Is it okay to pay with a gift card on the first date?

Well... I could be wrong here...

But if you pay with a gift card, then it seems it is not fully you, who is taking her out on a date.

Essentially, someone else's wealth is paying for this date.

This also means that you are not really giving her a gift... instead you are using someone else's gift to you.


NOTE:

I think that even if you use the gift card to take her out, it would be fine, if she is a good/kind person, and it will still be an amazing date for you both, and she could still greatly enjoy the time she spends with you, and can't wait to see you again...

But... by actually paying for that dinner with your own money, you are genuinely giving her a gift.

You are sacrificing a small portion of your wealth for her, because you care about her, and want to give her a gift (in this case the gift of a dinner date).


Just to put this in perspective, let us think of a non-romantic situation:

For example, my parents recently called my girlfriend and I, to meet with them for dinner at a restaurant, to celebrate my birthday.

I was quite touched, because it was a great meal, and we had a great time talking/laughing, and I know my parents had sacrificed a part of their very tight monthly budget (since they are now retired) in order to take us out.

If, my parents had whipped out a gift card, that they got from someone else, and paid for the meal that way, then of course... I would be ABSOLUTELY FINE with it... and enjoyed the night in just the same way, and it would NOT have bothered me in the slightest.


But... the fact that they used their own money, and sacrificed a small portion of their monthly retirement income to give me a gift (a great night out with them) added even more to the overall impact/meaning of it all.

In fact I feel a bit sad that they gave up a portion of their monthly retirement income, to take me to that restaurant... but at the same time I also greatly value and cherish that gesture/gift to me.

/r/AskReddit Thread