r/DatingTips

Second phone call with a guy and while talking about what he’s looking for, he says: “I don’t want to be a credit card / sugar daddy / provider.”
Like… okay? I don’t want that either 😅 but it felt a bit rough / defensive to bring up so in this way.
Trying to figure out if this is:
A) just awkward phrasing / past baggage
B) him setting a healthy boundary (just clumsy delivery)
C) low-key signaling a scarcity / scorekeeping mindset
I’m considering meeting once for coffee just to see the real-life vibe, but curious how others read this.
Has anyone had guys say this early on? Did it turn out fine or was it a preview of bigger issues?
I don’t need someone to take care of me fianncially , I’ve always contributed in my previous relationships but i don’t know if this is a rigid person .
I’m generous and giving and would like the same in a partner.
ETA: holy cow …my spidey senses were tingling …I did a google search of his full name and he had changed the spelling from how it’s usually supposed to be and his ex wife had filed a case about him leaking pics online .
Welp not meeting for sure

I'm getting back into dating after a break and I'm completely overwhelmed by all the options. There's Hinge which people say is best for relationships. Tinder still has the biggest user base but feels outdated. Match is supposed to be for serious commitment. Bumble focuses on safety. I'm not even sure where to start anymore.

The thing that's frustrating me is that I don't want to waste time on apps that don't work. I want something where I can actually meet real people, not just endless swiping. Plus I'm concerned about safety and whether the app actually matches me with compatible people. What's the landscape actually like in 2026?

Which app would you recommend for someone looking for something real? Are any of them actually better than the others or is it all the same? What's your personal experience been? Should I try multiple apps or stick with one? Which one has the best success rate? What would you use if you were starting fresh?

I keep seeing Flirtmoms pop up on my feed and I'm wondering if it's actually legit or just another scam. The ads say it costs $2.97 for a trial and then $59.97/month. But then I started reading some Reddit threads and people are saying the chatbot messages are fake. Someone mentioned it's connected to TenderMeets which doesn't sound great.

What's bothering me is that I want to try new apps but I'm scared of getting charged without real matches. From what I'm reading online, it seems like most conversations are automated. Plus the cancellation process sounds like a nightmare. Should I even bother downloading this?

Has anyone actually had success with Flirtmoms? Are the matches real people or mostly bots? What about billing - is it hard to cancel? Would you recommend it or should I stick with Hinge or Bumble? Any experience with TenderMeets? Should I stay away from this one?

So we're coming up on our fourth date and I'm trying to figure out how to make things feel clearer without making it weird. From what I can tell, the fourth date is kind of a pivotal moment. People keep mentioning that this is when you should define the relationship. I'm also reading that kissing or holding hands might happen naturally at this point.

The part that's making me anxious is that I want to be genuine but not come off as pushy. I've been seeing posts about deeper conversations and vulnerability. Plus, I'm wondering if I should just let things happen naturally or if I need to actually say something. How do other people handle this without it becoming awkward?

Can someone walk me through what typically happens on a fourth date? Is it normal to bring up exclusivity? What about physical stuff - should I initiate or wait? Would you recommend just going with the flow? Any tips on reading their signals? What's worked for you in the past?

This might sound paranoid but I'm looking for ways to pay for dating app subscriptions without it showing up obviously on my bank statements. I'm not doing anything wrong, I just prefer privacy. From what I've researched, Privacy.com lets you create virtual card numbers. There's also Getsby for prepaid cards, and apparently Ashley Madison has billing codes that hide what you're buying. The reason I'm asking is because I share finances with someone and I don't want awkward questions. I know some apps use vague descriptions on statements but I'd rather be extra careful. What options actually work without raising red flags? Does Privacy.com really work for dating apps? Are virtual cards worth the hassle? What about prepaid cards where do you buy them? Has anyone used billing codes successfully? Which method is most reliable? Do any dating apps offer gift cards? What's your go-to method for keeping payments private?

I stumbled across Uniform Dating and the concept seems interesting military/uniform fetish dating. But then I started digging and the reviews are pretty rough. The app has a 1.0 rating on some sites. Multiple people are saying they got charged $60+ for nothing. Someone even called it a scam platform full of AI profiles.

