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Stories of stingiest first dates

1000 replies

frtedsbed · 29/02/2024 15:02

Just comparing experiences here at a friends ... jaw dropping stuff!

Mine asked me to transfer money for a coffee and cake after our first date which was a walk and feeding the ducks.
I thought we were going for lunch ... that was the original invite.
Another asked me to transfer money to r a takeaway having offered to pay for my child and I , as he stayed at mine every weekend. Both ended there and then !

OP posts:
Zone2NorthLondon · 29/02/2024 22:40

BirthdayRainbow · 29/02/2024 22:37

It's not that some women expect men to pay because they are men, but that they generally get paid more than women so have more spare/fun cash.

What’s your badly made point? You don’t expect men to pay because they’re men, you expect them to pay because men are paid more? That amounts to same thing.

Namemchangeforthispostonly101 · 29/02/2024 22:40

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns, so we've agreed to take this down now.

LindaHamilton · 29/02/2024 22:41

BirthdayRainbow · 29/02/2024 22:37

It's not that some women expect men to pay because they are men, but that they generally get paid more than women so have more spare/fun cash.

But many many many men don't get good pay and would be in no better pay/or much less than women. I used to work in payroll, I saw what literally 1000s of men earned and this was in London, many of them earned shit money. Just because men rule the world and dominate the top spots this is a TINY MINORITY of men.. I think people here seriously forget this,

I dated 3 men in the last 6 years and earned more than them. I'm on less than 30k a year.

Moonlightandroses44 · 29/02/2024 22:42

LindaHamilton · 29/02/2024 22:24

Did I say that? And seen as you seem to stupid to see my point, let me explain it. Men on mn are presented as all being privileged Brad Pitts or David Beckhams driving around in their Ferraris with women falling at their feet and earning 300k...

For many men hat's not a reality.

I still don’t see what your point is.

re: PPs, I think it’s really sad that people wouldn’t bother trying to impress in the early stages of dating. You want to show yourself at your best. That’s not game playing. It’s normal and natural. I didn’t say it had to be one party trying to impress.

I think both OLD and social media have a part to play but OLD is particularly bad. I think it’s done a disservice to both men and women.

I also actually specifically said it wasn’t a money issue in itself, but an attitude and mindset thing.

TheShellBeach · 29/02/2024 22:44

One bloke (a merchant banker btw) asked me out for dinner. We looked at various places but they were all too expensive for him.

We ended up at a chip shop.

He bought a bag of chips and we shared it.

What a tightwad.

LindaHamilton · 29/02/2024 22:44

Moonlightandroses44 · 29/02/2024 22:42

I still don’t see what your point is.

re: PPs, I think it’s really sad that people wouldn’t bother trying to impress in the early stages of dating. You want to show yourself at your best. That’s not game playing. It’s normal and natural. I didn’t say it had to be one party trying to impress.

I think both OLD and social media have a part to play but OLD is particularly bad. I think it’s done a disservice to both men and women.

I also actually specifically said it wasn’t a money issue in itself, but an attitude and mindset thing.

Because if they try to impress on the early days by sending then this becomes the expectation many women have...

Don't believe me? Read this thread and um your own comments...

SisterhoodNotCisterhood · 29/02/2024 22:45

Not a first date but two or three days in to getting to know someone and it wasn't even a date.

Housemate's Boyfriend had a friend (let's call him Cheeky Fucker Charlie) he brought over when he visited. Charlie and I got to know each other and had a couple of "dates" in my house. I'd cook a meal or something. He was nice ish I guess.

My (clearly very gay) best friend was coming round one day to take me to the cinema (I was unemployed at the time and best friend was well off but wanted company so happily paid for me). I made it very clear it was a pre arranged hanging out and I'd maybe see Charlie another day. He wasn't invited and I know for a fact he didn't have any money on him so couldn't have come even if he wanted.

We left the house and Charlie started following instead of heading towards his bus to go home. We explained again we were off to an arranged cinema trip and I would maybe see him later. He just shrugged and said he was going the same way. He just kept following and talking to us, even getting on the same bus using his college travel pass. We got to the cinema and he walked inside with us. It was getting awkward now but okaaaay.
He suddenly leaned in between and said, "Three!" When my Bestie said "Two for [movie] please." and then stood back, allowing my best friend to pay for his ticket too. It was awkward as hell. Best friend kept giving me the WTF face to match my own.

