WHITING, Ind., Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As frugality becomes increasingly mainstream, more U.S. adults are embracing coupon use on dates. A new CouponCabin survey reveals that more than one-quarter (26 percent) of U.S. adults report they have used a coupon on a first date, up from 18 percent who said the same last year. In addition, more than one-quarter (26 percent) said that they would have a positive reaction to their date using a coupon to help pay for a first date. This survey was conducted online nationwide by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin.com from September 17th – 19th, 2012 among 2,346 U.S. adults aged 18 and older.
Thriftiness is not the turnoff that it might have been in the past. In fact, nearly three-in-four (73 percent) U.S. adults said that if their date used a coupon, they would stay on the date and go out with them again. Twelve percent said they would stay on the date, not say anything, and not go out with them again, 3 percent would say something to their date, letting them know they were offended and only 1 percent would walk out and leave the date.
In addition, the overall state of the economy has an effect on the popularity of dating coupon use. Nearly half (49 percent) of U.S. adults said they are more likely to use a coupon on a date due to the current economic situation.
"The economic challenges of the past few years have made many people more comfortable with frugality, so much so that it's part of the dating scene now," said Jackie Warrick, President and Chief Savings Officer at CouponCabin.com. "Not only does using a coupon benefit your budget, it also shows your date you are mindful of your finances and a savvy person overall, both of which are positives when you're meeting someone for the first time."
The majority of adults shared that using a coupon for a date is acceptable anytime. They also revealed the following dating circumstances they found acceptable for coupon use:
- Anytime – saving money is smart - 72 percent
- When you're married – 37 percent
- When you're a student – 31 percent
- It's never ok to use a coupon on any kind of date: 4 percent
No matter what your dating situation, Warrick offers the following tips to help navigate the dating scene with a coupon in hand:
Tip accordingly. Don't take saving money so far that you hurt the livelihood of those providing a service to you. While it's perfectly fine to use a coupon on a date to lower your total bill, be sure to tip appropriately on what the experience would have cost without the discount.
Make plans based on your budget. If saving money is a top priority, make sure you set plans for a date that fit your budget. Think about planning a picnic instead of a fancy dinner at five-star restaurant or catching a matinee instead of a later movie, for example.
Be honest. There's no shame in using coupons in the dating game, so don't pretend you aren't using one. Be upfront and tell your date the truth to avoid any awkward moments.
http://www.couponcabin.com/press-releases/
Survey Methodology:
The 2011 survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Coupon Cabin from September 29 – October 3, 2011, among 2,852 adults ages 18 and older, and the 2012 survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Coupon Cabin from September 17 – 19, 2012 among 2,346 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Allison Nawoj, anawoj@couponcabin.com.
About CouponCabin.com
CouponCabin.com is a leading online destination for coupons including online coupon codes, printables, grocery coupons and more. Shoppers have saved nearly $350 million since 2003 and with the largest selection of coupons guaranteed to work, CouponCabin is the best place to start searching for savings. The average user saves $19 in just 80 seconds on the site. With customized email newsletters, browser savings alerts, new coupon alerts and more, shoppers will never miss out on a great deal with CouponCabin. For more information, please visit http://www.CouponCabin.com.
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SOURCE CouponCabin.com