Hello Readers, Linda here. Today I want to talk about “Who pays for the date”? There are many scenarios that I can write about pertaining to this subject but I want to keep this very basic for now.

Let’s pretend that a Guy you meet online asks you out for a date. You like him so you say ok. Now, in this case, I always recommend this (Linda’s rule) to say you want to be friends first and then see where it goes, if anywhere. The reason I advise this is that you have no idea what the person did the night before, meaning they could have had sex with a FWB or who knows what? You do not want to get in the middle of a love triangle. FWB partners just really never works out because at least one of you will get emotionally attached, that is why they rarely work out especially if one of the FWB partners is out dating looking for their dream guy or dream girl.

Now, let’s just say he agreed to start out friends first which is great. You do a couple of daytime friend’s things at first which he volunteer’s to pay for, however; always do your own driving to meet him. If he asks you to go Dutch and he is pursuing you, do not go out with the guy again. If you are pursuing him, and I do NOT EVER recommend this, then you can go Dutch but trust me, ladies, if a guy likes you, he will pursue you. Do not chase a guy. A good example is, do you ever notice the guys you are not interested in just will not give up???? The obvious reason is that you are not chasing them down.

Then there’s that one night where things change from friendship to dating. Let me repeat. You are NOT dating until after he tells you he wants to be more than friends and you AGREE. Ok. So, after friendship, it evolves to “DATING”. “JUST DATING”. Not “DATING EXCLUSIVELY”, but “JUST DATING”. Now, let me explain something to make it very clear. When you start dating someone, you and he may still date other people UNLESS you have “That Conversation”, you know the one where you BOTH decide to NOT date other people and date exclusively. If you do not have that conversation, you are still “JUST DATING”. Are we CLEAR? Ok. Now that we have that out of the way, here’s what happens.

Ladies, this is something very important that I want to point out. Just because you are “Dating” a guy, do not ASSUME that he is not dating anyone else. No one owns anyone else’s time. In other words, accept and believe that the other person IS out dating unless you have the conversation to be exclusive. Do not get upset or expect the guy to just stop dating anyone else because he went out with you and you had a really good time.

This is the year 2020 and the dating scene has new rules. Be careful if you get intimate with a guy before having the conversation of being exclusive because he or she could have had sex with someone else after your date or the next day or the day before. Yes, this happens with both sexes.

You are in the “JUST DATING” phase. You two haven’t had the “Exclusive Talk” yet. During the dating period, if the guy asks you out, he should pay PERIOD. After all, most men make more money, and women have to do the following things if you are like me and want to take care of yourself:

1. Nails
2. Hair
3. Make-up
4. Clothes
5. Shoes
6. Eyebrows
7. Botox
8. Perfume
9. Just to name a few

All of these above cost money. What most men do not realize is when we like a guy and want to look and smell good it costs a lot of money for one date. Not to mention the time it takes to get ready when we already are busy enough with a job, kids, family etc. One date could easily cost over $300 for a lady. EASY…..

Now, before we all get upset at Linda, let’s consider a few ways how a lady can reciprocate in the “JUST DATING” phase. Here are a few things that I do and to let my guy know I appreciate him:

1. I’ll bring over dessert when he cooks dinner.
2. I’ll bring his dog a bone if I come over.
3. If I arrive at the restaurant bar first, I will pay for my own drink if he is not there.

So, let’s review a little. Friendship, then dating. He pays for the dates. You reciprocate by bringing over dessert and other things even though you haven’t had “The Exclusive Talk” yet. You buy clothes, perfume, get your nails, hair, and brows done so you look fabulous. That in itself is a lot of time, money and effort just for the guy!

When and if you do have the “Exclusive Date” talk, then it is recommended by me and others to pick up the check once in a while. Cook dinner once in a while etc. Then your guy has earned your time and attention so you absolutely should contribute monetarily once in a while.

A Real Gentleman should never even mention money when you are just dating. If a guy even throws in your face that you never offered to “pick up the check” when out, or even “buy a drink” in the “JUST DATING” phase, then you are not dating a gentleman. A real Gentlemen knows, listens and pays attention to your cute texts, your “I miss you texts”, desserts, etc. and is grateful that you are such a kind and gracious guest. If this happens to you where he may get mad at something and throws the fact that you never picked up the check while “DATING” not “DATING EXCLUSIVELY”, you should never go out with that guy again.

This is a real issue in today’s dating world unfortunately. There are a lot of beautiful women like myself out there that if we were looking for a “Sugar Daddy” it is so easy to find that it is almost ridiculous. I myself am not a “Gold Digger” and if any guy that I was “JUST DATING” ever told me or insinuated that, I would never speak to him again.

And for the guys, I hope that this helps you understand from a ladies side the things that we go through to look good and be fabulous for a Gentleman that we adore.

I am really interested in hearing your feedback and comments. Please contact me at Linda@Lindasdatelist.com

XOXO,

Linda