It’s a (dating) jungle out there!
Match.com just released the results of their annual “Singles in America” study on dating trends…here are some interesting findings:
Dating now costs an average of $130 a month. That includes $12 on dating app subscriptions . . . $39 on new clothes . . . $40 on your appearance and grooming habits . . . and $39 on actual in-person dating activities.
Casual first dates are the way to go. 84% prefer a casual date like coffee over something like a nice dinner.
Inflation and the economy are making cheapness seem kinda sexy. 23% say they’re more appreciative of frugal people than they used to be. And 30% are more open to doing FREE stuff on a date now.
73% of single people are looking for a long-term relationship. Or they’re at least open to it. 10% said they only want to date casually, maybe FOREVER.
Long-distance isn’t a deal-breaker, especially for young people. 58% of young people would date someone who lives more than a three-hour drive away.
Even if you don’t find “the one,” dating can help you grow and mature. 46% of women and 63% of men say dating helps make them a better person.
First impressions aren’t everything. 49% said they’ve fallen for someone they weren’t initially attracted to. That’s the highest it’s been in a decade. Only 38% said that ten years ago.
Good looks didn’t make the list of the top five traits people want. #1 is someone you can trust and confide in. Being emotionally mature, and being funny also ranked higher than looks.
Politics might NOT be a deal-breaker right now. 46% said they’d date someone with “very different” political views. But 31% said having NO opinion is a deal-breaker . . . and 37% said too strong of an opinion is too.
Age matters less than it used to. 30% of singles have dated someone at least 10 years older than them, up from 19% a decade ago. And 29% have dated someone at least 10 years younger, up from 21%.
Kissing has made a big comeback since covid. 61% say they’d make out with someone on a first date again.
Good luck out there, kids!
