Thrifty Thinking: Using a Coupon on a Date

As frugality becomes increasingly mainstream, more U.S. adults are embracing coupon use on dates. A new CouponCabin survey reveals that more than one-quarter of U.S. adults report they have used a coupon on a first date, up from 18 percent who said the same last year. In addition, more than one-quarter said that they would have a positive reaction to their date using a coupon to help pay for a first date. This survey was conducted online nationwide by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin.com from September 17th – 19th, 2012 among 2,346 U.S. adults aged 18 and older.

Thriftiness is not the turnoff that it might have been in the past. In fact, nearly three-in-four U.S. adults said that if their date used a coupon, they would stay on the date and go out with them again.

“The economic challenges of the past few years have made many people more comfortable with frugality, so much so that it’s part of the dating scene now,” said Jackie Warrick, President and Chief Savings Officer at CouponCabin.com. “Not only does using a coupon benefit your budget, it also shows your date you are mindful of your finances and a savvy person overall, both of which are positives when you’re meeting someone for the first time.”

No matter what your dating situation, Warrick offers the following tips to help navigate the dating scene with a coupon in hand:

- Tip accordingly. Don’t take saving money so far that you hurt the livelihood of those providing a service to you. While it’s perfectly fine to use a coupon on a date to lower your total bill, be sure to tip appropriately on what the experience would have cost without the discount.

- Make plans based on your budget. If saving money is a top priority, make sure you set plans for a date that fit your budget. Think about planning a picnic instead of a fancy dinner at five-star restaurant or catching a matinee instead of a later movie, for example.

- Be honest. There’s no shame in using coupons in the dating game, so don’t pretend you aren’t using one. Be upfront and tell your date the truth to avoid any awkward moments.

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