What's making me hesitant is that I actually like the niche angle but I'm worried about getting ripped off. The legitimacy questions are real are there actual people on this app or just bots? Is it worth the money or should I look elsewhere? How do I even know if this is a real dating app or just a cash grab?

Has anyone actually matched with real people on Uniform Dating? Are the profiles legitimate or mostly fake? What's the cancellation process like? Would you recommend it or is it a total waste? Are there better niche dating apps out there? Should I avoid this one completely?

I’m new to this and seeking guidance and how to handle this situation. I met up with a friend last September just to catch up. She was dealing with a lot of issues that I had also gone through. Afterwards, we pretty much started hanging out every weekend and my off days. Somewhere along the way I started to develop feelings for her. That was not my intention. Things seemed to be pointing that way up until a few weeks ago where it seemed like she didn’t want to go out anymore at night and she started to hang out with someone or a group of people when she was not with me. We have grown a distant. Now, I don’t know if I should tell her how I feel or if I should walk away? Was my intuition wrong and I was getting the wrong signals or did I miss my chance?

I'm a student in Turkey and I'm wondering about dating here. I've heard Turkish dating culture is different from western culture. I've also heard Turkish women expect courting and men are persistent and it depends on the city like Istanbul vs smaller towns. I'm wondering what's the best way to date as a student in Turkey but I'm not sure about the culture. I've heard apps like Tinder and Happn are popular. What's the best way? Have you dated in Turkey? What was your experience? Are apps worth it? What about cultural differences? How big are they? Would you recommend apps or social circles? What about Istanbul vs other cities? Is it different? Should I use apps? What about dating etiquette? I'd appreciate advice about dating in Turkey.

I'm wondering about Omegle in 2026. I've heard Omegle was a legendary random video chat platform. I've also heard it permanently shut down in November 2023 after 14 years. I've also heard there are alternatives like OmeTV and Omegle.fun. I'm wondering if Omegle is still around or if I should use alternatives.

I miss the original Omegle but I'm not sure if it's still available. I've heard the original shut down due to abuse and predator concerns. I've also heard alternatives are mostly garbage. I'm trying to figure out if Omegle is still around or what to use instead.

Is it still around? Have you heard about the shutdown? What happened? Are the alternatives any good? What about OmeTV? Is it worth trying? Would you recommend it? What about safety? Are alternatives safe? Should I try them? What about the original experience? I'd appreciate advice about Omegle alternatives.

I'm considering Yoomee app but I'm wondering about it. I've heard Yoomee has a unique approach where you can message without matching first. It uses a hearts system for interactions and I'm wondering if Yoomee is worth trying or if it's a scam. I like the unique approach but I'm worried about cost. I've heard Yoomee has no audio or video. People complain about boring interactions. I'm trying to figure out if Yoomee is worth trying or if I should avoid it. Have you used Yoomee? What was your experience? Is it really expensive? What about the hearts system? How much does it cost? Would you recommend it? What about the safety? Are there scammers? Should I try it? What about other apps? I'd appreciate advice about Yoomee.

I'm wondering if Zoosk is still worth keeping. I've had Zoosk for a while and I'm not sure if it's worth my time anymore. I've heard Zoosk has behavioral matchmaking and 40+ million users. They're discontinuing the Coins feature. I'm wondering if Zoosk is worth keeping or if I should delete it.

Is it worth keeping? Have you used Zoosk? What was your experience? Is the paywall really that bad? What about scammers? How many are there? Would you recommend it? What about the user base? Is it still active? Should I keep it? What about other apps? I'd appreciate advice about Zoosk.

I'm considering Altscene for alternative dating but I'm wondering if it's worth trying. I've heard Altscene is for goths, punks, emos, and alternative people. It's free or £6.99/$9.99/month for premium, the community is dying and the interface is old. I'm wondering if Altscene is worth trying for alternative dating.

I'm worried about the platform. I've heard Altscene has TrustScore 2.5/5. I've also heard it's good for friends but not dating. I'm trying to figure out if Altscene is worth trying or if I should look elsewhere.

Is the community really dead? What about the interface? Is it really old? Would you recommend it? What about the niche community? Are there actual people? Should I try it? What about other alternative apps? I'd appreciate advice about Altscene.

how did you guys get in ur first like proper committed relationship? i 18m feel like everyone is about sex and im not really going for that

I'm going on a first date soon and I'm wondering how I should handle the bill. I've heard some people prefer 50/50 splits because it removes entitlement and shows fairness. I've also heard others think the person who asks should pay to show appreciation. I've also heard opinions differ a lot depending on gender and culture. I'm wondering what the right approach is for a first date.

