OK...I need some guidance. I'm going on a first date with a guy on Saturday. We live about 90 minutes apart so we are meeting at a restaurant. His choice of restaurant and he did ask me out. Suggested a movie after dinner.

Do I offer to contribute to dinner (it's quite a nice restaurant)? Offer to pay if we go to the movies? or do I just assume he is footing the bill.

I haven't done the first date thing (beyond coffee dates) in a long, long time and I think I am in panic mode every so slightly, lol


Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

I usually atleast offer to cover the popcorn and drinks (they cost the equvalent to the movie lol) I alway thinks its nice to try and offer to pay for something .However if he says no don't push it

Me too. I would offer to split the bills. I usually find that if it's a match then he won't accept and if it's a bust, he will......although this IS a rather sweeping generalisation!! :laugh:

Have fun! :bigsmile:

Usually the person asking does the paying. If he asked you out and chose the restaurant, it is reasonable to expect him to pay for dinner. If he doesn't pick up the bill in a reasonable amount of time and put his credit card in the slot (i.e., indicating that he wants you to contribute), then offer to contribute. If he says "No thanks," leave it at that. Don't play this "Oh, I insist," BS. Otherwise, just let him pay and be sure to thank him for a wonderful meal.

As far as the movie, I'm not a huge fan of movies on first dates because you can't talk. However, since this will come after dinner (right?), you should know pretty clearly whether or not you want to go out with him again. If you don't want to see him again, offer to pay for the movie tickets right up front. If you do, I would at least give him the opportunity to pay. If he seems to want you to pay, then just pay. You're going to have to somewhat play this by ear based on how the date is going. You could also offer to pay for popcorn/drinks, but if you are going after dinner you two may not want any of that.

Hopefully he will make it easy for you and be a gentleman and pay for everything without issue.

I always appreciate it when the woman at least offers to pay for something, it's not a deal breaker or anything though if she doesn't.

Offer to pay but don't push it if he says it is his treat.

When I went on a movie date he said "I got this?" I said "really? Thank you!" and that was it.

^^THIS! or "Are you sure? Thank you."

I agree with the answers.

I would add that, as a woman, you are NOT to cross or anger the man you are dating. So I would be wary of offering (even humbly) to pay, as the man you're dating could become angry and be offended - and it would probably be over by then. It seems obvious when said but only real men can be emasculated.

As men, we have traditionally been the breadwinner and money is a symbolisation of our power. Take this away, and you take away our power.
We like to show on a date that we are able to protect a woman, like a knight in a bank-note armor (yes, we love to sprinkle a bit of humour too as you can see!). This is why we insist on paying, because we want to show the woman that we are the right person for her (Mr Right), able to protect her and able to cater for her needs in the future.

So many women complain that their man is a leech, a couch potatoe. But the man who is earning enough money to pay for dinners earns enough money to pay for his bills.
Of course it is also a nice thing to pay for dinner (and it pleases us). This is our way of showing we are nice and there are other ways for you to repay us later.

It is true that sometimes we appreciate when the woman asks, as it gives us the opportunity of showing our resolve and determination in paying ("I insist!") - it's a fine line for women, maybe a bit risky as you are taking the risk to anger the man depending on their individual level of susceptibility.

But for us, this is a subtle way of showing our strength, power, determination.

I would add that, as a woman, you are NOT to cross or anger the man you are dating.

Straight up. Last bitch that tried to do something nice for me, I was all like "YOU BETTA WATCH YOSELF HO, WOULDN'T WANNA SEE MY CRAZY *kitten* ANGRY"

:laugh: :laugh:

I always offer to split the bill. But I'm really awkward in the dating scene, which is why I rarely agree to go on dates. Seems like you got some good advice here..good luck! :drinker: