Why Gen Z Is Ditching Dating Costs in 2025

Gen Z's Anti-Dating Budget: When Romance Isn't in the Budget

First dates used to mean dinner, drinks, maybe Uber home, and a soft check of your bank balance afterward to make sure you didn’t wreck your week. But in 2025? That kind of spending just isn’t it for Gen Z.

According to a fresh Bank of America survey, over 50% of Gen Z adults aren’t spending anything on dating. Zero. Nada. Zilch. For the rest? Most are capping their dating budget under $100 a month. Yeah, that’s barely two iced matcha lattes and a movie ticket in most cities. But it’s not just inflation. It’s intentional.

Why Gen Z Is Done Paying for Romance

Rising prices are the obvious culprit. Rent’s brutal. Gas is wild. Groceries somehow cost more even when you buy less. But underneath the money crunch, there’s a deeper shift. Gen Z isn’t about wasting emotional or financial energy on something that doesn’t serve them.

“Dating feels like an unpaid internship,” said Maya, 24, from Portland. “You invest all this time and money into someone you barely know, and half the time it doesn’t even go anywhere.”

Her last first date cost $73. She Venmo’d him for her half and never heard from him again.

That’s the vibe now. Gen Z isn’t bitter, they’re just done pouring themselves and their paychecks into a system that rarely reciprocates.

The Rise of Free Dates (Or No Dates at All)

In the survey, those who do date said they’re keeping it chill. Think walks in the park, picnics with snacks from home, or streaming a movie together. Dating apps? Still around, but there’s burnout. And when you’re not sure if someone is even emotionally available, dropping cash on them feels kind of dumb.

“There’s this pressure to always be entertaining or interesting on a date,” said Jordan, 22, from New Jersey. “But sometimes I just want to sit in silence and vibe. That’s free.”

Gen Z is about low-key intimacy now. Less Netflix and chill, more YouTube and air fryer cooking sessions. It's about being present, not performative.

It's Not Just About Money. It's Mental, Too

Money’s only part of it. Gen Z is also prioritizing mental health and self-worth over traditional dating rituals. If a relationship isn’t nourishing, it’s not worth it financially or emotionally.

“There’s no way I’m budgeting for heartbreak,” said Lexi, 21, from Houston. “I’ve got therapy, school loans, and two part-time jobs. I don’t need someone’s situationship drama on top of that.”

Instead of romantic dinner reservations, Gen Z is booking self-care days. Emotional availability is now worth more than split checks. And honestly? It’s healthier.

Dating Isn't Dead. It's Just Evolved

We’re not saying Gen Z is completely over dating. But it’s being redefined. It’s less go big or go home and more let’s just see if we even vibe.

This new wave of no-spend or low-spend dating reflects a shift toward authenticity. Gen Z would rather connect over shared Spotify playlists and late-night convos than awkward small talk over overpriced sushi.

And if there’s no spark? That’s cool. There’s no refund for an expensive dinner, but there’s zero regret in a free afternoon hike that turned into nothing more than a cute memory.

It's Not Cheapness. It's Consciousness

Older generations might call this stingy. But Gen Z calls it survival. With sky-high rent, gig-economy uncertainty, and mounting student debt, we’re not about to drop $80 on cocktails just to impress someone who still uses Snapchat like it’s 2016.

It’s not that Gen Z doesn’t want love. It’s that we’re choosing to love ourselves more. Financial boundaries are self-care. If that means skipping dating for a few months or forever? So be it.

When I Opted Out of Dating to Save My Sanity

Okay, real talk. I took a six-month break from dating last year. I didn’t plan it, it just happened. Every conversation felt like a job interview and every plan meant checking my wallet like I was unlocking a treasure chest in Zelda. Spoiler. It was usually empty.

During that time, I got closer to friends, picked up film photography, and started cooking from scratch. Was I lonely sometimes? Sure. But I felt free. And honestly, the version of me that came out of that season is way more grounded than the one swiping through people like they’re Uber Eats options.

Where Dating Might Be Heading Next

As Gen Z continues to rewrite the rules of pretty much everything, expect dating to follow suit. The whole performative dating culture? It’s slowly dying. We’re entering the you good era. Checking in, keeping it real, and keeping it casual.

Expect more walk and talks, less rooftop dinner drama. More intentional connection, less what are we dread. Maybe we’re not anti-love. We’re just pro-peace, pro-stability, and pro not going broke over a vibe.

Gen Z isn’t skipping love. We’re just putting our wallets and well-being first. In a world that’s constantly asking more from us, we’re finally choosing to give more to ourselves.

Stay connected to the latest shifts in Gen Z dating culture, money habits, and real-life stories at Woke Waves Magazine.

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