The thing that concerns me is that I want to be respectful but I also don't want to seem cheap or presumptuous. I've heard 50/50 is most common in Europe and shows equality. I've also heard that person who asks should pay is more traditional and chivalrous. I'm trying to figure out what approach is best for my first date.

What's the right approach? Have you been on first dates? What was your experience? Do people prefer 50/50? What about person who asks pays? Which is more respectful? Would you split or let them pay? What about gender dynamics? Does it matter? Should I offer to split? I'd appreciate advice about first date bill etiquette.

I've had a grey beard since my early 30s and I'm wondering if it's attractive or just weird. I've heard grey beards are very attractive to many women. I've also heard salt-and-pepper beards are especially appealing. It shows maturity and wisdom. I'm wondering if my grey beard at 32 is attractive or if people think it's just unusual.

I've heard grey beards are a sign of confidence and stability. I'm trying to figure out if my grey beard is attractive or if I should dye it. Have you seen grey beards at 32? What did you think? Do women find it attractive? What about at my age? Is it unusual? Would you keep it or dye it? What about grooming? Does it matter? Should I be self-conscious? What about dating? I'd appreciate advice about grey beards.

I'm tired of endless messaging on dating apps and I'm wondering if Instadate is worth trying. I've heard Instadate focuses on meeting right now instead of messaging endlessly. I've also heard it's free with no subscription required. I've also heard it's for local matching and spontaneous dates. I'm wondering if Instadate is worth trying or if it's just another dating app.

I want to meet people quickly but I also want it to be legitimate. Instadate skips the messaging and gets straight to meeting. I'm trying to figure out if Instadate is worth trying or if I should stick with Hinge or Bumble.

Have you used Instadate? What was your experience? Does it really skip messaging? What about the matching? Is it good? Would you recommend it? What about safety? Is it safe? Should I try it? What about other apps? I'd appreciate advice about Instadate.

I'm interested in someone who is 20 years older than me and I'm wondering if it can actually work. I've heard age gap relationships can work if both are consenting adults. I've also heard there are power dynamics and life stage differences to navigate. I've also heard there are success stories of couples with 20+ year gaps. I'm wondering if a 20-year age gap can actually work.

Couples with 20-year gaps face different life goals and health concerns. I've also heard social judgment can be an issue. I'm trying to figure out if a 20-year age gap can work or if challenges are too big. Can it work? Have you been in age gap relationships? What was your experience? What are the main challenges? How do you handle different life stages? What about future planning? Would you recommend it? What about social judgment? How bad is it? Should I pursue this? I'd appreciate advice about age gap relationships.

I'm wondering what real love actually looks like because I see so many relationship failures. I've heard real love is about long-term commitment and mutual respect. I've also heard it's about supporting each other through challenges. I've also heard it's about communication and compromise. I'm wondering what real love actually looks like in relationships.

I've heard couples married 30+ years often have real love. I've also heard couples who support each other through illness show real love. I'm trying to figure out what real love actually looks like vs what I see on social media. What is real love? Have you seen real love? What was it like? What makes couples last? Is it passion or commitment? What about communication? How important is it? Would you describe your relationship as real love? What qualities matter most? Should I look for passion or stability? I'd appreciate advice about what real love looks like.

Right now, I’m honestly just taking things one day at a time. I don't entirely know what my current situation is going to look like months from now, so I’m keeping an open mind about dating. I could absolutely see myself jumping into a serious, long-term relationship if the right chemistry and connection click naturally between us. At the exact same time, I am totally down to just go with the flow, keep things casual, and enjoy the simple stuff—like a relaxed movie night on the couch with zero pressure.

I really just want to meet good people, share some genuine laughs, and see where things go organically without forcing a label on it right out of the gate. For me, the most important things are mutual comfort, kindness, and being able to be completely yourself. Whether we end up as close friends, casual hang partners, or something way deeper, I am just excited to see what happens. If you appreciate total honesty and a relaxed vibe, let's grab a drink or put on a good show and see how we get along.