Discount Dating ... Yay or nay? The Hot Chick says ... Nay.

What’s the word on using coupons on a first date? This may sound shallow, but I recently went out with a guy and he paid for our movie tickets with a coupon and then when we went to get ice cream after, he used his punch card to get one of ours free. He was a nice guy and really cute, but it turned me off that he used coupons. Is that bad? Thankfully, I haven’t heard from him since, I don’t know how I would explain that I don’t want to go out with him again.

You’re not the only one who is turned off by cheap first impressions. Discount dating is frowned upon by gold-diggers and high-maintenance chicks everywhere. Honestly, you’re probably not being shallow enough if the only reason you’re turned off is because he used a coupon – twice – on a first date. There are so many other superficial reasons to dry your panties out – like, facial warts, acne, back-ne, back hair and British teeth (from, like, one hundred years ago, before they discovered dental care was an option.)

While, technically, there is nothing wrong with whipping out a dollar-saver on a date, it can prove to be counterproductive in the effort of working towards additional dates. It’s tacky and, since women tend to overanalyze everything, sends the message that your date wasn’t worth the full price of dinner. But, I’m sure that wasn’t the case with you since you sound like such a catch. Why he hasn’t called you for a second date, and give you the opportunity to awkwardly turn him down, is beyond reason. Maybe he lost your digits. Instead of wondering if using a coupon was good date etiquette, maybe you need to ask yourself why he didn’t call you for a second date.

First dates are all about making a good impression by treating someone out to a nice time without cutting corners. The time for frugality is usually reserved for after the honeymoon period of dating. I could push that into marriage, but in these hard economic times, we all have to watch what we spend. Even though some dates don’t lead to relationships – those expenses will just have to be considered investments. Too bad there isn’t a ‘dating deductible’ section on our tax forms.

So, at the risk of giving off the wrong first impression, first dates should be planned according to a ‘no coupon use’ budget. The only places exempt from this unspoken, first date, coupon rule are amusement parks and airline tickets. So, unless you plan on Six Flags or Vegas, pick places and activities where the bill won’t be an issue. This goes for women, too. Women wanted equality, they got it, and now they pay for even if it's not as much as men do. In a recent study, it was found that while men spend an average of $100 per month on dates, women spend less than $50.

So, who’s the cheapskate there, missy?