A third of Gen Z admits to going on dates solely for a free meal, according to a new study from Intuit, as young adults are dating differently—not necessarily due to matters of the heart but because of their budgets, the report found.
Why It Matters
Dating apps and the larger dating culture have been sources of frustration for both Gen Z men and women. That, plus economic conditions and the high costs of housing, higher education and everyday items have caused many to look at dating as a way to save money rather than find a long-term partner.
What To Know
Financial pressures are impacting the way Gen Zers date, according to the Intuit report. While 58 percent of Gen Zers have cut back on dating due to financial pressures, 31 percent also admit to going on dates just for the free meal.
“We can all be honest, Gen Z-ers are not the only people guilty of grabbing a free meal in exchange for a date, and they won’t be the last,” Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group and host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. “Yet, things have gotten more expensive for them, and trying to save money where you can has become a priority especially as student loan payments are now reinforced and credit scores are being punished due to defaults.”
The financial dating woes are escalating as the holidays approach, with 44 percent saying they feel pressure to spend more during the holidays, and nearly half have overspent on gifts or dates.
The report was based on an online survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers ages 18-28 (Gen Z), 29-44 (millennials) and 45-60 (Gen X).
What People Are Saying
Thompson also told Newsweek: “This definitely shows there’s a problem—not just with finding genuine companionship, but with how people are feeling emotionally. This generation has faced a wave of existential loneliness, whether from the COVID shutdowns or growing up immersed in social media.”
Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “It’s hard to get too critical of Gen Z for stats such as these when you remember there are more than likely plenty of individuals from past generations who went out on a date for the occasional free meal and other luxuries that occasionally accompany them.
“However, to see the practice being done in wider numbers could speak more to the economic and social standards of the time. The pandemic escalated the pricing on dining out and the infrequency of social interactions. Gen Z using dates to take advantage of both symbolizes so many of the changes we’ve seen coming out of that era.”
What Happens Next
As this trend becomes more common among Gen Zers, Thompson said, many could decide to date less frequently.
“People are starting to date less because they feel taken advantage of, and as a result, marriage and family life are being pushed further down the road,” Thompson said. “That delay doesn’t just shape culture; it eventually filters into the economy through slower household formation and different spending habits.”
