First date spending not affected by credit crunch

Britons who use online dating sites are refusing to curb their spending when they meet a potential match for their first date despite the effects of the credit crunch, it has been claimed today (November 28th).

Leading UK online dating service provider FreeDating.co.uk conducted a study which found that just 12 per cent of its single male members were planning to cut back on date-related expenses due to the economic downturn.

In addition, the research found that the concept of the man taking care of the financial side of a first date is still in existence - although there was some disparity between the sexes and different generations.

According to the statistics, 64 per cent of men now believe that they should pick up the tab, while only 35 per cent of women expressed their desire to let their date foot the bill.

Perhaps surprisingly, this attitude appears to be even stronger among younger men, with 80 per cent of under-21s claiming that they should pay, while 47 per cent of women in the same category shared that view.

Dan Winchester from FreeDating.co.uk said: "This research shows that the traditionally-held view that the man should pay for a first date is alive and kicking - even more so amongst the younger generation.

"Furthermore, guys are not letting the credit crunch hold them back when it comes to splashing out on a first date."

In terms of the geographical breakdown of the study, men from Liverpool were found to budget the most for that first meeting with a match from online dating sites (£72 on average), with guys from Coventry and Birmingham close behind.

Males in Sheffield were found to be the tightest with their cash (£42 on average), while men from Nottingham and Southampton also admitted to having a particularly firm grip on their purse strings.

Interestingly, respondents were also given the opportunity to discuss their stingiest encounters with a first date, with one woman claiming to have been bought two kids' meals at McDonalds.

Among the other frugal dates were dinner at a free food outlet for the homeless and a badger watching excursion - a situation Mr Winchester believes underlines the need to splash out a bit more, at least on a first date.

"Whilst the majority of women are perfectly happy to pay their own way on a first date, men should be aware that most of their fellow suitors will be offering to pay," he said.

"Our research also confirms that, unsurprisingly, many women find meanness with money an unattractive trait."

He added that people who are on a tight budget should attempt to compensate by injecting as much imagination as possible when they decide to go dating for the first time with a potential match.