By Stephanie Lynch
When it comes to a first date, there are so many things to think about. What are you going to wear? Where the heck are we going? What will they think of me? With so many things rumbling through the mind, there is one thing many people often forget — the costs.
Now, while you don’t want to be too cheap, you don’t want to spend too much money either. Since most guys are expected to pay for most, if not all of the date, this simple guide should give you an idea on how much money you should plan on spending so that you don’t look like the cheapest date on the block.
Who invited who?
First off, if the girl invites the guy, there’s a good chance she won’t expect him to pay for 100 percent of the meal. However, if the tables are turned and the guy invites the girl, then the girl will more than likely expect the date to foot the entire bill. Keep this tip in mind.
Related: How to Date Outside the Box in NYC
The atmosphere
When choosing a place to eat, make sure you pick out a place that is quiet and enables you to talk with your date. This way, you don’t have to yell over loud music or people screaming next to you. Even if you don’t want to head to a restaurant on your first date, that’s okay. Most of the time, a coffee house will suffice.
The dinner
No date isn’t going to be complete without a dinner. While 99 percent of the first dates out there often head to a restaurant, there may be a select few that want to have a meal cooked inside of a home. If you plan on eating out, try to stick to a higher-end restaurant that isn’t too fancy. Try to avoid your name brand chain restaurants and obviously stay away from the fast food joints.
On average, be prepared to spend at least $50 to $75 at a minimum for a nice dinner. This should include two nice entrees, a few glasses of wine and maybe even a dessert and appetizer. Of course, this is going to depend on the restaurant, geographical location and the meals you’re choosing.
Now, don’t head to a $100 a plate restaurant off the bat. If you do, your date may expect the same kind of treatment every time you head out. Instead, try to stick with something that you’re comfortable with. Don’t forget to ask your date what they are interested in when it comes to food. It would be silly to take them to a seafood place when they have an allergy to fish.
Related: Fantasy Dating: How to Play the Game Right
Tip: Don’t know where to go for dinner? Try popular review websites such as UrbanSpoon.com, TripAdvisor.com or Yelp.  This is a great way to find the hot spots in your local area. If you’re going to take the tips mentioned above and choose a coffee place instead, consider purchasing a drink and a light snack. Most of the time, this shouldn’t be more than $20. In the end, plan on budgeting according to where you plan on going. Most of the time, your date should be deemed successful if you spend around $50 to $75 on the entire meal. Just remember: Don’t go overboard and keep your date in mind!
Stephanie works for howmuchisit.org –  a large collection of cost helping resources. If you ever want to know what something costs, be sure to keep her resource in mind.
