Woman Says “I Went on Six Dates a Week” to Save Money

Finding ways to save money without sacrificing a fulfilling social life can definitely be a challenge. However, this woman’s unique approach to dating may just be a testament to the power of being creative and resourceful when it comes to managing finances. She claimed that she was able to not only enjoy a lively social life but also cut down on her expenses by going on multiple dates. But, not only a few but six dates a week! Here is how that worked out for her.

Woman Says She Went on Six Dates a Week

Vivian Tu, a former Wall Street trader known for giving financial tips on TikTok and Instagram as @YourRichBFF, sparked controversy by sharing her unusual money-saving method. In a 2021 video, Tu revealed she went on six dates a week for two years to avoid buying groceries, claiming to save around $15,600 in total.

Despite facing criticism for her unconventional method, Tu defended her actions in a follow-up post. In a caption for a beach video, she wrote, ‘When they say women are bad with money, but you used to go on six dates a week to avoid paying for groceries.’ Despite the controversy, Tu, with millions of followers, is still recognized for sharing financial tips online.

The post was captioned with: “Between 2016-2018 I didn’t buy groceries once. Probably saved about $150 a week.”

Did She Really Go on Six Dates a Week for Food?

Vivian Tu, a TikTok star and finance expert, clarified her viral video about going on multiple dates to save on groceries. She stated that the video was exaggerated and emphasized that she didn’t start dating solely for free food. Tu acknowledged enjoying the perk of receiving free dinners from potential partners, benefiting from it over time.

Explaining her situation, she revealed working as an equity trader with a $95,000 income, but high expenses in Manhattan, including rent in Hell’s Kitchen, made grocery shopping challenging. Due to the expensive market near her, she opted for a subway trip to Trader Joe’s, strategically selecting purchases.

She previously mentioned: “I am very much in the camp that you’re dating to find love. But if the thought is like, “Oh, I can go to a fun tapas restaurant for (probably) free, or I can spend my own money on food at the grocery store that I still need to cook. And it’s probably not going to taste as good,” there’s obviously subconscious thinking that goes into it.“

How It All Began

Vivian initially began dating with the intention of finding someone she connected with. However, as she went on numerous dates, she observed a positive impact on her weekly spending, saving around $50 to $100 per week. Over time, this cumulative amount became significant, providing her with discretionary income for various purposes such as savings, investing, and purchasing items like a black Prada bag.

There Are Also Downsides

Vivian, currently employed as a strategy sales partner at a tech company, advised against using romance as a “money-saving strategy,” emphasizing the potential for negative consequences, or “bad karma.” While acknowledging more strategic ways to save money, she shared that the worst outcomes from her dating-for-dinners experience were enduring a few unpleasant dates, including one where a man spent 90 minutes boasting about himself and his wealth, only to split the bill with her.

Would you ever try to go on six dates a week to save up some money?

You might also want to read: How to Save Money 101: Easiest Budgeting Tips