Multiple outlets report that cost-of-living concerns are shaping dating choices, with coffee dates increasingly preferred over more expensive romantic dinners. According to figures cited from VistaPrint, the average single person spends about £2,270 per year on dating-related activities. The reporting suggests that daters are adjusting their spending patterns by choosing lower-cost, less formal meetups such as coffee, rather than paying for meals and other outings that may be more expensive. While the outlets focus on the preference shift, they attribute it primarily to financial pressure faced by people dating in the current economic climate. Overall, the coverage frames the trend as a practical response to budgeting constraints, with dating activities remaining a recurring expense for many singles. The sources align on the central theme that affordability influences how people plan dates, and on the reported average annual dating-related spend.