Dating can get expensive—but is the biggest cost actually the money, or the miscommunication that comes with it? In this episode of *Faithfully Single, Not Settling*, we talk about who pays, expectations around spending, feeling judged when setting financial boundaries, and how something as simple as choosing where to go on a date can reveal bigger communication and compatibility issues. From expensive dinners to cooking at home, we explore why talking about money early in dating doesn't have to be awkward—and how honest communication can prevent resentment, misunderstandings, and unnecessary pressure. Because sometimes dating isn't expensive because of what you're spending… it's expensive because of what you're not saying. Question for you: Have you ever avoided talking about money or expectations on a date because you were afraid of being judged?

Why does everyone act like being single is a problem that needs to be solved? In this episode of Faithfully Single — Not Settling, we talk about the pressure to explain why we’re still single, the constant offers to “fix” our dating lives, and even the ways we sometimes start treating our own singleness like something is wrong. We also talk about putting life on hold while waiting for marriage—from buying a house to taking the trips you’ve always imagined experiencing with a spouse. Your life doesn’t begin when you get married. It’s already happening. And when marriage hasn’t happened yet, it can be easy to turn dating into a checklist: What am I doing wrong? What do I need to change? Why hasn’t God brought me my person yet? Sometimes there isn’t another problem to solve. Sometimes you’re simply living on God’s timeline instead of your own. You can want marriage without believing you’re incomplete without it. You can keep dating without putting the rest of your life on hold. And you definitely don’t have to settle just because you’re tired of waiting. If you need the reminder today: You are not a problem to be fixed.

Have you ever told someone you’re single and immediately felt like they started looking at you differently? In our first episode of Faithfully Single — Not Settling, we talk about the stigma that can come with being single—especially when friends, family, or even complete strangers start asking, “Why aren’t you married yet?” We share some of our own experiences with watching younger people get married, dealing with awkward questions from family, wondering whether people are actually judging us or whether some of that pressure is coming from within, and learning not to measure our worth by our relationship status. Being single doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. Sometimes you simply haven’t met the right person at the right time. So keep dating, keep growing, keep trusting God’s timing—and don’t settle just because everyone else seems to be moving faster than you. If you’ve ever felt judged for being single, let us know in the comments. And remember: you have value whether you’re married or not. Faithfully Single — Not Settling is about navigating the challenges, humor, frustration, faith, and reality of single life together.