This is sort of a follow-up to my post where I talked a bit about why I don't pick up the tab at dates, and why I insist on going dutch. Aside from the fact that women can work now and can support themselves, since I'm a mathematician by my former training I crunched the numbers myself, and let's just say they were gut wrenching!
For this calculation, I'm going to use an average estimate of $15 per date for the other person you're paying for. Let's assume you go on one date per month, and it takes you three years (a very, very conservative estimate) to find your match. So with that, we have an absolute low-ball estimate of you losing 15 X 12 X 3 = $540 over those three years, which you could have done other stuff with.
But it really doesn't work quite like that. Let's assume now you figure in lost interest you would have gained with those payments. Assuming you put those $15 you would be spending every month in an account that accrues 5% continuously compounded interest. In that case, we have the recursion formula of your amount as follows (where subscripts indicate months).
A1= 15
A2 = A1e.05 X (1/12) + 15
.
.
.
An = An-1e.05 X (1/12) + 15
Crunching this recursion in Mathematica, I found that over the course of three years (or until n=36, which is the same thing), that totals up to $581.30. Therefore, you have lost $581.39 thus far.
Now, let's say you let that amount rest in the account for 30 years beyond this point. Again, assuming a constant interest rate and continuously compounded interest, we get the following calculation:
Total = 581.39e.05 X 30 = $2,605.92
In other words, in the long run, paying for all those dates cost you over $2,600! That's A LOT of money! If that doesn't make you think twice about offering to foot the bill, then you don't have much common cents (LOL!).
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Comments (274)
EDIT: Apparently the comments don't even really handle superscripts/subscripts.
OK, well, here it is explained. The numbers after the A's should be subscripted as those indicate iterations. The .05 X (1/12) calculations after each "e" should be superscripted as those are exponentials (base e, or "natural exponentials), and the .05 x 30 should be superscripted on the last calculation, again because it's an exponential.
I took a young lady out on a date and spent $327. And it was worth every penny. We had such a great time! Women love masculine, generous, take charge guys. Paying for dates allows men to be manly.
And the way women show their appreciation makes me glad I was born a man.
If you're that worried about money don't date.
Why can't you both pay for dates occasionally? Maybe some women are really traditionalists about this, but I don't see why the man has to pay for everything....women can take their men out on dates as well. Then the numbers won't be quite so shocking. And you both give and take pretty equally.
@sometimestheycomebackanyway@xanga - Hey, I'm not one to tell anyone how to spend his/her money. If you enjoy throwing your money away on dates, more power to you! I just hope you realize the long-term money that night cost you, taking into account lost interest and such.
Then again, if you're taking a course in Diffy-Qs, you're at a much higher level of math than is required to understand these calculations, so I'm sure you do.
@StatelessPilot@revelife - I live in a universe of abundance. While you are counting your few miserable pennies, I am counting my blessings and having the time of my life.
@sometimestheycomebackanyway@xanga - You got the impression from this post that I'm poor? Uh, no. I have a high-paying job that's going to get better paying each year for the next 10 years, and then should I get promoted to chief pilot of my corporate flight department (very possible since I have 40 years left in the business and I already hold the rank of captain), it'll double my top-out as a 10th-year captain.
I assure you I'm not poor. I'll be living in the lap of luxury once I finish paying off flight school, but still every centavo counts.
Finding the right partner is and always will be a risky investment. Whether you pay for your date or not, you're still spending time and money. I prefer to pay bills myself and sometimes I'd let the partner pay for mine. It wouldn't be fair for me to pay for her meals all the time.
Well, in this post you successfully isolated most women from commenting. I applaud. But I think that money is a small investment. Consider the time lost you could be making money!
Strangers end up buying me stuff all the time because I look a hot mess.
It saves me a lot of money. I try to tell them I'm not in need, but they are desperate to please some invisible force that'll never come back to them.
I believe poeple should be of similar economic standing, so you're right; they should pay.
Selfish people shouldn't date. To test your theory - how many women are you currently dating, Lynn?
In all honesty I offer to pay FOR Adam more often than he pays for me - simply because of financial situations. But I don't keep tallies and expect every penny back. When you are dating someone, holding the tab over their heads is a sure fire way to ruin the relationship. That said, a few months ago he spent $100+ for a wonderful dinner for us - something I couldn't have afforded. It's all about give and take.