We got to the snacks counter and Charlie jumped in and added his order of large popcorn and Coke etc onto mine and best friends order as well. It was bizarre and so crazy that neither of us could think how to react! It was so funny that bestie went along with it if only just for the laughs we were going to get about this craziness later. It wasn't even a jealousy thing or anything because Charlie sat beside someone he recognised as we walked inside the cinema room. Never even looked back at bestie and I until we were on our way out after and he was like, "Sooo what's next guys? How about a KFC?"

Normally Bestie and I would but there's no way bestie was paying for CFer's too so we pretended we were heading home and he buggered off too.

For the record we laughed about Cheeky as fuck Charlie for decades after.

The shit we put up with as college age kids astounds me now.

SouthLondonMum22 · 29/02/2024 22:45

LindaHamilton · 29/02/2024 22:38

Of course you wouldn't but if he looked like Brad Pitt or insert any attractive male you'd be fine with it I bet...

I wouldn't want to be with someone who has old fashioned values no matter how attractive he may be on the outside. I wouldn't be attracted any longer.

Zone2NorthLondon · 29/02/2024 22:45

if you’re expecting a man to be trad and pony up for your food,drink don’t be surprised when he’s trad about other things too,and paying for the lil lady isn’t in itself a marker of being a nice man

0rganisedchaos · 29/02/2024 22:47

Few years back a first date asked me to jump the turnstile at the train station so he didn't need to buy us train tickets (£5), when we sat down in the restaurant he loudly shouted "for fuck sake!!" I thought something terrible had happened but no it was because a pint was £3.50

BirthdayRainbow · 29/02/2024 22:47

I said some. Not me. I always paid my way and also paid for the man too on some dates.

Moonlightandroses44 · 29/02/2024 22:47

LindaHamilton · 29/02/2024 22:44

Because if they try to impress on the early days by sending then this becomes the expectation many women have...

Don't believe me? Read this thread and um your own comments...

Why on earth is it a bad thing for women to expect men to want to impress them? Or treat them nicely?

you only need to read some of the other threads on here to see that the bar is already absolutely
on the floor. And you’re saying we should have lower expectations?

I mean, fine, but that’s not me. Fuck that.

easylikeasundaymorn · 29/02/2024 22:47

Vinvertebrate · 29/02/2024 16:53

@Rolypolyup I make a point of being hard work when faced with tight-arsed shithouse men, on principle.

perhaps the date was tight but what had the poor waiter done to warrant going back and forth multiple times while you pretended there was something wrong with perfectly good wine just to make a point? Your behaviour was far worse, no wonder date blocked you, he probably saw you as the type of person who thinks it's fine to be as rude as possible to 'staff.'

If the deal was 2 for £10 then the wine would presumably normally be about £7-8 for the deal to be worth it - a completely normal price, particularly "years ago" - it's hardly as if he was expecting you to drink the £2 wine wetherspoons serves on tap!

Apart from which if you wanted a more expensive wine why not just speak up like a big girl and SAY, "No thanks I'd like to order off the wine list but don't worry I'll pay for myself," rather than go through all that pathetic rigmarole. The manager probably came over to suggest you ordered off the list because you were sniffing your way through half his stock and he was thinking 'FFS just choose something you picky cow rather than tying up my staff members and putting the rest of the customers off by pretending all my wine is corked!'

LindaHamilton · 29/02/2024 22:47

SouthLondonMum22 · 29/02/2024 22:45

I wouldn't want to be with someone who has old fashioned values no matter how attractive he may be on the outside. I wouldn't be attracted any longer.

Oh yes I forgot how on mn looks don't matter and there's no difference in how women treat men based on their looks....only men are shallow like this.

If men are attractive everything they do is charming but if they aren't the exact same behaviour is creepy...

SouthLondonMum22 · 29/02/2024 22:49

Zone2NorthLondon · 29/02/2024 22:45

if you’re expecting a man to be trad and pony up for your food,drink don’t be surprised when he’s trad about other things too,and paying for the lil lady isn’t in itself a marker of being a nice man

Exactly.

SouthLondonMum22 · 29/02/2024 22:51

LindaHamilton · 29/02/2024 22:47

Oh yes I forgot how on mn looks don't matter and there's no difference in how women treat men based on their looks....only men are shallow like this.

If men are attractive everything they do is charming but if they aren't the exact same behaviour is creepy...

Edited

Looks matter to a certain extent but I have absolutely no interest in a man with old fashioned values no matter what he looks like.

