The younger generation goes on dates just to eat. This conclusion was reached by The New York Post, citing data from an Intuit survey.
A sample of 1,500 adult residents of the United States was surveyed. According to the results, 31% of single Zoomers — that is, people born between 1997 and 2012 — admit that they have gone on dates just to eat for free, writes marieclaire.
Experts also summarized that, at present, financial issues are one of the main problems affecting romantic relationships among young people. Thus, 51% of Americans stated that they have been dating less due to a lack of money, with Zoomers being the most affected group — 58% of them reported this.
"For Generation Z, financial habits and ambitions are becoming part of a new love language. Money and financial security have become the main forces in dating because they symbolize stability," said Ashley Ewald, a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Public Policy, in an interview with the publication.
Deloitte conducted its own survey, which found that nearly half of Zoomers and Millennials do not feel financially secure. Inflation and stagnant wage growth have led young people to try to save money by inventing creative and budget-friendly ways to go on dates. For example, they are more often hosting home gatherings and engaging in shared productive activities.
Additionally, a third of U.S. residents have ended relationships due to financial issues, and 44% of young people say they will only date someone who earns more than they do. Sabrina Romanoff, a psychologist from New York and a relationship expert at the dating app Hily, stated that this financial dynamic is not new, but it has intensified in our time. "Historically, women tended to date men with equal or higher levels of education or income. However, today dating is becoming more transactional," she emphasizes.
