Photo: Andy Li, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons — two coffees on a cafe table.
Dating is getting simpler and cheaper for many singles, with coffee replacing the traditional dinner date as the first choice for meeting someone new. The change is driven as much by cost as by a wish for a lower-pressure first meeting.
According to Opera News, reporting a VistaPrint survey of 2,000 UK singles conducted by Censuswide in April, 43% of single people say financial pressures are influencing their dating habits, and 59% are more likely to choose cheaper options such as coffee. Coffee dates (27%) and drinks (31%) were more popular than dinner dates (24%), while the average single person surveyed estimated spending 2,270 pounds a year on dating and going on dates about three times a month.
According to Global Dating Insights, reporting Barclays research conducted by Opinium in September 2026, 27% of Gen Z adults have cancelled, rearranged or declined a date because of money concerns, compared with 14% overall, and 54% of Gen Z favour affordable options such as coffee or a run.
The shift is not only about saving money. VistaPrint's Katie Eldred said dating culture is moving toward more intentional, frequent and cost-conscious experiences, where a short meeting makes it easier to talk and to leave gracefully if there is no spark.
What happens next is a more open conversation about money. Barclays launched its "Statement Dating" series on October 26 to encourage couples to talk about spending and savings early, rather than treating finances as a taboo topic.