A relationship would never work between us so what's the point?

gannett · 29/02/2024 22:52

Minikievs · 29/02/2024 20:04

Not a comment on a stingy first date, but it does always make me laugh at the expense and effort that women usually go through compared to a man.
My friend had a guy come round for dinner a few dates in. She'd spent £150 on food, drink, a wax, nails, and had spent FIVE HOURS getting herself and the house ready.
He rocked up straight from work in his grubby clothes and asked to use her shower.

Slightly different efforts levels
(It goes without saying that NAMALT)

A few dates in I went over to DP's for dinner. I wanted to get a run in that day and figured I'd just run to his place rather than take the tube. Rocked up in my sweaty running gear asking to use his shower. He didn't seem put out.

If someone's grubby from work then it's good that they want to freshen up. If he's come straight from work then presumably it's because timing didn't permit him to go home and shower, change etc first. If this was a normal working day did your friend take half a day off to primp herself for a date? Madness. I don't even know what I'd do with myself if given five hours to get ready.

gannett · 29/02/2024 22:57

Moonlightandroses44 · 29/02/2024 22:47

Why on earth is it a bad thing for women to expect men to want to impress them? Or treat them nicely?

you only need to read some of the other threads on here to see that the bar is already absolutely
on the floor. And you’re saying we should have lower expectations?

I mean, fine, but that’s not me. Fuck that.

Of course I want a man to impress me and to treat me well. Neither of those things have anything to do with spending money on me. Treating me well involves respecting me, being interested in me, holding a good conversation with me, being kind and gentle and courteous. He can impress me with his character and his morals and his intelligence and his body. Money doesn't impress me at all. Any chancer with a job in finance can buy a meal in a restaurant, it doesn't tell me shit about them.

localnotail · 29/02/2024 22:58

Very interesting. We get people on here saying "you should pay the half... it should be equal"... but look where this gets you: I met my ex, we both had equal income, same type jobs. I was all progressive "I will pay the half, its not 19th century" type. Paid half of everything - rent, holidays, food bills. My ex was more than happy. Then, I fell pregnant. Had a baby. Still had to pay half - all the way. Because, why should I not? Had crap maternity pay, had to use my savings. Still paid half. Looking after the baby, doing most of the childcare, my career suffered a lot - still paid half. In the end, left the bastard - but, have no savings now, job suffered, financially ok but not great. Ex still thinks I should contribute half to the kids up keep, even though his career is in much better state than mine.
I would say - unless you are a heiress, go old fashioned. If anything, it will let you see how generous and kind he is. Stingy, tight fisted man is not a good life partner.

lemons222 · 29/02/2024 23:00

I dated someone who said they made their own baked beans to save money! Another guy who definitely had money but told me he signed up to some free online course so he could apply for a student card to get student discount on things. Also told me how he used to get around using his train and bus tickets again!
My friend was dating someone who used to cook for her at his house a lot and asked her for money towards the end of their short relationship towards the bills towards cooking the food and doing the dishes! He then dumped her and said he couldn't afford to be in a relationship!

TheNextFreakingThing · 29/02/2024 23:00

BackITD · 29/02/2024 16:00

This isn't me but it's the stingiest date story I ever read - the Milk Carton date. A friend emailed it to me I think it's from a message board like Reddit or something:

"I Love New York [Lili...] my dud date:

we took the subway to Times Square, and we walked around. he saw these little american flags for sale in a store and wanted to go inside to see what they cost. they cost 8.99 and he went on a little tirade.

I ignored it and floated out.

he had no set plans.

he asked me if i'd eaten dinner yet. I said noh. he took me to a pizza & falafel place (bright lights & plastic trays). I got a cup of soup and a glass of milk, and floated off when the cashier asked me to pay (after first looking at him all confused). my date got a paper cup of tea.

my date started to tweak that I'd bought a paper cup of milk (his mother had given him 4 little pints of milk when he'd visited her before our date) (which he asked if he could put in my refrigerator before the date).

in the pizzeria he explained that his mother had given him 4 pints of milk, and if I wanted milk I should have taken one of those with me on the date, so he wouldn't have to spend for the paper cup of milk in the pizzeria. he explained that the little pints of milk were in individual cartons.

he asked me if I wanted some tea. I said yes, i'd love some, so he got me another paper cup and he poured his tea in half.

