14 February 2024 , 13:31
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Celebs Go Dating star Anna Williamson has finally put to bed the age-old debate on who should pay the bill on a first date, as 38 percent say it should be split evenly.
The dating expert, who joined the Channel 4 show in 2019, revealed she has two schools of thought when it comes to who pays. While offering to chip-in is always considered polite, Anna states that whoever organised the date should pay.
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, she said: "A rule of thumb that I’m on board with is whoever instigated or arranged the meal should pick up that bill for the first date. It’s good to offer but I think it’s perfectly okay to allow the other person to pay if they would like to."
She added: "If they would like to pay on the first date, perhaps you offer on the second date if you think the relationship is going to move on." To avoid any awkward finance conversations or hesitations about ordering pricey dishes, Anna suggests confronting the payment situation ahead of time.
"Whilst you are arranging that meeting it could be a good idea to just approach that topic ahead of the game, so you can enjoy the date for what it should be, which is a fact-finding mission for seeing if this person is compatible with you."
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In advance of the date, Anna recommends being fully transparent about whether you have a certain budget in mind. "Maybe they’re picking a really expensive restaurant and you’re thinking you might not be able to afford it. So just be really clear about what sort of date you would enjoy," she said.
Navigating financial discussions when dating can be difficult, especially when some people are adamant about paying or expect their meal to be covered. Anna said: "If you have a strong opinion on it, be clear about it from the beginning."
A recent survey by Life Happens found that 38 percent of respondents believe the date should be split evenly in the initial stages of a relationship. Meanwhile, 31 percent said that the person earning more money should cover the costs.
Confronting financial situations on a first date should always be avoided, explains Anna. She said: "Never ask questions about how much the other person earns, particularly on the first or second date. It’s vulgar and crass, and while it is important, asking someone what they earn is rude."
However, it’s possible to gather a rough estimate of their financial status based on the information they provide. "You can gauge someone's status based on where they live and where they go on holiday. These can be really good indicators of who they are and if they are compatible for you," added Anna.
This Valentine’s Day, Anna has teamed up with Cadbury to launch a compatibility checker that all comes down to how you eat a Creme Egg. From scooping out the goo, to melting it on toast, there are so many ways to eat the sweet treat, some more divisive than others, and it can reveal so much more about and who you are best suited to.
She said: "From my work matchmaking famous faces, I love any tool that people can use to better connect with each other and work out if they are soulmates. I have seen far too many relationships crack under pressure thanks to someone’s eating habits, so if I can help just one person avoid a dating catastrophe or find their perfect partner, I would have done my job right."
When asked if Celebs Go Dating will return later this year, Anna said: "I hope so. I haven’t had the green light yet, but it’s normally around this time that we find out. Channel 4 is having a reshuffle but we rated really well last season so hopefully we will be back in the summer as we were last year."