I don't go on dates.

It depends on the relationship. If someone asks me out on a date I guess I expect them to pay but I usually reciprocate at a future point. If I'm actually in a relationship it seems more fluid to share expenses. It has made me think though of situations when I do things with friends and it is always a pay for yourself thing and if one person is driving, either someone else pays tolls, parking, helps with gas, etc. I guess the whole guy always pays for dates goes back to the days when women didn't have money.

I always go into assuming I will pay my own

Whoever asked should pay for the date. Once a relationship starts, I prefer to alternate paying rather then split the bill each time.

When i go on a date, i always pay the bill, its the man thing to do. I was taught that the man when on date should flip the bill period. Also on another side not, what ever happen to men being gentlemen. Opening doors, like the car door, the door the place you going, walking on the car side of the road? I was raised to do theses things. So many women get upset about the door thing all the time. drives me crazy. I new this lady once, she would race me to the door and back to the car door when we were done eating just so i couldn't open the doors for her. drove me crazy.

Who asks should expect to pay, though, if the invitee prefers dutch, that is fine... Once dating regularly, dutch, taking turns, or the one with enough income pays, whichever approach works. I like dutch or turns if I really enjoy his company as we can get twice the number of dates that way! (:

I might add. I have had the guy absolutely insist on paying, despite my being able to, only to have him resent it later, or hold it over my head, or demand access to my body (usually a first or second date) because he paid for my dinner. That might explain why some other ladies feel strongly about paying their fair share (or not).

I agree that, preferably, who asks should pay, but the recipient should buy the popcorn, or pay for dessert, or for the tip. Offer to pay th next time. Try to reciprocate so as to establish one's independence and consideration for the other person. Reciprocity doesn't have to be financial, if not possible. General rule: Good people do not exploit other people.

I will always offer to cover the bill, but I will also do what the other person is most comfortable with.

Yes, I split my date.

If I ask them I pay. If they ask me and do not ask me if I want to go Dutch Treat then they pay and I leave the tip.

If I'm dating someone, I fully support splitting the check or alternating who pays.

If someone from a dating site asks to meet for the first time, I generally suggest something simple... maybe a drink or a cup of coffee... and I always offer to pay my share. But it kind of surprises me that they almost always take take the money. If I'm borderline about seeing the guy again, the fact that they can't pop for a cuppa coffee on a first date leaves me with a negative impression.

Equality of the sexes has always become a mere ideal the moment the waiter presents the dinner check.

No woman has ever offered to pay, and I quietly resented that when I was dirt poor (just didn't date, could barely afford to buy food each week).

Once the money rolled in, I just tuned the whole concept out and reflexively threw my platinum card down the moment the check hit the table. I've been in that mindset since (Really? There are women who offer to pay? Where are these women?).

Still, there was that special, "new lawyer" dating phase -- when "lawyer income" first commenced and women expected pricier date venues (because all the lawyers on TV are rich, so "therefore" I must be rich, "so we're going out to nice places, right?" ). That's when I did some basic math and concluded: "Hey, if you don't date for just two months you can buy yourself a sweet surround-sound home theater."

That's when The Penis Doctrine (dems with the penis pay) periodically derailed me from the dating circuit because nice home furnishings became more valuable than dating pleasures. Only after I furnished my home the way I wanted did I resume Standard Retail Dating (which restaurant chains just love), but would occasionally pause to buy a new toy.

Now, I "get" part of the Penis Doctrine's rationale: Many a female isn't there just to cop a free meal. For them, picking up the check is the male's way of showing that he's authentically interested in her, or he's demonstrating his ability to provide, be a gentleman, blah-blah-blah.

I guess I'm grateful that, having come from the shit-poor segment of society, "that" (the financial pain of always picking up the check) aspect of dating is no longer an issue for me. But I've got to wonder how many guys simply exit the dating circuit, periodically or permanently, because of it.

Not dating..but when I did..the bill was mine..and only mine..I would have been alarmed and hurt if the lady tried to share the bill or even worse tried to pay for it.. I think it's probably a cultural thing here..but I can see it changing..

If I m not interested, I will let the server know to split the bill.
If she offers to handle the bill, I offer to handle the next bill.

Simple.

I'm gay. Generally, my experience, at least in the "gay world", is that the bill is split unless otherwise determined before the date.

On a first meeting I offer to pay my own tab. In a dating relationship I either contribute towards the bill if he accepts it. If not i will cook very nice meals for him. My last relationship we went out one week and the following week we would stay in and I would cook. It worked well for us.

1st date when I ASKED THEM out I cover it all we can workout how we pay in the following encounters

I'd never go for a meal on a date, until we are a couple.

But I always offer to pay for drinks on a date (if I've asked her out). If she insists that she pays for a round occasionally then this is one tick in the box.

If she gets all shirty about me insisting on paying for a drink then I know she is going to be a problem, and I'll bail.

I don't ask around for dates if I'm already dating another lady. I don't date in my hometown. I would not have asked you if you had not have awakened the beast in me. The beast that tells me OMG , she beautiful.... A date to me is a beginning of a commitment. I don't date anyone else. I focus on you. I'm not a stalker. It's my respect for you. I have already thought about the desire to be with you and even wondered what sex would be like. If it doesn't seem right the first and or the second date then I politely don't lead you on and stop asking for another. The first date is asking you to spend time with me and let's have some fun and get to know each other. I don't ask because I want to have a one night stand. That would be nice but I don't expect it. That's to awkward for me anyway. If you accept a date with me, then I'm going to treat you for giving me the opportunity to see if your the one... does that make sense to you? Thinking more about it.... i wouldnt want a date with a lady that wanted to pay her own way. Thats not a date to me. Thats a casual meet up.

Depends on the origin of the date. If I ask and she accepts, it's between her and me. I feel if I asked, I should pick up the tab. If the request was not as intimate as a date, and a discussion preceded the agreement, then going "dutch" would fine unless a different agreement was reached. I've had friends and I pay alternately for a light dinner before a movie and go dutch on tickets. Worked out fine. Things change when either romance or desire enter into the picture and hopefully would be apparent to both partup

I always offer to pay part of the bill when invited and refuse to accept money if I did the inviting.
If they want to help pay the bill, I'll have them leave the tip. I've discovered you can learn a lot about a person by the amount they tip on a free meal. If they don't leave at least 25%, I won't be paying for their meal ever again.

Yes. When we get the bill, that's when I split.

Normally I just pay the bill. There are a few times when I’ve split it with someone else, and it makes me feel good when it’s mutual. Hate to anyone to split the bill. Guess I’m old school that way.

If it’s a double date or group of people, I’d rather pay just my portion (my date and I).

I split the bill when I feel there is no future in it.

I'm kind of old school on this, The man should come with enough money to cover the bill, but if she is insistent on paying her half then He should respect Her without a hassle. As for subsequent courtship dates then the Man should always pay.