A Girl’s Point Of View: Who Should Pay On A First Date?

July 31, 2012
By: Johanna Kainz

This question is about as equally as difficult to answer as the question of whether a certain type of shoes fit.

In the store this answer might prove easy. but when you arrive at home you might ask yourself whether those gorgeous, colourful high-heels actually go with the outfits you bought them for.

Every first date is a new situation and although the feminists would answer, “No way on earth I will leave the bill to him” and the damsels in distress’, “He is supposed to be chivalric ”, there are so many other factors that you have to include.

The basics are aspiration, conversation and location.

The aspiration is the way you want to present yourself, self-confident, independent or not too high-maintenance?

Of course, it is part of the game that you at least offer to pay half of the bill, but it depends how many times you make this offer. After one attempt to get your wallet out any semi-decent guy would never hand over the bill, he would insist on paying, demonstrating the little bit of chivalry that even today’s men are left with. If you want you can then leave it to him to pay or you can insist on paying your share or dividing the bill (advisable if you want to assure him of your independence or if you simply feel like you don’t want to owe him anything!) .

The second point to consider is the subjects that come up in conversation. If he is talking about the annoyance of ‘uberfeminism’ and is apart from that really nice, you might show him that you appreciate his gentlemanly behaviour. On the other hand if he is bitching about girls being damsels in distress, you know what you to do.

The last of the major points is the location and who chose it. In a restaurant it is more polite to pay the bill in one so if he chose it and the other two major points allow it, you are more likely to leave it to him the get the cash out, whilst at a pub where you order and pay separately, it is the easiest if you each pay your own share.

To sum up I’d give the advice, to generally at least attempt to split the bill. Never let yourself be bought. However, if he is too persistent and you don’t mind seeing him again, just let him be and offer to pay the bill the next time.

Image: tsbmag.com