How to always think of fun and cute date night ideas
Planning your perfect date night will be easy with these tips.
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Life is too short to let money issues ruin your first date, especially in the fall of life.
For single people of a certain age, the financial aspects of dating can be difficult. Many older Americans are building wealth. Some people have lost large sums of money due to divorce, raising adult children, or overpaying on their mortgages. The person sitting across the table could be the millionaire next door, or the person sitting across from you could be on the verge of bankruptcy.
“Things change with age,” says George Manes, personal finance editor at AARP The Magazine. “The older you get, the harder it is to get a general idea of the financial situation of a potential partner or date.”
Older daters face unique challenges, AARP reports in a new article titled “When Romance Meets Finance” published in its June-July issue.
Retirees typically live on a fixed income. You’re more likely to stay within your budget. They are potentially more vulnerable to fraud. You may also run into value conflicts over issues of etiquette, such as who gets the check.
Here are seven money tips for older daters from AARP, NerdWallet, and other sources.
Understand who’s paying
Manes said the traditional rules for heterosexual courtship are that the man pays on the first date.
Many older Americans still live by that rule. But not all. Older daters are free to set rules that are comfortable for them.
“They are now mature adults and can talk about money and expectations,” Maness said.
AARP columnist Lizzy Post suggests that if you want to pay on the first date, say something like, “No matter the outcome, let me treat you.”
If you would like to split the bill, please let us know in advance. Your candor will set the tone for future dates.
“If you can’t discuss who’s going to pay on the second date, it’s probably not a good match,” Maness said.
set a budget
According to BMO’s 2025 study, the average American will spend a whopping $168 on a single date.
Interestingly, younger daters tend to spend more than older daters. BMO reports that Gen Z spends an average of $194 on a night out, compared to $191 for Millennials, $172 for Gen X, and just $127 for Boomers.
AARP suggests that older Americans should set a budget for dating, especially if they have a fixed income.
“If you have a limited income, it can help you budget for almost everything in your life,” Maness says.
Once you’ve exhausted your monthly budget, stop dating. This rule not only saves you money, Manes says, but also helps you “set the pace of dating.”
Think about what you can enjoy at a low cost
A fancy first date can create “heightened expectations and perhaps feelings of discomfort,” AARP reports.
To keep a low profile, consider low-cost destinations, such as your local zoo.
“Is there a zoo in your area? Think coffee shops, museums, bookstores,” dating coach Bela Gandhi told AARP.
Setting a date budget (see above) may help you come up with cheaper dates, Maness says.
For example, if your monthly date budget is $200, it might only allow for one steakhouse dinner, but it could fund several coffeehouse outings.
carry cash
According to AARP, there are at least two good reasons to bring cash to your first date.
First, having cash makes it easier to split the bill, especially if the other person is pressing for medical treatment. Post, the AARP columnist, could retort, “I really appreciate you treating me, but I don’t feel like it, so I’ll leave you $40 here.”
Second, if the date doesn’t go well, having cash makes it easier to walk away.
Beware of scams
According to the FBI, Americans 60 and older lost more than $7.7 billion to internet fraud in 2025, with the average elderly victim losing more than $38,000.
The world of senior dating in America is rife with potential scams. According to a Pew Research report, about half of online daters over the age of 50 have been the victim of a scam on a dating site or app.
“Dating sites can be dangerous for people of all ages, especially seniors, as scammers often target people who are more likely to have saved up for retirement,” said Kimberly Palmer, personal finance expert at NerdWallet.
According to AARP, there are several ways to prevent dating scams. One is to verify the identity of your prospective dating partner by searching for their name online or doing a “reverse” image search for their photo.
And be on the lookout for clues that a potential dating partner may be planning a scam.
“Asking for money for any reason before meeting is a big red flag,” Manes says. “Also, refusing to meet in person is a big red flag.”
Don’t feel obligated to talk about money
AARP advises that daters should wait for the right time to talk about money.
If someone asks you personal questions about money on a date, you don’t have to answer them.
In response, Maness said, “A good question is, ‘Why do you want to know?'”
Older daters, on the other hand, should be on the lookout for their partner’s strange financial behavior. For example, if someone pays everything in cash, it could be a form of financial discipline, or it could be a sign of very bad credit.
Don’t let money ruin your date
According to AARP, older Americans should be financially savvy when dating. But don’t think that all potential dating partners are targeting you.
AARP advises avoiding the urge to label someone cheap or prodigal after just one or two dates. Instead, take the time to learn what they have experienced in their financial lives.
“Not everyone in the world is after your money,” Maness says. “They may be on dating sites looking for love.”
