“Just Be Honest, Brother”: Man Stresses About Going on Date With Only R500, SA Advises

• A young man living in Strand shared his dilemma about a date, asking for advice on how to make a R500 budget work for a first date with a girl
• The post was shared on Reddit and received an outpouring of practical tips and suggestions from users who wanted to help him succeed
• Social media users gave a variety of advice, with many suggesting he skip the expensive movie and opt for more budget-friendly and conversational activities

A man from the Western Cape reached out to social media for advice on a date he was planning, sparking a wave of helpful and valuable suggestions from users.

The post, shared by user @shawnensoon on Reddit, garnered significant attention and support from a number of viewers who asked that he give them an update after the date.

In his post, the man, @shawnensoon, details his plan for a date with a girl he met in his complex. He explains that his total budget is R500 and he intends to take her to Somerset Mall for a movie and lunch.

Read also

"May this union last forever": SA reacts to toddler assisting dad propose to his woman

Planning a date on a budget

He breaks down his budget of R500: R100 for Uber, R100 for two movie tickets, and R150 for snacks, leaving him with R150 for lunch. The man’s main concern was the lunch part of the date. He worried that his budget might limit what his date could order, and he wanted to avoid making her feel restricted. He mentioned considering Mug & Bean, but was unsure if it would work, and he specifically asked for practical advice without being told to just save more money.

South Africans offer the man advice

The Reddit community responded with a variety of helpful tips, showing their support for his thoughtful approach to the date. Many advised him to skip the movie, pointing out that it was expensive and didn't allow for much conversation, which is crucial for a first date. They suggested that he could use the movie money for a better lunch or another activity.

Read also

"This is not lawful": Payslip with low weekly wages of R1.4K sparks online debate

Some recommended a nice lunch and milkshakes afterwards, suggesting that this would be a more personal and enjoyable experience. Others advised @shawnensoon to be honest with the lady about his budget, saying that might score him honesty points.

User @Zodixo said:

"Hit me up, I can support you with a little extra."

User @Few-Wolf shared:

"Buy a pizza and a cold drink and have a picnic lunch on a blanket."

User @almostrainman advised:

"Just be honest, brother. Say, look I have about R500. I figured we can do this and this, and you won't have to pay. Girls appreciate honesty, and if you can be honest about money, you are probably honest about most things. Also, the movie tickets will be way more than that."

User @reditanian suggested:

"First date? Skip the movie. Grab takeaway coffee and go for a walk on the beach. It’s great to chat and get to know each other while not sitting on opposite sides of the table - less confrontational. Proceed to lunch if it goes well. You get better quality time together, and a chance to figure out if she’s a crazy person before committing too much cash."

Read also

"You did well, bro": Man overcomes R40,000 debt to finally get UJ degree, inspires SA

User @Stropi-wan commented:

"Don't stress too much. I took my wife to the museum (got some inside information beforehand about her likes) & movie for a 1st date. Can't remember that I even took her for lunch, maybe slap chips & Coke. I suggest you let her choose the movie or watch something lighthearted. Somebody else suggested a stroll on the beach & ice cream. I think it is a good idea. If you can make her smile or laugh, then you can ask for a 2nd date with confidence."

User @Redmuffin27 shared:

"Can’t believe there are still men who plan dates in South Africa 😭 Kudos to you😀. All the best 😌."

See the Reddit post below:

3 Briefly News articles about dates

• An American woman in South Africa was told she met a West African man after sharing her worst date with someone who claimed he was a local but also admitted to doing Yahoo scams.
• A happy woman was glad she gave a man she met on Tinder a chance, as he proposed just three months after they met.
• A KZN woman living in South Korea went on a dinner date, where the steak bill came to R5600, and the man offered to pay

Source: Briefly News