Dating is fun—and expensive! Some couples might enjoy being together, but maxing out your credit card limit on expensive dinner and emptying out your savings account for out-of-town dates are not enjoyable.

Rather than zodiac signs, stars and cosmic powers, and superficial signs, one way to practically check your compatibility as a couple is to know if you can make good financial decisions together. Dates are a good place to start practicing. Check this rough guide as to how much money should you spend on dates depending on your current dating stage.

The First Date 

Regardless of which gender spends on the first date, keep in mind that the first date sets the bar for the future dates. If you spend too much on your first date, you'll end up spending much more on the second one because you've already set high expectations. Otherwise, being reasonably frugal on your first date gives you more room to improve and level up the next time. Making a few nice gestures, such as visiting a florist or splurging on a dinner date, can help show that you have a serious intent during this early phase.

"Exclusively Dating" Phase

Moving on to the early dating or "exclusively dating" phase, dating becomes more frequent because the desire to see each other remains very strong. More frequent dates warrant for personal rules to be set for dates. Take into consideration your income, personal finances, and the amount you are comfortable to spend during dates. For example, you and your partner might want to set rules of spending not more than $20 on weeknight dates and perhaps double that during weekend dates. The idea is that by this time, the two of you are already comfortable to discuss money and set rules about your dating expenses.

Long-Term Relationships

As you become a long-term couple, the desire to frequently see each other might have toned down a bit. You're probably back on track with your other priorities such as career, studies, or hobbies and dating may be less frequent. Thus, you might want to make each of your date extra-special. Set a portion of your savings together for your dates or out-of-town vacations. Perhaps you can allocate $1000 for your anniversary dates in a posh hotel or add another $1000 for an out-of-the-country vacation. The key is to plan ahead and save as much as you can for your special date together.

In the end, if you really enjoy each other's company, there's no need to frequently splurge much on your dates.