She Strengthens

The Cost of Love: A Year of Dating Debacles

As I reflect on my dating experiences in 2018, I’m reminded that finding love can be a costly endeavor – both emotionally and financially. With the goal of finding someone to share my life (and rent) with, I embarked on a series of dates that left me with a trail of receipts and a few valuable lessons.

Paul: The Tinder Misfire

My first date of the year was with Paul, a Tinder match who seemed promising – until he postponed our initial meeting and my interest began to wane. Despite my reservations, I decided to give him a chance, but our conversation was stilted, and I found myself struggling to keep the smile on my face. When the bill arrived, Paul looked relieved when I suggested splitting it. Total spent: $18.99 CAD ($14.80 USD).

Julian: The Crush Who Got Away (Again)

I had a long-standing crush on Julian, but our mutual friends and my own clumsiness (I accidentally swiped left on him three times) kept us apart. Finally, I mustered the courage to message him on Facebook, and we went on two dates. Our conversations were effortless, and I was smitten – until he revealed he wasn’t over his ex. I was left with a $146.50 Metropass and a bruised ego. Total spent: $181.23 CAD ($141.35 USD).

Dan: The Dream Guy Who Broke My Heart

After deleting Tinder and Bumble, I joined Hinge and met Dan, who seemed like the perfect partner. We shared a love for kitchen supplies and went on three months’ worth of dates. He was generous and kind, always offering to pay for dinner and showering me with gifts. But when he broke up with me out of the blue, I was devastated. Total spent: $88.52 CAD ($69.05 USD).

Alexander: The Mysterious Stranger

Back on Tinder, I matched with Alexander, who was out of town for most of our conversation. When we finally met, I was impressed by his rugged charm and handyman skills – but put off by his motorcycle and lack of table manners. Total spent: $10 ($7.80 USD).

Cameron: The Island Getaway

After a brief hiatus from dating, I re-downloaded Bumble and matched with Cameron. Our first date was a fun-filled day on the Toronto Islands, followed by two more dates. While we had a great time, I couldn’t quite gauge the vibe – were we romantically interested or just friends? Total spent: $63.97 CAD ($49.90 USD).

The Year in Review

As I look back on my dating experiences, I realize that I often put the responsibility for my happiness onto someone else. But being alone can be liberating, and I’ve come to appreciate the importance of nurturing my relationships with friends and myself. As the year comes to a close, I’m focusing on self-love and self-care – and who knows, maybe 2019 will bring a new wave of romantic adventures.