Despite the impact of the recession in Ireland, it seems that men and women across the country will not be changing their attitudes to dating any time soon.
These findings, the result of a poll conducted by Ireland’s online dating site, www.AnotherFriend.com indicate that Irish people still favour traditional spots such as the cinema for their dates, and are spending just as much money as ever on looking good to impress their partner.
Dinner for two still ranks as the most popular way to spend a first date, with some 80 per cent of respondents choosing it as their ideal option. And you can leave your financial concerns at the door; 75 per cent of women and 58 per cent of men do not think there should be any increase in “going Dutch” on dates (ie, each person paying half of the bill ).
Any men hoping for a cheap Valentine's date this year, take note: chocolate and flowers just will not cut it these days. Fewer than 23 per cent of women said they would be impressed by such tokens on a first date, so don't rely on them to win her over. That is not to say you have to break the bank for Valentine's Day, you just have to be a bit more creative — and don't forget turn on the charm and the class, as Irish women rank Richard Gere in An Officer and a Gentleman as their idea of the perfect man.
One tip that could save money — and a potential relationship — is to go easy on the alcohol. Twenty five per cent of men said that a woman getting drunk on their first night out together was one of their biggest turn-offs, ranking just below talking about an ex-boyfriend all night. And since fun was ranked top of almost everyone's list of priorities (94 per cent of men and 89 per cent of women ), people should avoid spending a fortune on drinks that will ultimately only damage the atmosphere for the evening. One or two is fine, but nobody enjoys overdoing it with somebody they have just started dating.
