University of Michigan researcher finds daters value thriftiness in a beau

A U-M researcher found that daters value thriftiness in their partners.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com File Photo

You're on a date and your admirer chooses a bottle of wine from the half-off happy hour list, instead one of the fancier options listed on the full price menu.

Your thoughts? According to a University of Michigan researcher you're likely to swoon at your spendthrift date's choice.

Jenny Olson, a doctoral candidate at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, is working on a scholarly article titled "A Penny Saved is a Partner Earned: The Romantic Appeal of Savers."

When Olson surveyed participants who had to evaluate dating profiles, savers were considered more desirable, Reuters reported. On a scale of 1-7, savers ranked roughly at 5 in terms of attractiveness, while spenders ranked 4, the article states.

"You would think that spending would be more attractive, because things like flashy watches or purses are so visible," Olson told Reuters. "Those things can also be perceived as wasteful and lacking in self-control."

• Read the full Reuters article.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.