Forget knights in shining armour or Flash Harrys who splash the cash.
Women, it seems, are more impressed by a low-key man who simply wants to settle down.
A new breed of “practical” daters are shunning material wealth and flashy gifts in favour of stability and commitment, a study shows.
The recession has apparently given rise to a generation of singletons who are not impressed by high salaries and grand romantic gestures.
Instead, the so-called “pragmatics” are seeking out traditional values and a partner looking to settle down and have children.
Just 14 percent of daters see a high income as a deciding factor when choosing a partner, while 96 percent say emotional security is important. However, marriage is one tradition that is not high on the agenda, according to Match, the company behind dating websites Match.com and Matchaffinity.com.
Less than a third of daters see marriage as the ultimate sign of commitment, but more than half say having children together is.
The poll of 150,000 single people found those aged 25 to 40 are mostly looking for a “grounded and thoughtful manner” from their date.
A declaration that they would “one day like to start a family” is more important than money and expensive gifts, it added.
Katie Sheppard, of Match, said: “It”s refreshing to see a new breed of dater emerging in the UK.
“The pragmatics are more considerate and grown up in their approach to finding long-term love.
“Although they might not be won over by hearts and flowers, this doesn”t mean they aren”t romantic.
“They”d simply rather show their love for someone through thoughtful gestures rather than splashing their cash.”
The pragmatic is willing to put in the effort to find a partner, with 47 percent claiming they would be happy to move somewhere to be with them, the poll found.
A third would also change how much time they spent at work for a relationship.
The LoveGeist Report 2010 found many people are content with a “cheap date” and that a long, romantic walk does just as well as an expensive restaurant meal.
This is especially the case for men, who favour countryside walks over women. - Daily Mail