fullscreen

eFinder

eFinder

Home › Dating Etiquette › Article

Nearly 40% of Americans admit they’ve gone on a date for this selfish reason

Nypost · 🇺🇸 public United States · · 665 words · By Fox News
Dating Etiquette Financial Struggle Moral Integrity
headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing
Ready to play
Daily briefing

What to know about Dating Etiquette

Nearly 40% of Americans admit they’ve gone on a date for this selfish reason By Teresa Mull , Fox News Published May 28, 2026, 12:50 p.m.

Claims checked 10
Techniques found 2
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center50%
Right50%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Nearly 40% of Americans admit they’ve gone on a date for this selfish reason By Teresa Mull , Fox News Published May 28, 2026, 12:50 p.m.

Why it matters

ET See more of our coverage in your search results.

Common ground

Add The New York Post on GoogleOut on a date at a restaurant?

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Oversimplification: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/28/lifestyle/nearly-40-of-americans-admit-theyve-gone…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Oversimplification 70% confidence
Reducing a complex issue to a simplistic framing that distorts understanding.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing oversimplification helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5
info Single Source 2
verified Verified By Reference 1
help Insufficient Evidence 1
verified Verified 1
verified
Claim 1: “These results correspond with a recent Wall Street Journal report that said 20-somethings are driving the comeback of the traditional dinner date.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
While the Wall Street Journal is a real publication, the provided evidence does not contain the specific report regarding 20-somethings driving the comeback of traditional dinner dates.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The editorial board at The Wall Street Journal writes opinion articles in The Wall Street Journal and selects opinion articles by outside parties for publication. The editorial board is known for its …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editorial_board_at_The_Wall_St…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Occupy Wall Street (OWS) was a left-wing populist and progressive movement against economic inequality, capitalism, corporate greed, big finance, and the influence of money in politics. It began in Zu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_Wall_Street
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), commonly known as the Journal, is an American newspaper based in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and financ…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall_Street_Journal
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 2: “the average American spends $93 on a first date.”
CORROBORATED
The average spend of $93 on a first date is confirmed by the JG Wentworth source and another independent web search result.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 8, 2026 ... Americans are spending an average of $93 on a first date in 2026, and financial pressure is reshaping modern romance, with the vast majority ...
https://www.jgwentworth.com/resources/cost-of-dating-2026
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 28, 2026 ... A recent survey by JG Wentworth, a financial services company based in Pennsylvania, found that 39.9% of respondents admitted they have gone ...
https://nypost.com/2026/05/28/lifestyle/nearly-40-of-america…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 27, 2026 ... According to a survey of over 1,500 American adults by financial ... The survey discovered the average amount spent on a first date is $93 ...
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DY0p_zmj4Hj/
info
Claim 3: “Almost three in ten people (29.5%) have turned down a date because they couldn’t afford it”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence mentions a LendingTree survey with different numbers (1 in 3) and different costs, but does not confirm the 29.5% figure from the JG Wentworth survey.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Our survey respondents spent an average of $696.98 on dating in 2019. Women spent much less than men, at $499.96 and $861.29, respectively. The average cost of a first date is $77.
https://www.lendingtree.com/personal/dating-survey/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Humphrey underscores the reality for brands using dark design partners will be a loss of revenue. The study supports his stance as it shows that 43% of online shoppers had stopped buying from an onlin…
https://cmotech.uk/story/study-highlights-consumer-distrust-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — In this 2025 edition of the annual McKinsey Global Survey on AI, we look at the current trends that are driving real value from artificial intelligence.
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insig…
help
Claim 4: “85.7% have turned down a second date because they felt they didn’t align financially with the other person.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found for this claim in the provided search results.
verified
Claim 5: “JG Wentworth, a financial services company based in Pennsylvania”
VERIFIED
Wikipedia confirms J.G. Wentworth is an American financial services company. While the Wikipedia snippet for J.G. Wentworth doesn't explicitly state 'Pennsylvania', the web search results for the survey explicitly describe them as 'a financial services company based in Pennsylvania'.
check_circle
Claim 6: “32.6% said they haven’t even considered it.”
CORROBORATED
The figure of 32.6% for those who never considered it is reported in multiple web search results.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The J.G. Wentworth Company is an American financial services company that purchases structured settlements, annuities, and lottery payments in exchange for a lump-sum cash settlement. They also offer …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.G._Wentworth
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Peachtree Financial Solutions is a company headquartered in Radnor, PA. Peachtree provides cash to individuals with illiquid assets such as structured settlement payments, annuity payments, lottery wi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peachtree_Financial_Solutions
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Wentworth may refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wentworth
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 7: “39.9% of respondents admitted they have gone on a date on at least one occasion just to get a free meal.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources (Fox News, other web search results) confirm the JG Wentworth survey result of 39.9%.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Wentworth may refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wentworth
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The J.G. Wentworth Company is an American financial services company that purchases structured settlements, annuities, and lottery payments in exchange for a lump-sum cash settlement. They also offer …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.G._Wentworth
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Peachtree Financial Solutions is a company headquartered in Radnor, PA. Peachtree provides cash to individuals with illiquid assets such as structured settlement payments, annuity payments, lottery wi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peachtree_Financial_Solutions
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 8: ““Love on a Budget: Are Americans too broke to date?” asked 1,538 US adults a range of questions related to “the cost of modern romance.””
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the survey title 'Love on a Budget: Are Americans Too Broke to Date?' and the sample size of 1,538 US adults.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Founding Fathers of the United States, referred to as the Founding Fathers or the Founders by Americans, were a group of late-eighteenth-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirt…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is an American late-night talk show created and hosted by John Oliver for HBO. The show takes a satirical look at the week in news, politics and current events. As o…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Last_Week_Tonight_with…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is an incomplete list of those whio were made knights and dames grand cross of the Order of the Bath from the date of the Order's structural change by the Prince Regent on behalf of his father, K…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_knights_and_dames_gran…
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 9: “Just over a quarter (27.5%) say they have never gone on a date just to get a free meal, but they have considered it”
CORROBORATED
The specific figure of 27.5% for those who considered but never went on a date for free food is confirmed by both the JG Wentworth source and Fox News.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Secondary market annuity is a where an owner of an annuity sells it to a third party in exchange for a lump sum. The effect is that the seller swaps a stream of periodic payments for a immediate lump …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondary_market_annuity
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The J.G. Wentworth Company is an American financial services company that purchases structured settlements, annuities, and lottery payments in exchange for a lump-sum cash settlement. They also offer …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.G._Wentworth
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Peachtree Financial Solutions is a company headquartered in Radnor, PA. Peachtree provides cash to individuals with illiquid assets such as structured settlement payments, annuity payments, lottery wi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peachtree_Financial_Solutions
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 10: “Most modern-day daters (60.1%) also think “spending expectations around dates are higher now than they were in the past.””
SINGLE SOURCE
The 60.1% figure is mentioned in one web search result, but not corroborated by a second independent source.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Most modern-day daters (60.1%) also think "spending expectations around dates are higher now than they were in the past." Click Here To Sign Up For Our ...
https://www.aol.com/articles/nearly-40-americans-admit-theyv…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jan 27, 2026 · Male students were more likely to report higher levels of positive expectations toward marriage than female students. Compared with graduate ...
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-026-26326-3
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — As with the statistics on employment, respondents' financial outlook and need for outside assistance improved steadily through Wave 4 in July. The expiration of ...
https://www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/frbp/assets/consumer…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.