Ask The Money Coach

This is the fourth of 5 sets of “Valentine’s Day Tips for Love and Money.” Read the first set here, the second here and the third here. Come back tomorrow for the final of the 10 tips to help you achieve financial harmony in your relationship.

7. The first date is awkward enough – the first check doesn’t have to be. For those on a first date this Valentine’s Day, be sure to manage expectations about who pays the check before the waiter comes looking inquisitively at the two of you. In a PayPal study, men were more likely to say that they should pay for the first date, but women were more likely to say that the bill should be paid equally or through some split not based on gender.  Agreeing in advance on a payment plan that pleases everyone could eliminate some of the check-dividing awkwardness, which could even increase the likelihood of a “Date #2.”