Ever heard of “solo-maxxing”? You might hear it more now than ever as it starts to turn into a budgeting strategy.
It's basically what happens when dating starts to feel like a bad investment. Instead of gambling too much on a night that might go nowhere, more people are just opting out and putting that money (and energy) toward themselves. I dive deeper into it below.
💌 Would you call yourself a solo-maxxer right now? Reply and tell me where you land.
Here’s what’s inside:
P.S. If you want to talk through your own finances, you can book a free 1-hour coaching session here ☎️
Did you know…?
(Actual answer at the end of the newsletter 👇)
Gen Z are ‘solo-maxxing’ instead of going on dates
Dating has quietly become a budget line item, and the numbers explain a lot. The average "all-in" date, dinner, drinks, transportation, and the pre-date grooming most people don't even think to count, now runs $189 in the U.S. (up 12.5% from $168 just a year ago). Gen Z is spending even more, averaging $205 a date.
When you're already stretched thin by rent, student loans, or just the general cost of existing right now, a $200 night that might go nowhere starts to feel less like romance and more like risk.
Here's how to date on your terms without blowing your budget or your standards:
👉 Front-load the low-cost first meeting. A coffee or a walk tells you more about whether there's a second date than a $150 dinner does, and you're only out $6 if there isn't.
👉 Split the planning, not just the bill. Let the other person suggest a spot sometimes. It's a small test of effort, and it keeps the financial and emotional labor from landing on just one of you.
👉 Set a personal dating budget, even a loose one. Knowing you've got $75 set aside for the month takes the anxiety out of saying yes to plans.
👉 Notice if "solo-maxxing" is a choice or a retreat. There's a real difference between choosing to slow down dating and quietly opting out because it feels safer. Both are valid, just worth being honest with yourself about which one you're doing.
👉 Remember cheap dates aren't lesser dates. A $200 night out doesn't automatically build more connection than a $20 one. If anything, less money on the table means less pressure on the moment.
Want a second set of eyes on where your money's actually going? Let’s take a look together.
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Oil prices just crossed $100 a barrel
Brent crude briefly topped $100 Thursday morning as the Iran conflict escalates, a roughly 28% jump in a month. Gas prices are already following.
Source📌 Pay attention
Rent control mostly helps people who don't need it
In NYC's rent-stabilized system, the top 25% of earners save about $1,000 a month, a 33% discount, versus just $300 for the bottom three income quartiles.
Source👀 Keep an eye
Airlines are quietly killing the free upgrade
Delta made as much from premium seating as from economy sales in the first two quarters of 2026, a sharp shift from when loyal flyers could count on a free bump to business class.
Source👌 Looking Up
The Fed is likely to hold rates steady this week
Despite oil-price pressure reviving rate-hike chatter, most economists expect the Fed to leave rates at 3.5%–3.75% this week, a small relief for anyone with a variable rate.
SourceThe Panic Meter reflects our editorial read on urgency — not financial advice.
Making a ‘brag sheet’
By the numbers
$185,500
What 2026 retirees might end up spending on healthcare
Most retirement calculators only account for everyday living costs, not medical ones. This number is a reminder that "enough to retire" and "enough to retire and stay healthy" are two different targets, and the second one is easy to underestimate.
$800
The average cost per student for back-to-school shopping this year
It's steep enough that 16 states are now offering tax holidays to soften the hit. If you're a parent, timing your shopping around one of those windows could save you a real chunk of change.
50%
The new tariff rate hitting Canadian imports
That's already showing up in prices on everything from lumber to groceries. Worth watching if you're budgeting for anything cross-border, whether that's a home renovation or a road trip north.
Need to talk numbers? We can help you sort out your money.
Poll answer
a) 1910
Madam C.J. Walker built her haircare empire and became the first self-made female millionaire in the U.S.