May
@sonnigenmai@xanga - I haven't been on a date since Jenna and I broke up this past fall, but that's by choice. I have many more important things to do right now. I'm about to start working on my CFI ratings (the company is paying me to do them), I've got my career I'm looking to advance, and working toward qualifying for my PBA card. I don't really have the time (or the desire, for that matter) to date.
Relationships are more time/effort than I have, or want to, give. If that means I'll be single forever, so be it. At least I have a fun, high-paying job, enough hobbies to keep me busy, and my cats for companionship. That's all I really need, truth be told.
@StatelessPilot@revelife - So be honest about it. You are too focused on yourself to be in a relationship. Therefore, you probably aren't the best person to be giving dating advice. That's my only point.
May
men should always pay!
ofcourse i can get the bill once in a while, but men.. man up!!!!!@kate90b@xanga - I guess that mathematical calculation means nothing to you? What about the thousands of dollars you're costing the man in the long run? Does that not matter to you?
If it doesn't, that just reinforces my theory that love is just a fairy tale (no different from religion) and that all women really want is someone to support them.
@kate90b@xanga - GTFO.
@sonnigenmai@xanga - He seems to be butthurt from his previous relationships. The only way to vent out his frustration = anti-relationship propaganda, so he won't feel so alone.
@kev1nccho1@xanga - No, I make logic decisions since that's the only kind of decisions it's possible for me to make, due to the way my mind is programmed. I don't make emotional decisions (in fact, I'm mostly void of any and all "normal" human emotions; I'm in a numb state about 90% of the time, the other 10% of the time I'm either depressed or angry).
And if you would have made that remark to my face, you'd be having some serious medical bills because I would have kicked your ass so bad you'd have to be rushed to the ER. I don't tolerate that BS, so consider yourself lucky you're behind the safety of your computer screen...
I challenge you to find an investment that pays 5% compounded interest.
@StatelessPilot@revelife -
Depressed or angry eh?
Looks like I pressed your button there. As for your physical threats...try me
If not, please shut the fuck up and keep bitching about your miserable life on a blog site.
-_- This is sad that your calculating on how much money your spending on dates when you tell us that you have a "high paying" career/job. Aren't dates suppose to be finding your "soulmate" instead of counting pennies..... *sigh*
@kev1nccho1@xanga - Not worth the expense in jet fuel and parking at the terminal to fly to another country for that purpose.
@Ladiiee@xanga - I don't believe in "soul mates." I don't really much believe in love either. I haven't dated in ages and have no plans on doing so. But yes, pennies do matter. I'm 25 and making $75,000 US equivalent this year (and 10 years from now I'll be making about $125,000 US equivalent per year, which will be my top-out level unless I make it to chief pilot in which I will earn almost a quarter of a million US equivalent per year). Who knows, maybe my love affair is with money? Don't see why that'd be a bad thing either seeing as how I don't earn it through illegal means.
@StatelessPilot@revelife - Good lad. Run along now.
i feel like 2600 bucks over the course of my life isn't going to kill me. i make that much money in a matter of days, let alone over 40 years.
@SlackerSociety@xanga - what, you think girls can't do math? hahaha.
@xsimplepleasuresx@xanga - i told my friend in late december to buy agq, and guaranteed him at least 20% returns in 2 months. as of today he'd have made a 33% return. he didn't respond to my email when i gave him an update a couple weeks ago, lol. (over the long run, the s&p returns 12%, iirc--so the 5% return that the op quotes isn't too unreasonable.)
Give it up. You're just a jerk who, as someone already pointed out, is too selfish to date. Stop griping about hypothetical dates on which some evil woman forces you to pay for her dinner, and go out and actually find a woman to date. Or don't. Be alone; it's your choice. But the guys who aren't self-centered will find dates, girlfriends, wives. Don't wonder why you won't.
Most modern women will do the wallet grab on the first date, but you should still pay. I'm sorry, but it's tradition, and if the guy I'm on a date with doesn't insist on paying, he won't see me again. And that'll be his loss, because after one or two dates, I insist on splitting. And for things like birthdays and holidays, I go all out. Whatever expense you incurred prior doesn't matter when you find a true partner. Consider what the better investment is, a financial one or emotional one.