Paying for things in the early stages of a relationship is always tricky. It feels pretty unromantic to have to Venmo a date $16 for sushi, even if it’s technically paying for precisely what you ate. Many couples have a «I’ll get you this time, you’ll get me next time» dynamic that is usually pretty healthy. That works well when the couples have a pretty similar income. If you’re both making $55K a year, there’s no reason the man should be paying more just because he’s a man. On the other hand, if one person is making $200,000 a year and the other is making $35,000, perhaps the person with the higher income should cover their «fun» expenses. You have to be open about what you can actually afford with your partner, because nobody wants someone to be sweating over the price of two movie tickets and dinner afterwards.