.. Why are you paying for a first date? Why is a first date at a place that costs 50 bucks? Bro, first date is always coffee or something unless you know her well enough to know that you'll get along. Coffee is like 5-10 bucks, and there's no agreement for you to pay that kind of thing. You can, and I usually do, but I don't see it as a financial transaction, unless it was a really bad time, or I was obviously being used as a free meal, which has happened. I get the whole "50 dollars is 2.5hours of work" thought process, because I do it too, but I don't do it when i'm hanging out with friends, or watching a movie, or going on a date. If you want to look at it from a cost analysis standpoint, that 50 dollars could get you nothing, or it could be the beginning of a relationship that would give you memories and fun and sex. Risk vs reward.