Date-night splurges that are so worth it

Finding the right look, getting a blowout...hot dates can add up—before you even see the guy. Since we're all about saving you cash, we consulted financial expert Jack Otter, author of Worth It...Not Worth It? for deets on the date night splurges guys notice…and the ones they're oblivious to. Worth It: A Mani Guys might not think, "Wow—she's wearing OPI's hot new Atomic Orange!" but they do notice that your pretty tips make you look polished. Plus, wearing a fun shade just reinforces that you're a cool girl who isn't afraid to try new things. Not Worth It: A Pedi If you want to paint your toes, great. Just know that guys will never notice them. Worth It: Matching Underwear He'll be thrilled as long as it's lacy, matches, and doesn't have holes in it. Not Worth It: Pricey Underwear Take a pass on shelling out for a bra and panty set from Agent Provocateur—to him, it looks the exact same as the ones from Target. Worth It: Perfume If you're already past the first date, splurging on a sexy new scent is totally worth it. Just do a little dab at first and suss out his reaction. On a strict budget? Breeze through a makeup counter beforehand and spritz on a sample. Not Worth It: Perfume If it's your first date, go scent-free since you never know how he'll react to it. Your new man might hate the scent and spend all night breathing through his mouth, or maybe his psycho ex wore it all the time. Either way, you don't want to risk it the first time you go one-on-one. Worth It: New Heels Guys really zero in on heels, and the right pair can drive them wild. Got a pair you already love? Polish them beforehand so they don't look worn-in or take them to your local cobbler for an inexpensive facelift. Not Worth It: A New Bag Not only will he not notice your cute bag, our obsession with them is a total mystery to men. Worth It: Getting Your Hair Done He won't know what a blowout is, or why you look different, but he will know that he's dying to run his fingers through your gorgeous locks. Back Next Worth It: A Mani Guys might not think, "Wow—she's wearing OPI's hot new Atomic Orange!" but they do notice that your pretty tips make you look polished. Plus, wearing a fun shade just reinforces that you're a cool girl who isn't afraid to try new things. BackNext View Thumbnails Not Worth It: A Pedi If you want to paint your toes, great. Just know that guys will never notice them. BackNext View Thumbnails Worth It: Matching Underwear He'll be thrilled as long as it's lacy, matches, and doesn't have holes in it. BackNext Not Worth It: Pricey Underwear Take a pass on shelling out for a bra and panty set from Agent Provocateur—to him, it looks the exact same as the ones from Target. BackNext Worth It: Perfume If you're already past the first date, splurging on a sexy new scent is totally worth it. Just do a little dab at first and suss out his reaction. On a strict budget? Breeze through a makeup counter beforehand and spritz on a sample. BackNext Not Worth It: Perfume If it's your first date, go scent-free since you never know how he'll react to it. Your new man might hate the scent and spend all night breathing through his mouth, or maybe his psycho ex wore it all the time. Either way, you don't want to risk it the first time you go one-on-one. BackNext Worth It: New Heels Guys really zero in on heels, and the right pair can drive them wild. Got a pair you already love? Polish them beforehand so they don't look worn-in or take them to your local cobbler for an inexpensive facelift. BackNext Not Worth It: A New Bag Not only will he not notice your cute bag, our obsession with them is a total mystery to men. BackNext Worth It: Getting Your Hair Done He won't know what a blowout is, or why you look different, but he will know that he's dying to run his fingers through your gorgeous locks. BackNext Not Worth It: Getting Your Teeth Done Blindingly white teeth are great and all, but most people don't have them. Plus, too-white teeth can be distracting. Feel like your chompers need a last-minute boost? Stick to drugstore white strips instead of having a pro do it. Worth It: A Bikini Wax If you've been on a few dates with a guy and you're planning to seal the deal, splurge for a wax. There's something about a Brazilian that makes a guy think you'll be good in bed (as if that wasn't already obvious). Plus, a tidy va-jay-jay is practically an invitation for him to head south of the border… . Not Worth It: A Brow Wax We've never heard a guy say, "Her eyebrows were so hot!" Unless you have completely unruly ones, pluck them yourself a few days before. Waxing them too close to date night leaves you open to the risk of having irritated skin, which he'll definitely notice.