74: Who Should Pay on the First Date?

Romance, money, and… awkward silences. In this episode, Rosie and Roula dive headfirst into a classic dating dilemma: who picks up the bill on date number one? What starts as a chat about etiquette quickly unravels into something deeper—expectations, power dynamics, gender norms, and how we handle (or avoid) talking about money. Rosie champions the 50/50 approach, while Roula sees payment as a gesture of intent and respect—if you invite someone, you pay. But it’s complicated. What if someone expects you to pay? What if money becomes a symbol of control? And why are we all so weird about just talking about it? This episode explores: - Why “who pays” is about more than just the bill - The awkward truth about money and pride on first dates - Cultural expectations and etiquette clashes - The cost of not having clear conversations Whether you're traditional, progressive, or totally confused—this one's full of juicy perspectives, a bit of flirting, and the age-old question: Is splitting the bill romantic… or a buzzkill? Keywordsdating, first date, who pays, relationship advice, dating etiquette, gender roles, money in relationships, modern dating, traditional dating, communication--------------------☕️ Buy us a coffee!🎙️ Send us a voice message🛍️ Buy some Rosie and Roula merch!--------------------⭐️ Leave us a review▶️ Follow us on Instagram and TikTok🎞️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel--------------------🎧 Check out Roula's podcast🎧 Check out Rosie's podcast