‘I would never date a man who doesn’t pay on the first date’

There’s one type of man that no Aussie woman wants to date and there’s absolutely no excuse for their rogue behaviour.

OPINION

I firmly believe that men should always pay on first dates, no exceptions.

If you’re a woman, it is in your best financial interest to agree with me. If you’re a man, do the right thing and open up your wallet. Extra points if your wallet isn’t velcro.

I’ve done the maths on my iPhone calculator, and it simply costs women more to date than it does men. So why should we also go halves in the meal?

For a first date, we buy new outfits, get our hair done, and splash out on fixing the chipped nails we’ve been ignoring all week.

Before we’ve even sat across from a guy that thinks owning a Banksy print makes him an art expert, we’ve already spent a fair chunk of change.

Meanwhile, the guy has probably brought out his ‘good’ jeans and a T-shirt he considers lucky and left the house.

By the time you meet up, the guy has spent $0, and the woman has probably spent at least $100.

Abbie Chatfield with the three single women looking for love on FBoy Island. Picture: Ben Symons

This isn’t all in my head; actually, there’s been some research done that confirms it.

To launch the first season of Abbie Chatfield’s F-Boy Island, Binge has conducted research called FBOY Compensation – and found Aussie women are wasting a staggering 116.2 million hours and $3.14 billion in a typical year on fruitless dates with flaky men.

Expenses include $472 million on hair appointments, $526 million on new outfits, and $302 million on hair removal and $383 million on nails.

To put that in perspective, single women are shelling out $3000 annually. You could almost buy a dog that is predisposed to have breathing issues with that kind of money.

Stream FBoy Island on BINGE. New BINGE customers get a 14-day free trial. Sign up at binge.com.au

Abbie Chatfield is hosting F-boy Island. Picture: Instagram

Abbie’s new show premieres on Binge on May 29. Picture: Supplied

I know the counterargument as to why men shouldn’t pay on a first date.

If women want to be treated equally, they shouldn’t expect men to have to foot the bill, but that argument is based on the idea women and men are living in an equal world, and we aren’t.

Our world is unequal and therefore men need to do things to make it more equal.

The pay gap in Australia is still sitting at 13.3 per cent, and a woman’s average weekly full-time earnings in Australia is $253.50 lower per week than the equivalent for men.

Statistically speaking I’ve likely spent more on a first date then my male love interest and I’m also earning less than he is.

This is also before he breaks my heart by telling me that the dog in all his dating app photos is actually his cousin’s.

The boys on HBO Max’s last series of FBoy Island. Picture: HBO MAX

Remember 10’s show First Dates! Perfect example she’s all dressed up and he isn’t. Source: Network 10

I’m also not asking men to go broke by paying for a first date. Let’s face it a first date isn’t at a swanky restaurant with a chef that has had a guest stint on MasterChef.

A first date is usually at a pub, bar or a local modest restaurant you like. The average meal usually costs around the $20 mark, and the average drink is under $10.

I also know the other argument coming my way.

Men complaining that they shouldn’t have to pay because they’ve bought women meals before and been ghosted the next day and to that I say: Welcome to dating in 2023.

I’ve spent hundreds of dollars getting myself completely glammed up only to go on a first date with a guy and find out there’s zero vibe. Or worse, I think there is a vibe and he still doesn’t end up messaging me.

Or he doesn’t message me until a few weeks later at 2am and all he says is, “are you awake?”

If a man isn’t prepared to pay for the first date, I think that is a red flag.

It just screams he isn’t willing to make even the smallest investment into winning me over and what woman isn’t worth the investment?