As a divorced woman in suburban NJ, it’s exciting to have dating prospects (believe me, they are few and far between). Most recently I was asked out by a 52 year old man in southwestern New Jersey where I live. We decided to go to Outback Steakhouse, a location halfway between his home and mine.
Very soon into the meal, I started to learn a fair amount about my date and what i would call his “life situation.” I had an idea he might live with his parents- he mentioned something about his parents when we’d met, and I’d assumed this meant his parents were ill and he was taking care of them. As it turned out, he lived in his parents’ basement and had been for the past 15 years to “save money” after his divorce.
As the meal progressed, it did not take long before he was asking me for full-on financial advice. I am an accountant by trade, so I am happy to share my insights. However, the financial conversation continued for far too long, nearly the entire meal. He revealed that since moving home to his parents’ house to save money, he was now able to afford a downpayment on a $200,000 house (max), which meant he’d saved essentially nothing over the past decade and a half. Over and over again, TMI.
As the date started to wind down, he cut me off saying he wanted to use two Outback gift cards he’d been wanting to spend. He did warn me, however, that they may have already expired.
Despite how awful the date had been, he asked me out for another date. I told him I would have to get back to him. The date was so painful, to be honest, the whole time I was just thinking how mad I was at myself for missing that night’s episode of “Survivor.”