't bring steakhouse energy to a situationship. Singles might be spending less per date than couples, but committed millennial men are the real high-rollers — dropping an average $252 per outing. But as inflation tightens purse strings, many are scaling back — 37% say they'll go on fewer dates this year and 60% are budgeting for love. Luka Matutinovic, chief marketing officer at LELO, says it's time for a reality check. 'In the dynamic landscape of modern relationships, where 'infla-dating' is reshaping connection costs, we encourage couples to redefine their approach to love's expenses,' Matutinovic said in an interview with SWNS. 'Stretch your budget wisely, opting for meaningful moments over extravagant expenses, and watch your relationship thrive without financial strain.'


New York Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Love ain't cheap: Here's where Americans splurge — and skimp —on first dates
Romance is in the air — and it's charging by the minute. A new survey has exposed the price tag on first impressions, revealing just how much Americans are shelling out for that all-important first date. And let's just say: folks in the Northeast are dropping dollar bills faster than hearts in a rom-com, as reported by Newsweek. Single people in the Northeast are the biggest spenders, topping the list at $138.40, followed by the West at $133 — while Midwesterners are keeping things humble at $118.50. Nationwide, the average amount people say they'd cough up for a first date is a whopping $125.60 — with regional wallets telling very different love stories. 3 According to the survey and map, Northeasterners came in first at $138.40, then came the West at $133. Midwesterners, however, were more modest at $118.50. U.S. Census Bureau 2021 boundaries And while 34% of Americans opt for the relatively reasonable $51–$100 range, 10% of Northeasterners are willing to dish out $151 to $200, with another 4% fine to blow past $300. But don't confuse spending with sentiment, warns relationship therapist Aly Bullock. How much people spend on a first date '…could also be influenced by the types of activities and restaurants available in your area…' Bullock told Newsweek in a recent interview. Still, that first-date fever comes with financial consequences. 3 Dating isn't cheap — especially in this economy. Syda Productions – The average American has gone on $3,025.12 worth of dates over the past year, according to a 2023 survey conducted by OnePoll in partnership with LELO — with each romantic rendezvous ringing in at around $189. And good luck splitting the check. While 27% of daters alternate tabs, men still overwhelmingly foot the bill (54%) compared to just 12% of women. That gap adds up — especially for Gen Zers, who are leading the love economy with $194 per date and nearly 14 outings per year, according to a February 2025 study by BMO Real Financial Progress Index. This totals a heart-thumping $2,676 annually. Even so, younger singles aren't all-in on pricey meetups — 46% say they feel pressured to plan expensive dates. Bullock warns that breaking the bank too soon could blow up in your face. 'Spending too much can look like love-bombing and set you up for unrealistic expectations in the relationship, and spending nothing can indicate that you're not super excited about making a great impression,' she said to Newsweek. Translation: Don't bring steakhouse energy to a situationship. Singles might be spending less per date than couples, but committed millennial men are the real high-rollers — dropping an average $252 per outing. But as inflation tightens purse strings, many are scaling back — 37% say they'll go on fewer dates this year and 60% are budgeting for love. 3 With prices up and wallets down, romance is on a budget — 37% plan to date less this year, and 60% are putting their love lives on a spending diet. Adobe Stock Luka Matutinovic, chief marketing officer at LELO, says it's time for a reality check. 'In the dynamic landscape of modern relationships, where 'infla-dating' is reshaping connection costs, we encourage couples to redefine their approach to love's expenses,' Matutinovic said in an interview with SWNS. 'Stretch your budget wisely, opting for meaningful moments over extravagant expenses, and watch your relationship thrive without financial strain.'


Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Map Shows Where Americans Spend Most on First Dates
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new survey has revealed how much Americans are willing to spend on a first date—and the answer varied widely depending on where they live. The poll of 2,000 adults, conducted nationally, asked: "What's the maximum amount you would pay for a first date if you were the one paying?" The results show significant regional differences, with the Northeast emerging as the region most willing to spend big, and the Midwest the most modest. The data shows that Americans across the country say they are willing to spend an average of $125.60 on a first date. When broken down by region, the numbers reveal the exact contrasts: Northeast: $138.40 West: $133.00 Southeast: $124.50 Southwest: $116.10 Midwest: $118.50 The Northeast not only topped the national average but also had higher proportions of people willing to spend in premium price ranges. For instance, 10 percent of respondents in the region said they would spend between $151 and $200, and 4 percent said they would go over $300—more than any other region. Meanwhile, the Midwest had the highest percentage of budget-conscious daters, with 25 percent saying they would cap spending at $50 or less. Only 1 percent in the Midwest said they would consider spending more than $350. Interestingly, the most-common spending range across all regions was $51 to $100, with 34 percent of respondents in every region selecting it. The cost of living seems to be a significant factor influencing how much people are willing to spend on a first date, marriage and family therapist Aly Bullock told Newsweek. "If you're used to paying more for everything, you're likely willing to spend more on a first date," Bullock said. "It could also be influenced by the types of activities and restaurants available in your area, but I don't think these numbers are different enough to indicate much about first-date values or expectations." When it comes to the relationship between spending more and relationship success, Bullock, who is also the head of relationships at dating app Paired, advised that it's best to find a balance in spending. "You want to be right in the middle," she said. "Spending too much can look like love-bombing and set you up for unrealistic expectations in the relationship, and spending nothing can indicate that you're not super excited about making a great impression. "A happy medium lets the person know that you're responsible, thoughtful, and also have boundaries with someone you just met." This random double-opt-in survey was conducted by market research company Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).