Red flag/Dealbreaker

I think I'd have thought maybe he just hadn't brought enough out with him, but I'm probably too trusting! I'd see if you get it back Monday as promised then give him anothe chance. As long as you take things slowly and don't build too many expectations until you see if there is a repeat you may be surprised.

I agree with the majority of the responders.... If he had asked me for the price of a stamp he would’ve been history....

You are going to dodge a bullet.
His going to give it back might even add a fiver on top.
This reminds me of the lady who passed away some time ago.
The sons could see it for what it was his having a whale if a time with her money now.

Run for the hills, £20 the first time he met you how much will it be later on when you may have fallen for him
I would say don’t worry keep the money and then delete his number

I'm in two minds tbh. If he has been furloughed, he will only have been on 80% of his normal salary and the fact that he has been doing a lot of diy may not mean that he has been spending much money at all, he may be using what he has, or even making use of a lot of the freecycle sites that are available and getting most of what he needs for nothing!
Or he hasn't been doing anything, and just made it all up to impress!
If he had been sensible, he could have chosen a venue for you both to meet up nearer to his home that he either needed less fuel to get to or was within walking distance but no, he did the "gentlemanly thing" and I assume met you half way.
He may very well have made the plans to meet up , had a recent bill or something and then realised he had less in his bank account than he thought to last him for the rest of the month (for one thing, he'd have had to pay his council tax for the first time this year) he possibly didn't want to disappoint you by cancelling your date , didn't realise that he had so little fuel in the tank when he got to your meeting place so asked for the cash rather than giving a full explanation!
I'd possibly give him the benefit of the doubt and at least wait and see if you get your money back! If no show, well, cut the contact . I don't understand, if you have been chatting to him, why don't you just say that you were a bit surprised or even disappointed that he asked you for the money ? If he doesn't give any more of an explanation, you have a possible reason to end the relationship or just keep it online or like I said, he may have a genuine reason to be short of cash. Doesn't necessarily mean he's mean or a complete financial idiot!

It's so disappointing when things like this happen. I think that if the guy knew he was meeting you, he should have been prepared. What would have happened if you'd come across a coffee shop/takeway and had suggested getting a drink. TBHonest, I'd text him, and put him right, and point out that just by that one incident, you realise he's not for you, maybe that will give him a wake-up call.......and
You are worth more than a bloke who needs to borrow £20 for petrol on a first date.

Sorry, ‘red flag’ not ‘red light’!!

Definitely call it a day. When I started dating my now ex husband many years ago, I discovered he was about £10 overspent on his credit card. I should have seen that as a red light but I didn’t. Fast forward to a few years ago when I divorced him, and he was £1000s of pounds in debt and maxed up on a few credit cards. I’d also spent a couple of grand of my own money on a private operation for him. He was so skint that his current wife - the woman he left me for - paid the decree nisi costs when I claimed them. She may well be subsidising him now. I’ve no idea and I really don’t care.

Don't give up dating it will proof fruitful eventually.
Just a numbers game at the start.
Took me 10 dates to meet the right one.

RED FLAGS Just NOOOO

I met my husband to be online, there are decent ones out there because you are decent. Thank goodness you have realised now and unlike some of the horror stories I have read which have lost hundreds of thousands.

Good luck and on the next date dont take your purse with you x

I would say that you probablywill get it back, but that's how grooming starts. Borrowing small amounts and paying them back so that he appears "trustworthy", but the amounts will get larger ("Come on, you know I always pay you back") and then...

Definitely nip it in the bud now. Good luck.

Appalling!

How can he be doing DIY jobs with no money?

The minute he said 'how are you for money' would have me answering 'what on earth is that to do with you?' and walking away!
I've read too many stories of people being taken in by these sort of scammers.
Ditch him pronto!

This may be one of his money making schemes over lockdown - £20 from every date - 5 dates a week.....

I agree with LuckyDuck, there will be further requests down the line. This is indeed a huge red flag!

I wouldn't have given him a fiver! I'd have suggested he used his credit card. Everyone has one.

I'm sure he would have returned the £20 when he said but that's the catch. You read about this type of con all the time. Just block him on your phone, any dating site or social media.

Everyone I know has more money in the bank since Covid! Nowhere to spend it!

A good lesson to learn!

NO!!!!!!! £20 turns into £50 and then £100. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please don`t have anything more to do with him, you can bet that this request for money will encourage him to ask you again and again along with the sob stories. Kick him into touch immediately! He may pay you back the £20 with the idea that he can ask again for larger amounts and then the repayments will stop.

Be on your GUARD!! There have been many cases on TV and in the newspapers of both men and women being 'romance scammed'. Some of them have lost thousands of pounds, people you would have thought would have known better. It always starts with an insignificant amount!!

Alarm bells for me also. I would end this as well. I would chalk this one up to experience. You have lost £20 but will be on your guard in future which is no bad thing.
Also where is his dignity, he meets a woman he has not met before, is nosey about her finances and asks for money. He is a chancer, and has no scruples. Even if he gave the money back, I would still not see him.

Don't date a poor man.

Could be a millionaire, just testing if you trust him ?

Definitely agree with all on this thread, but I would say don’t give up on dating they’re not all bad! Good luck ?

An absolute no. You want someone who enriches your life and I don't mean financially. A taste of things to come. The man has no pride to ask a woman he doesn't hardly know for money. I'm not surprised your attraction (and no doubt respect) for him has wained. Walk the other way as fast as you can. There are plenty of nice people out there. I would join some social groups and look for friends first.

Alarm bells would ring for me too. Are you a member of a walking group? Lots of nice people to walk and chat with.

Another red flag if he doesn’t get paid for another 10 days how can he pay you back Monday. What if your one of many that’s he’s meeting up with and doing the same to them. Go with your gut instinct, and get rid.