Dating on a Budget for Single Mothers – Find a Man Who Understands
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Online dating on a budget
Dinner is over. Things have been going well so far. You actually have a feeling he might ask you out again after tonight. The waitress has set down the check but neither of you have reached for it. As the minutes tick by, you start to wonder…is he expecting you to pay the bill?
It’s not like you want a free ride. Women with children don’t have money for fancy meals. Any extra money that might ever come your way goes to buying things for your kids. But your date suggested this fairly expensive restaurant. Even going Dutch means cutting into your family food budget for the week. It’s just not something you can afford.
Avoiding this situation starts long before you find yourself in a standoff over the check. It starts with choosing dates that are inexpensive or, even better, free. Take the lead and make suggestions. Chances are, he’ll go along with it. It might be a surprise to you, but most single men aren’t all that eager to spend great amounts of money on dates themselves.
If he questions your choice in restaurants, simply explain your situation to him. Any man who dates women with children knows she’s likely struggling. If he’s worth going out with, he’ll understand this and be happy to do things that fit your budget.
Online dating can be especially budget-breaking, especially since you may have to meet with five or six men before you make any sort of connection. Most online daters recommend having “meets” for that initial meeting. A substitute for first dates, meets only require both parties to agree to meet at a coffee house. A cup of coffee costs a couple of bucks and only takes a few minutes to consume. If the “meet” isn’t working out, one or both parties can easily cut it short after a half an hour or so. Women with children are busy, after all. So busy they find it hard to spare more than an hour for coffee.
Once things progress, it’s easy to find inexpensive dates you both can enjoy. A picnic at the park is as cheap as some fast food takeout chicken or a few sandwiches brought from home. And most women with children would be more than happy to savor a quiet walk through a scenic area of town.
If you’re feeling the pressure of dating to his standards, remember, if you really want a relationship with this person you need to be open and honest. You might be surprised how relieved he is that you trusted him enough to open up.
