Inflation means young Indians are going on fewer dates

Singles in the country are scaling back on fancy food and cocktail dates for more budget-friendly options

Dating has become a tricky game. It is not as easy as meeting someone that piques your interest, going on a date, and then leaving it up to fate. Now, we make or break the relationships that find us. In fact, one’s finances and social status have become a common bone of contention in India's modern dating landscape. So, it is only fair that we destigmatise talking about money in the early stages of getting to know someone. 

But then again, conversations around money aren’t always easy when you have just started dating someone, as it is a topic that brings up so much shame and self-consciousness for people. However, a survey by dating app Bumble shows that daters in India are now talking honestly and openly about money—a topic that traditionally has been a no-go. It revealed that seven in 10 (70 per cent) single adults surveyed said they would be comfortable talking about salary and financial stability when dating someone. Thirty-eight per cent of respondents believe that it is important to know about their partner’s salary and will make sure to ask about it in the first few months of dating, while almost three in 10 (29 per cent) single Indians think it’s okay to talk about salaries when you’re a few dates in.

Dropping the 'F' word

This new, confident approach to dating ties in with the rising cost of living in India. Although there is no official date to substantiate this claim, globally, wining and dining a romantic interest with rising inflation rates is shifting the landscape of dating practices. According to Bloomberg, the consumer price index category for food takeaway increased by 7.7 per cent in June 2022 from 2021, while full-service restaurants went up to 8.9 per cent. If you thought that was all, meeting over a simple cocktail isn’t as easy either since costs for alcoholic beverages have increased by 4 per cent since 2021 as well.

Those actively looking to date are also being hit hard. Dating app Hinge reported, as part of a survey, that nearly 41 per cent of respondents said they were more concerned with the cost of dates now versus pre-pandemic times, with Gen Z being the most worried.

The Established spoke with a few young professionals across India, who actively go on dates, to find out the average amount they spend for a night out with their significant other. Alarmingly, a date in Mumbai would cost anywhere between ₹ 2,000 and ₹ 5,000, depending on the restaurant, bar or lounge they choose to visit. In Delhi, this number dips by around ₹500, where the average spend hovers around the ₹4,000 mark. In cities like Bengaluru and Jaipur, it's around ₹1,500 to ₹4,000. 

The new alternative

Inflated costs are a key consideration when dating. As one respondent put it: “Finding a side hustle is important to maintaining a side piece”. Srijoy Roy, a Delhi-based financial advisor, says most of the dates he's been on unintentionally over the past year veer towards the topic of money. "It isn't even prying when you discuss finances on a first date. It's almost a given. While I've never asked a date how much she earns, most of the women I've met agree when I tell them that we would rather grab a Kwality Walls ice cream than order dessert after a meal at a restaurant. The post-meal stroll is also a fun way to get to know a date above the din of the noise at a crowded place."

Originally coined by the dating app Plenty of Fish, the term “infla-dating” involves planning less expensive dates to keep more money in your wallet during inflation. Millennials and Gen-Z singles in the United States are on-board with the trend. In fact, 48 percent of single folks in these age groups have suggested going on a budget-friendly date, according to Plenty of Fish.

A Delhi resident who wished to be quoted anonymously, says she hasn't been on a date in months because of emotional and mental health reasons and the rising cost of living and inflation. "I went on several dates over the last year and a half, and spent loads of money, but I always felt guilty afterwards. I'm not the best at managing finances or maintaining a stable income, but I've understood that I like chill sessions at someone's place for a date or just hanging in a public space like museums, monuments, and parks. Luckily, Delhi has loads of those," she says. 

She tells The Established she would go out on a date once a week or every fortnight and realised it turned into an unfulfilling and expensive affair sometime in 2023. "I would spend anywhere from ₹ 1,200 to ₹ 4,500 on a date, but in the back of my mind, I was always thinking about the money. Most dates I went on fizzled out or didn't result in anything fruitful. It felt like a waste of time, energy, and money—and I can't afford any of these in times of inflation when I live on a student budget with no stable income," she says.

The tables have turned

The main idea behind infla-dating is not having to break the bank to have a good time. Psychologist and life coach Asha Saxena says the pandemic has levelled the playing field regarding finances. It doesn't matter if you earn more or less; what does matter is how responsible you are with your money. “This generation appreciates frugal individuals more than they did before. Financial stability doesn't necessarily mean a person has a lot of money. It also means that they are responsible with their money—and that's seen as an attractive feature,” she says.

Bengaluru resident Gokul KP believes his generation is conscious of their spending and thus has to choose between the "quality" of the experience they want to have with their partner and a less flashy but more sustainable approach to spending time with each other. "It's not exactly everyone's cup of tea, and unless both people involved enjoy it the same way, it won't exactly stick. I have heard accounts from people who had broken up because they had different ideas about how they wanted to spend their weekends together."

Where do we go from here?

In a Business Standard article from 2022, Pradeep Shetty, joint honorary secretary of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), noted: "On an average, there has been a 10-15 per cent increase in the prices of dishes on  menus. While some have already implemented the higher prices, others are in the process of doing so."

The Delhi resident says when she's on a date at a restaurant, she can't help but check the portion sizes. Her thought: "Why am I paying slightly raised costs for smaller portions? Is this even worth it? And I'm thinking this while on a date where we probably complain about underpaid jobs in the market, climate change, and more."

None of us know how the looming recession in India will affect us financially, but as Roy puts it: “I try my best to be practical and create memorable experiences at the same time.”

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