University of Michigan researcher finds daters value thriftiness in a beau
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A U-M researcher found that daters value thriftiness in their partners.
Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com File Photo
You're on a date and your admirer chooses a bottle of wine from the half-off happy hour list, instead one of the fancier options listed on the full price menu.
Your thoughts? According to a University of Michigan researcher you're likely to swoon at your spendthrift date's choice.
Jenny Olson, a doctoral candidate at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, is working on a scholarly article titled "A Penny Saved is a Partner Earned: The Romantic Appeal of Savers."
When Olson surveyed participants who had to evaluate dating profiles, savers were considered more desirable, Reuters reported. On a scale of 1-7, savers ranked roughly at 5 in terms of attractiveness, while spenders ranked 4, the article states.
"You would think that spending would be more attractive, because things like flashy watches or purses are so visible," Olson told Reuters. "Those things can also be perceived as wasteful and lacking in self-control."
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
a2schoolparent
Fri, Aug 23, 2013 : 4:57 p.m.
Are these people high school students? College students with a part-time job? Young professionals? Company CEOs? You can't interpret the data without context. There is indeed thriftness and there is indeed "cheap". One should definitely spend within one's means but saving money is not the goal of the first date.
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 9:30 p.m.
Has this Umich researcher actually gotten out and dated any of those Umich women, or is his experience all just second hand?
newsmuse
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 9:26 p.m.
Kellie, I am confused about your choice of words in the article. A spendthrift is an extravagant spender. The research study indicates that a person would NOT swoon over a spendthrift date. Am I missing something? Thx.
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 9:25 p.m.
I think I saw this on an Andy Griffith episode.
Dog Guy
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 9:18 p.m.
My usual first date choice was a U. of M. degree recital: perfect performance, fewer than twenty in audience, chatting with the candidate's parents at the wine-and-cheese reception, and free is my favorite flavor. Alternatively, a Ph.D. oral defense followed by sandwiches at Drake's with MD 20/20 from Capitol Market.
dougfroma2
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 11:41 p.m.
Makes sense (cents) when you have $75k in student loans.
Ben Freed
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 9 p.m.
We had a pretty fun conversation in the newsroom about whether using coupons and/or groupons on the first date (or second or third) is acceptable. What do y'all think?
kuriooo
Thu, Aug 22, 2013 : 2:11 a.m.
Yes! I'd think this was great, especially if it was to a restaurant or type of food I loved that was expensive (ie, sushi).
arborani
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 10:33 p.m.
I think it would be hilarious. Good test of date's sense of humor.
John
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 9:30 p.m.
Just do it on the sly. You have to give it to them before the cheque comes anyway, so just excuse yourself to the powder room and hit up the server on the way. No one is the wiser, and everyone wins. Leave them a big tip for their discretion too ;)
UloveM
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 8:08 p.m.
It all depends on who you are and whom you are dating with. As a just graduated from college in his or her early 20th, .... But as a medical doctor, a lawyer, and a professor his or her in 40th,....
Jessica Webster
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 6:22 p.m.
Way back when I used to go on first dates, Red Hawk was a favorite destination.
Kellie Woodhouse
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 6:32 p.m.
Ah, nice choice, as far as first dates go. It teeters a fine line, not to formal or pretentious (like Chop House on a first date) or too cheap and fast-foody. Plus, great atmosphere!
John of Saline
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 5:29 p.m.
You forgot the "Wendys - McDonalds - Burger King" bracket.
Kellie Woodhouse
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 6:33 p.m.
Oh man, and then picnic in the Meijer parking lot one. My bad!
donderop
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 5:02 p.m.
Thrifty is one thing. Cheap is quite another. And remember, women pick up the tab, too.
Kellie Woodhouse
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 6:34 p.m.
Yes. As a thrifty person, I would 100 percent agree with that statement.
Hmm
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 5 p.m.
Also I think the choices in your poll should all be moved into the next higher priced bracket. What are you buying that you're only spending $10 for at Zingerman's? A good meal at any of these places will run you into the next price category easily. The less than $10 category is for stuff like Mcdonald's and Burger King :)
Hmm
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 7:02 p.m.
Said "first dinner date" so I just assumed it meant the Roadhouse. Yes I guess if you go to the deli you could keep it right at the $20 per person limit, but lets see. A sandwich, chips, and drink is probably going to be right at $20, throw in some kind of dessert and you are over the limit. So actually I think I will stick with my first comment now that I think about it
Kellie Woodhouse
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 6:36 p.m.
Oh yum, a Zingerman's reuben... As far as the poll category, we measure price —informally— per person, so I think one person could eat for Zingerman's under $20. Maybe get dessert somewhere else if that date is going well...
Phoasti Flunies
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 5:41 p.m.
That's $10-20 per person. The Zingerman's Reuben is $14 or $16.50. Add a drink and you are still in that range. A < $10 meal at a taqueria or greasy spoon seems reasonable.
TryingToBeObjective
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 5:23 p.m.
Zingermans deli.
AMOC
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 4:43 p.m.
It is possible to go too far towards thriftiness. Not ordering wine at all if the guest was interested in wine would be a turn-off, while ordering a decent wine that's half-off tonight, as described in the article, would be perceived as an attractive balance between courting a possible new partner and being careful about spending.
An Arborigine
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 4:35 p.m.
Apparently their subjects were not in SE Michigan. It would be a pleasure to meet a woman that didn't expect to be wined and dined, then not be interested in a second date.
An Arborigine
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 9:09 p.m.
Thanks Kellie and nothing against women in general. The article was about dating and as a male who dates women, that is my perspective on dating, online dating specifically. I fully expected to be flamed for that comment, but am pleasantly surprised that it seems to be taken in the right context.
Kellie Woodhouse
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 6:40 p.m.
Sorry, my ears were burning;) Hmm, An Arborigine's comment was within our policy. All we ask is that our commenters be respectful, whatever their views.
Hmm
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 5:05 p.m.
I wanted to say something similar but I fear the mods here are going to delete me for not being PC enough for A2.com. The minute you start saying anything negative about women on here their deleting fingers start getting itchy
highlarryus
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 4:43 p.m.
ya win some, ya lose some...