Last week I talked to you about changing your attitude about online dating if you really do want to get back out there. Today, as promised, I am giving you my first date strategy that worked very well a couple of times. They were dates that clearly were not going anywhere on my end and it was time to make my exit. I am not telling you to do this, I am just saying it worked well for me and you might like to come up with your own plan.

I had a date with a man I met online and we were scheduled to meet at a bar for Happy Hour in a shopping district. I can’t remember why I did this, but I took Uber there (something that became very helpful later). He was very nice, but as we talked for a while his politics became an issue: he was very committed to his extreme beliefs and they were not mine: we were not on the same side of the aisle. By the time this all came to light, we were on our second cocktail. My date got up to go to the restroom and I decided to tie this evening up into a nice little bow and call it a day.

I handed our server my credit card and paid the bill. Next, I called Uber for my ride home. When my date returned to the table I thanked him for a lovely evening and told him that I had taken care of the bill. He asked if he could walk me to my car and I let him know that there was no need, that a car was waiting for me downstairs.

When I got home I had a message from him asking if he might see me again and I thanked him but said no. I can’t tell you that I had this plan all mapped out because I didn’t, but I did actually use it again, and again, it worked nicely.

Here’s what I liked about it: it was respectful and generous, and those are two qualities that I hope I have. First, while the bill was very inexpensive, it didn’t appear that I was taking advantage of my date by expecting that he pay the bill. Quite the contrary, I took care of it. I think that’s generous. And, for all I knew, he may not have been very excited about our date either, but since I knew we wouldn’t see each other again, I took the lead and paid the check. I think that’s respectful.

The other piece of the story is that by taking Uber I didn’t have to worry about him walking me to my car and the awkwardness that always follows. And, once I made the call, my deadline was set, the car was on it’s way.

Use this if you will. Or let me know if you have any tricks up your sleeve that have worked for you on an uncomfortable date. We’re all in this together!

Good luck!