Bumble and relationship expert Dr. Margie Holmes share ways to bust dating woes amidst rising prices

The rising cost of living isn’t just affecting those paying bills and buying groceries, especially with the newest symbol of luxury today in the country being onions—but also for Filipino singles looking for love. Bumble, a women-first dating, and social networking app, has conducted a survey* to understand how inflation has influenced people’s intention to find love in the Philippines. 

Given the pressure for people to spend more than they would normally on dates, the financial ramifications of dating can be difficult for some people. According to the findings of the survey, 33% of Filipinos indicate that cost of living pressures affect their dating life. Despite this, only 3 in ten of those surveyed indicated that they would date less as a result of climbing inflation, instead choosing to reduce dating expenses through low-key dates like picking a free date activity (62%), cooking dinner (60%), utilizing a coupon/voucher (40%), or dividing costs (38%) when going on dates.

“Dating can be expensive and some people prefer to ghost (or not even make contact with potential) partners rather than admit they can’t afford to go out. But there is a more mature, certainly kinder, way to deal with this,” says Bumble’s resident relationship expert Doc Margie Holmes. “Dating during inflation can be scary, and while we cannot control inflation, we can control how we deal with it, especially regarding our relationships. People should set aside a fixed amount for dating expenses. This usually makes it easier for them to stick to their budgets. Perhaps an even better way is to have conversations about financial constraints even before going out on dates.”

According to the study, 55% of the Filipinos surveyed believe that the individual with a better financial situation/salary should contribute more to dates. Furthermore, when choosing a location for a date, the majority (69%) of the respondents said they would consider their partners’ finances.

There are many ways to date cost-efficiently, but one thing is certain—Filipinos prefer to continue dating in person, with only 9% opting for virtual relationships as a cost-cutting measure. 

“With rising inflation, daters are now more budget-conscious, especially Gen Z who have less disposable income, and those who are in the long game to find a partner,” shares Lucille McCart, Bumble’s APAC Communications Director. “We believe making a genuine connection should not be cost-prohibitive, and dating on a budget can still be fun with the right amount of resourcefulness and ingenuity. Bumble remains committed to creating opportunities for Filipinos to connect and explore meaningful relationships.”

Afraid that talking about money will unsettle your new boo? Here are some of Bumble’s tips on how to approach conversations around budget and finances with your date:

• How to suggest a low-key first date. Being 10 minutes into a three-course dinner and realizing there are zero vibes is an expensive but avoidable situation. Save yourself the pain of thinking up an elaborate excuse and kick things off with a short and simple low-key date like a walk in the park or a quick coffee. Bumble’s interest badges are a great way to find out more about what makes a person tick, so look out for these on your date’s profile and use them as inspiration to suggest your low-key date activity.

• How to suggest splitting the bill. Don’t feel like picking up the entire tab unless you really, really want to. Times are tough and we’re starting to move beyond gendered expectations of who pays for what. Whilst paying can be a kind gesture, it often creates unhelpful expectations and pressure. On the first date, in particular, there’s no shame in confidently asking ‘shall we split?’.

• And remember…values over wealth. Lastly, whilst we’ve all heard that it’s important to find someone with the same values as you, remember that financial values are a ‘thing’ too. We’re all guilty of making assessments about a date, but what someone earns is only half the story – whilst it’s ok to want financial stability, someone’s behaviors and values around money are more important than what they earn.

Bumble is free to download and widely available in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and the web.