I asked him if he wanted the slice of garlic toast that came with my soup (because I don't eat white bread). he wrapped it carefully in a napkin and put it in his pocket .

he took me to the Marriot hotel to ride up and down in the glass elavators, which was fun.

we went in about five times. we went in different ones.

then, he told me all about the swirling glass restaurant on the top of the hotel, shaped like a circle, which goes around and is is oh so beautiful, with a view of new york city out the windows.

it sounded cool. he asked the hotel girl how to get to it. she said it was a cocktail lounge, not an observation deck.
he explained to the girl that he wanted to take me up there to show me how cool the view was and how cool it was that the restaurant turned around on top of the building.

he explained to the girl he was only going to take me to look out the windows- we weren't going to eat or drink anything (!).

but then there was a long line to get in. he didn't want to wait in the line and found a way to sneak in, and I chickened out (yark).

he took me to the lobby to sit and talk and have intimate conversations all night. I was soo thirsty.

I thought it was odd that he walked right by the beautiful part of the lobby, with the pretty, little tables with little candles and white tablecloths, where all the people were having fun and drinks over candles.

he took me to one deserted section, with no service or drinks. we got kicked out. he scouted around for another section with plain tables but no drinks or waiters or candles. I was soo thirsty I felt like I had cottonmouth. I kept wondering what kind of a cheapo he was, and waiting for him to offer me some water.

then I said, "I need a bottle of water". so he went and asked the hotel guy where he could find a water fountain. the hotel boy showed him some water fountains down a hall. my date showed me where to go to get myself water from the water fountain.

I bent down to sip the water from the fountain when I came to my senses and ended the date early.

I tried to sweetly end the date early, and femmily and float out, but I was so hungry that I screeched at him for not buying me a glass of water and making me get up and go use a water fountain. thereupon, he screamed at me at the top of his lungs in the hotel (eek) "you're just after my money! I didn't spend enough money on you so you're leaving the date!". he went on and on yelling as I tried to find the escalator, but the escaltors were very confusing and I had to go down about ten of them. It was like one of those M.C. Escher paintings.

I was hungry and thristy and moody (it was after midnight and all I had was a soup and milk) so I started defending myself in the lobby while he yelled at me in front of all these well dressed fancy people about me being after his money.

I said, "A glass of water! yes I want a glass of water! You can't buy a girl a glass of water on a date?!". Whereupon he started screaming that he'd already bought me milk and that's why I couldn't have a glass of water".

I told him to the date was over and to get far away from me (I was sooo hungry & had cottonmouth) (but looked cute).

I ordered him to get away from me and told him he couldn't ride on the same escalator as me.

I told him he couldn't ride on the same elavator as me either, or the same subway car as me, and I punched the buttons on 2 eleavators- one for him and one for me and made him get in a different one.

he insisted on seeing me safely home (it was like 1:00 a.m.). I told him he couldn't ride on the same subway car as me <lol>.

he sheepishly and obidiently got on a different subway car, since he was forbidden on mine.

he saw me safely home but I made him walk half a block away from me everywhere we went. <lol>

we got to my house and he asked for the 4 little pints of milk from my refrigerator."

He doesn't sound pleasant but why on earth didn't she buy herself a bottle of water? I mean, why did she have wait for someone else to buy her water when she was thirsty?

EmmaEmerald · 29/02/2024 23:03

@TheNextFreakingThing I was baffled by that story too, especially the "floating".

LindaHamilton · 29/02/2024 23:03

SouthLondonMum22 · 29/02/2024 22:51

Looks matter to a certain extent but I have absolutely no interest in a man with old fashioned values no matter what he looks like.

A relationship would never work between us so what's the point?

of Couse but I'm sure if it was Brad Pitt you might be more accommodating but keep telling yourself otherwise and you might start to believe it.

Moonlightandroses44 · 29/02/2024 23:03

gannett · 29/02/2024 22:57

Of course I want a man to impress me and to treat me well. Neither of those things have anything to do with spending money on me. Treating me well involves respecting me, being interested in me, holding a good conversation with me, being kind and gentle and courteous. He can impress me with his character and his morals and his intelligence and his body. Money doesn't impress me at all. Any chancer with a job in finance can buy a meal in a restaurant, it doesn't tell me shit about them.

