A recent piece from WIRED argues something a lot of us have felt but maybe couldn’t quite name: dating isn’t just emotionally exhausting right now, it’s financially exhausting too. According to new data, the average date now costs around $189, and a huge percentage of singles say money is the reason they are delaying or avoiding dating altogether.

That means dating has quietly shifted from something spontaneous and fun into something you have to budget for. Dinner, drinks, rideshares, outfits, the whole production. It adds up quickly, and for a lot of people, it’s simply not sustainable.

This is where things start to feel a little broken. When connection becomes expensive, it stops being accessible. And when it stops being accessible, people opt out entirely. Not because they don’t want love, but because they don’t want a $200 bill for a maybe.

At OBC, we think that’s ridiculous.

You shouldn’t need a three-figure budget just to meet someone new. In fact, a full month of OBC costs about the same as two cocktails on a typical night out. Which means instead of putting all your eggs in one pricey date, you can meet multiple people, in real life, without the pressure of making a single night “worth it.”

More connection. Less financial stress. Much better odds.

If you’re feeling the squeeze of “date-flation,” here are three ways to keep dating without draining your bank account:

1. Rethink the first date
Coffee, a walk, or a casual meetup beats a full dinner every time. You are there to gauge chemistry, not host a five course experience.

2. Stop over-investing early
You do not need to impress someone with spending. The right person is not measuring you by the price of the cocktail.

3. Choose environments that do the work for you
Group settings and curated events take the pressure off and give you more chances to connect without starting from zero each time.

Dating should feel exciting, not like a line item in your monthly expenses. And if the current system is making it feel that way, it might be time to try something different — like OBC. Join today for FREE, then upgrade for less than a dollar a day.