Harriette Cole: I said no to a second date. He said I have to pay him for the first.

"You are not wrong to let your date know you don't want to continue going out with him. If he invited you on the date and paid for it, so be it you are not obliged to pay him back. Still, it's good to be aware of the cost of dating these days. You have to weigh the pros and the cons."

"In the world of apps and hookups and casual interactions, it can be hard to find someone you connect with. Don't give up, though. Perhaps change your strategy. I just talked to a couple who independently hired a matchmaker. This woman combed the entries she had collected and used her own knowledge and awareness to match them up. It worked. The couple just got married."

You were not wrong to tell the date that you did not want to continue seeing him. If the man invited and paid for the drink, you are not obligated to reimburse him. Dating can be expensive, and some people opt out because of cost. Weigh the financial and emotional pros and cons when deciding whether to continue dating. Apps, hookups, and casual interactions can make finding a meaningful connection difficult. Do not give up entirely. Consider changing strategies, such as using a matchmaker who can screen and pair candidates; some people have found marriage that way.

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