Agreed, but all of those positive traits are completely incongruous with the kind of stingy behaviour that says ‘I won’t even buy you a drink or dinner’.

imnotgoodenoughtobehere · 29/02/2024 23:03

BackITD · 29/02/2024 16:00

This isn't me but it's the stingiest date story I ever read - the Milk Carton date. A friend emailed it to me I think it's from a message board like Reddit or something:

"I Love New York [Lili...] my dud date:

we took the subway to Times Square, and we walked around. he saw these little american flags for sale in a store and wanted to go inside to see what they cost. they cost 8.99 and he went on a little tirade.

I ignored it and floated out.

he had no set plans.

he asked me if i'd eaten dinner yet. I said noh. he took me to a pizza & falafel place (bright lights & plastic trays). I got a cup of soup and a glass of milk, and floated off when the cashier asked me to pay (after first looking at him all confused). my date got a paper cup of tea.

my date started to tweak that I'd bought a paper cup of milk (his mother had given him 4 little pints of milk when he'd visited her before our date) (which he asked if he could put in my refrigerator before the date).

in the pizzeria he explained that his mother had given him 4 pints of milk, and if I wanted milk I should have taken one of those with me on the date, so he wouldn't have to spend for the paper cup of milk in the pizzeria. he explained that the little pints of milk were in individual cartons.

he asked me if I wanted some tea. I said yes, i'd love some, so he got me another paper cup and he poured his tea in half.

I asked him if he wanted the slice of garlic toast that came with my soup (because I don't eat white bread). he wrapped it carefully in a napkin and put it in his pocket .

he took me to the Marriot hotel to ride up and down in the glass elavators, which was fun.

we went in about five times. we went in different ones.

then, he told me all about the swirling glass restaurant on the top of the hotel, shaped like a circle, which goes around and is is oh so beautiful, with a view of new york city out the windows.

it sounded cool. he asked the hotel girl how to get to it. she said it was a cocktail lounge, not an observation deck.
he explained to the girl that he wanted to take me up there to show me how cool the view was and how cool it was that the restaurant turned around on top of the building.

he explained to the girl he was only going to take me to look out the windows- we weren't going to eat or drink anything (!).

but then there was a long line to get in. he didn't want to wait in the line and found a way to sneak in, and I chickened out (yark).

he took me to the lobby to sit and talk and have intimate conversations all night. I was soo thirsty.

I thought it was odd that he walked right by the beautiful part of the lobby, with the pretty, little tables with little candles and white tablecloths, where all the people were having fun and drinks over candles.

he took me to one deserted section, with no service or drinks. we got kicked out. he scouted around for another section with plain tables but no drinks or waiters or candles. I was soo thirsty I felt like I had cottonmouth. I kept wondering what kind of a cheapo he was, and waiting for him to offer me some water.

then I said, "I need a bottle of water". so he went and asked the hotel guy where he could find a water fountain. the hotel boy showed him some water fountains down a hall. my date showed me where to go to get myself water from the water fountain.

I bent down to sip the water from the fountain when I came to my senses and ended the date early.

I tried to sweetly end the date early, and femmily and float out, but I was so hungry that I screeched at him for not buying me a glass of water and making me get up and go use a water fountain. thereupon, he screamed at me at the top of his lungs in the hotel (eek) "you're just after my money! I didn't spend enough money on you so you're leaving the date!". he went on and on yelling as I tried to find the escalator, but the escaltors were very confusing and I had to go down about ten of them. It was like one of those M.C. Escher paintings.

I was hungry and thristy and moody (it was after midnight and all I had was a soup and milk) so I started defending myself in the lobby while he yelled at me in front of all these well dressed fancy people about me being after his money.

I said, "A glass of water! yes I want a glass of water! You can't buy a girl a glass of water on a date?!". Whereupon he started screaming that he'd already bought me milk and that's why I couldn't have a glass of water".

I told him to the date was over and to get far away from me (I was sooo hungry & had cottonmouth) (but looked cute).

I ordered him to get away from me and told him he couldn't ride on the same escalator as me.

I told him he couldn't ride on the same elavator as me either, or the same subway car as me, and I punched the buttons on 2 eleavators- one for him and one for me and made him get in a different one.

he insisted on seeing me safely home (it was like 1:00 a.m.). I told him he couldn't ride on the same subway car as me <lol>.

he sheepishly and obidiently got on a different subway car, since he was forbidden on mine.

he saw me safely home but I made him walk half a block away from me everywhere we went. <lol>

we got to my house and he asked for the 4 little pints of milk from my refrigerator."

I’m pretty sure this is my ex husband!

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