Dating with no money?

Goodness, I was last dating as a teenager over 40 years ago (long married now), and fully expected to go halves on the bill way back then. I had a job, why on earth would I have expected a guy to have to pay my share?

Good luck with finding someone genuine

I think a coffee is the way to go for a first date. If it goes well, maybe stay an hour longer and split a slice of cake?

My first date with my partner (met online) was coffee. It turned into a 5 plus hour date as we then went for a walk round free museums, then decided to grab a meal (cheap £5 per person type thing, I would have said I wasn't hungry if they had suggested more) and then a drink at a bar as we really were getting on at that point.

Second date was dinner cooked at hers. Third I think may have been a meal out, I can't really remember!

I'm the same age as you OP and always expected to pay my half (I'm a girl by the way!). I had a few unexpected expensive dates with men that earned 5-6 times more than me, and I should have said something really as I was paying off my credit cards (first time round) then and it hampered my progress. I met my husband on the same site as said blokes, and I did have a few spendier dates with him. Nothing grand, but more than a tea or an ice cream, generally rounds in the pub (which add up, as we know!). I did come clean that I was living on a budget after a month or so and he was very good about it, I realised I could have been more up front all along.


Fast forward and we're married, bought a house together, due our first baby and I've smashed my debts (he never had any, turned out he was a good influence on me too!). It can work out - with the right person. Someone who "un-matches" you because you don't want to go for a full dinner before you've met them is not the right person, but you know that Good luck to you

I would be far too nervous to eat a meal on a first date. A coffee would be just fine for me.

One of my most Romantic first dates was a walk in a park but that was years ago. I married him dear reader.:rotfl:

Museums, art galleries, mooching round craft fairs, strolls along a beach or a nice park all free. Add in a coffee or ice cream and it won’t. Break the bank. In really nice weather what could be nicer than taking a picnic, it can be very romantic (with the right ierson). Just make the food sexy (no boring soggy egg sandwiches). Maybe a bottle of fizz if you can afford it. Cava is gorgeous and about £5 a bottle.

Take a look round your nearest city or town and see what’s available. Check the what’s on guides. You might be surprised at just how much free or cheap stuff there is. Cities are often great for free stuff.

Don’t forget groupon deals. Posh afternoon tea can be surprisingly cheap.

Meals out are nice of course they are but not very imaginative or exciting. And they can actually be quite nerve wracking on a first date. . Better to go for a coffee or a drink for the first meeting just to break the ice and see if you actually want to see each other again.

After that try and do something a bit more memorable than just stuffing your faces. Dare to be different.

Do you have a river or lake where you can hire a rowing boat. How romantic is that......

One of my most memorable dates was visiting a church where we did some brass rubbings (sounds rude doesn't it but I assure you it was all very innocent. :rotfl:). Then we spent a happy half hour walking round the grave yard in the pouring rain. Sharing an umbrella is a perfect excuse to get up close and personal.....;)

It’s all about being different, using your imagination to have a memorable date. After all you don’t want to be like all the other guys....you want to stand out from the crowd.

Any fool can splash money around to try and impress but It shows very little thought or imagination.

Wow her by being different to all the other guys. Show your fun side.