In the good ol’ days, it was expected for men to foot the bill on dinner dates, especially when women weren’t as financially independent. However, times have changed, and the expectation of men always paying for everything is now seen as rude and sexist in progressive countries like Denmark.

First dates can already be quite awkward, and this ambiguity around who should pay only adds to the confusion. Just ask Reddit user u/CuteBananaMuffin, who recently shared his not-so-pleasant experience with a date who had some outdated notions about who should pay. After doing the right thing by splitting the bill on their first date, he thought it went well enough to ask her out again. Little did he know, the true colors of his date would be revealed when the restaurant bill arrived.

According to him, “The date was fun at first until she started talking about another guy and how much she liked him. But I thought, ‘Let’s eat, talk, and leave’ since she’s into someone else. However, everything fell apart when the bill came. She was shocked that I let her pay. Though she didn’t say anything, her furious facial expression spoke volumes about her expectation of getting a free meal.”

He continues, “Usually, I would pay for both sides of the bill, but I’m a working student, putting in 60 hours a week to cover my expenses. Paying 110 euros for her food was simply beyond my means. I asked her out again as a way to apologize and suggested going to a cheaper place to make it up to her. Unfortunately, as you can imagine, the result was far from ideal…”

It’s disheartening to see how someone’s true character can be unveiled over the simple matter of who pays for a meal. This experience serves as a reminder that societal expectations around traditional gender roles may no longer apply in today’s world, where both men and women work and earn their own income.

While it’s important to be aware of cultural nuances and individual preferences, it’s equally vital to embrace the principles of equality and fairness in modern dating. Splitting the bill or taking turns to pay shows respect and consideration for one another’s financial situations. After all, a successful date is not determined by who pays, but by the genuine connection and shared experiences between two people.