A survey making headlines recently claimed that nearly 1 in 3 Gen Z singles have gone on a date just for the free meal. At first glance, it’s an easy headline to scoff at or judge. But beneath the clickbait is a story about money, gender, and power that deserves a much closer look.
According to an Intuit survey of 1,500 US adults, 58% of Gen Z say they’re dating less because of money pressures, and nearly half don’t feel financially secure. The cost of living, inflation, rising debts, and housing unaffordability are not just shaping spending habits. They’re reshaping relationships.
And when women are the focus of these headlines, the tone shifts quickly from curiosity to criticism.
The double standard around money and dating
Let’s be honest. When a man values financial stability or career direction in a partner, it’s seen as pragmatic. When a woman says the same thing, she’s labelled a gold digger.
When a man worries about being able to afford a relationship, it’s considered responsible. When a woman makes the same choices, it becomes a headline about cheapskate dating.
This double standard is centuries old, but it’s being repackaged for a new generation. And it conveniently ignores the systemic inequalities that make financial independence genuinely harder for women to achieve.
The real story: women are navigating an unequal economy
The numbers tell the story clearly.
According to WGEA, the gender pay gap in Australia sits at around 12%, and the gender wealth gap is wider still. Women retire with significantly less superannuation than men, are more likely to work part-time, take career breaks for caregiving, and experience housing stress at higher rates. It’s a combination that creates compounding financial disadvantage over a lifetime.
In property, the picture is similarly uneven. CoreLogic’s Women and Property Report 2024 found that while 68.2% of women own at least one residential property, slightly above the 67.4% rate for men overall, the gaps emerge sharply when you look closer. More than half of men aged 18 to 29 own property (51.6%), compared to just over a quarter of women in the same age group (27.3%). And property investing continues to skew heavily toward men, with 14.1% of men owning at least one investment property compared to 12.5% of women.
So when women are criticised for being too focused on money or for dating with financial security in mind, what’s really being criticised is their attempt to navigate an unequal playing field.
When practicality gets called opportunism
Many women today are simply adapting to economic realities. Rising rents, soaring grocery bills, record student debts, and persistently high interest rates mean that even financially independent women are stretched thinner than ever.
What some interpret as opportunism is often practicality. It’s not about gold-digging. For many, it’s about making it through the month.
As one Gen Z woman put it: “A girl’s gotta eat, but I wouldn’t go out with just anyone for a free meal,” which raises its own important questions about women’s safety in dating.
Why financial independence is the real answer
At Penny, we see this dynamic all the time. Women navigating the intersections of money, relationships, and independence.
What’s clear is that financial independence is still one of the most powerful things a woman can build. When women understand their finances, build savings, invest, and make confident decisions about money, it shifts the balance in dating, relationships, and life.
Because when women have their own money, they don’t have to date for money. They can date for connection and love.
Financial empowerment isn’t about rejecting romance. It’s about entering relationships from a position of strength and choice. It means not staying somewhere you should be able to leave. It means not saying yes to something that doesn’t feel right, and not apologising for having standards.
Practical ways to build financial confidence and safety
Know your numbers. Understand your income, expenses, debts, and savings. Clarity is the first step toward control.
Build a safety fund. Even $1,000 can make a meaningful difference in giving you options.
Set clear boundaries around money in relationships. Whether it’s splitting bills or sharing costs, communicate openly and don’t compromise your values to keep the peace.
Keep your accounts separate, especially early on. Maintain financial autonomy until trust and transparency are well established. Ask about debts as well as assets.
Invest in financial literacy. Understanding money is empowerment. Penny is here to help you build that confidence.
Trust your instincts. If a partner pressures you financially or dismisses your concerns, that’s a red flag worth taking seriously.
The conversation we actually need to have
Instead of shaming women for dating for dinner, we should be talking about why so many feel financially insecure to begin with. Why single women face greater barriers to buying homes. Why the gender wealth gap persists. Why so many women still feel excluded from conversations about wealth-building and investment.
At Penny, that’s the work we’re here for. Giving women the tools, knowledge, and community to take control of their financial futures. Because when women have economic power, they have freedom, not just in their wallets, but in every part of their lives.
The real takeaway isn’t that some women are dating for free food. It’s that in 2025, financial inequality still dictates who gets to choose love freely, and who has to weigh up security first.
Find out how Penny can help you build your financial independence today: www.urpenny.com
Sources: Intuit Survey, Gen Z Dating and Money, 2025. WGEA Gender Pay Gap Data 2024. CoreLogic Women and Property Report 2024. Moneywise, “31% of Gen Zers admit to going on dates for free meals,” Marissa Cazem Potts, October 2025. Fox News via news.com.au, “Free food: cheapskate dating trend on the rise,” Deirdre Bardolf. Fidelity International, Women and Money: The Confidence Gap Report, 2022.
This article is general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Please speak with a licensed financial adviser before making any financial or property decisions.