Dating Mr. Cheap

“His stinginess could stem from a bad past experience, like an ex-girlfriend who used him for his money or a childhood marked by poverty.” — George Weinberg Ph.D., Why Men Won’t Commit

If you’re one of those people who’s dating a stingy person [not that I'm limiting this trait to men, okay], there are a number of ways to handle it without resorting to something extreme as breaking up. It’s not all that bad, really. It’s annoying but is actually workable. Here are a few tips:

To reassure him that you’re not after his money rather it’s his company that you value, you can suggest the following low-cost trysts:

• 1. Go old school and have a Drive-in date
• 2. Rent DVDs and snuggle on the couch
• 3. Wine & Cheese picnics will never go out of style.
• 4. Bowling, perhaps?

Avoid letting him shoulder all the date expenses or living expenses if you’re in a domestic partnership. Paying the bills can be really stressful.

If and when he does spend money on you or on the relationship, be uber-appreciative so he’ll be inclined to be more generous in the future. Please don’t keep tabs.

If he refuses to budge, communicate. Let him know that dating a scrooge can be a real drag but be sure to be clear on one point, that you simply don’t want finances to get in the way of a fun time. Keep in mind that this is only to get the whinging to stop.

But if after trying all these things and he’s still reluctant to spend money on you, be wary. Especially when you can see that he isn’t low on cash or frugal with himself, it can mean that not only is he stingy, money-wise, but also he’s stingy with his emotions, too.