So I went on a date tonight.
We were just about wrapping up the meal when he suddenly says, “Oh my God, I only have $48 on me. I thought I had more cash in my wallet. Do you have anything?” I told him I didn’t even bring my wallet out at all.
And I’m not going to lie, I was kind of proud of myself in that moment because my automatic instinct in situations like that is usually to just step in, cover it, smooth it over, avoid awkwardness.
But something in me just said no this time. You invited me out, you handled the ordering, you set the tone for the date, and there was never any prior conversation about finances or expectations, so I just stayed in my lane.
He then starts explaining that he gives himself a weekly allowance so he doesn’t overspend, which I actually understand in theory and even respect as a discipline thing.
At the same time, I’m not trying to be the person who gets called in when the allowance runs out. That’s not a dynamic I want to step into, especially not on a first impression.
Then he jokes about us washing dishes to cover the bill and I’m sitting there like please don’t make this any worse.
Eventually he ends up….