Some people in the world are just cheap! There’s absolutely no getting around it. Whether someone’s on a tight budget due to the economy or whether they just enjoy pinching pennies until Abe Lincoln screams, you’ll find that a hefty chunk of today’s daters really don’t like to spend big bucks on a date.
What are the some of the reasons people won’t spend on a date?
First and foremost, you have the typical guy prospective on it. It’s often been said that guys will wine and dine females, providing lobsters and bottles of expensive wine, all in hopes of scoring one for the team at the end of the night. However, this is mostly movie fodder. After a guy tries the big-pimping approach once to no avail, he’s a cheapskate for life.
Then you have the people who absolutely hate to spend money. If you’re not one of these types, you probably definitely know one. These are the annoying son-of-a-guns that hold you up in the grocery store line like waiting at the DMV, all because they might save 20 cent on a box of Corn Flakes if they can only find that one last coupon.
Yeah, these people date, too. Maybe they’re not dating for long after their dates find out how cheap they are, but most people will try anything once.
Now let’s get a little somber and talk about the economically challenged daters out there. Jobs are being lost left and right, but gas prices, food prices, entertainment prices, and nearly every other cost in the world is on a steep incline! The worlds are at strict odds here, and your dream to wine and dine your date in a fancy Italian restaurant may turn into an Arby’s night ala David Puddy, babe.
Whatever your circumstance, there are quite a few options if you want to go out on an impressive date but don’t want to spend a fortune to do so. You can find some cheap dates out there (locations, not people; although, that doesn’t sound too bad, does it?).
Check out some of these cheap date ideas. They’re not as classy as some of the dates you may be fantasizing about, but let’s face facts here: you’re not going to be the next LeBron James or an astronaut, either, so give the daydreaming a break.
Cheap Date Ideas
Sleaze it Up
Going out on a date isn’t about partaking in an activity you enjoy per se. For instance: you don’t want to take a date to a football game if you’re only going to watch the football game, duh! A date is just the medium you choose that allows you to spend time together, relax, have fun, and hopefully grow the relationship.
You don’t need a fancy restaurant to do this. Taking your date to a local bar or smoke-filled billiards hall or bowling alley will accomplish this. It’s cheap, it’s certainly interesting, and the activities allow you to actually have fun.
Giving your date some pool lessons (or receiving them after they hustle you) and listening to crappy country music on the jukebox is a cheap way to have a great date.
Hell on Wheels
Well, or on blades – your choice. Either way you slice it, skating is a great activity that never costs a lot and always gives you ample opportunity to touch and hold hands and all those other little electrifying moments that help to build relationships.
Ice skating or roller skating is usually accompanied by some cheap food, cheesy music, and all the 80s ambiance you can possibly stand. Is that romantic to you? Well, romance is a relative thing. Suffice it to say that this is a safe, comfortable and affordable date idea.
Tour Nature
This cheap date idea is like an all-in-one approach. You can pick your poison and really save some money by allowing the outside scenery to do the work for you. For example: a trip to an olive grove or an orchard is not only beautiful, but also allows you an opportunity to share some priceless moments for minimal cost.
Now, you can use this same logic and go hiking on some mountain trail, to go sledding, to go biking, etc. It’s a wide open idea, harnessing the beauty of nature and not relying on your wallet.
Most olive groves and wineries have little shops that offer wonderful and light lunches for you, making these locations great for the entire day.
Targeted Aggression
Unless you’re dating a save-the-planet uber-liberal whose idea of fighting crime is to take the guns away from the good guys, you’ll find that going to a target range to fire off some rounds is really a lot more intimate than it sounds at first.
Why? Well, there’s a lot of adrenaline flowing when you’re letting loose some hot rocks – it might lead to letting loose some hot rocks! Yeah, that was kinda weak, but there’s not a whole lot to say about this date idea, other than it’s really affordable and proves to be really exciting for most couples.
True adrenaline junkies might want to try skydiving, but this is great for the novice looking for a few thrills.
Going Retro
Besides going out to a fancy dinner, there’s no other date idea in history more cliché than seeing a movie. And that’s to be fully expected, as seeing a great movie with your partner offers up an intimate atmosphere, allows you to share mutual interest in something, and also leaves you with plenty to talk about after the flick is over.
Not that you’d want to talk about how fat Kate Winslet is getting for three hours after the fact, but if it helps you score…
There’s a big issue with seeing a movie, however – they’re expensive! From the price of tickets to the prices of popcorn and Jujubes, you almost have to star in a movie to afford to go see one with a date.
Visiting a retro drive-in is a great way to have a movie-going date without the high price. The best part: you’re not in the theater seats with a bunch of sweaty fat guys in front and the loud ghetto contingent behind you. You’re in a car, meaning you can do some things here that you couldn’t do (legally) in the theater – just ask Pee Wee Herman.
Social Networking
The last of our cheap date ideas isn’t really a specific idea; it’s much more of a suggestion. With millions upon millions of people using social networking sites to, well, network, you can be sure that many local entertainment options can be brought to light if you only look.
Instead of stalking your latest dream crush on Facebook or MySpace, use the sites to check around for news about the latest local band playing at a dive near you. You can also find great information on many types of festivals and fairs happening.
Now, of course, the big crowds might not really be your style. But remember this: these types of entertainment options are definitely inexpensive. If you pay the cover charge and buy a few brews, you can get through the entire night with a 50-dollar bill.
This is a great idea for couples who have been together for a while. As you might imagine, going to see the latest Whitesnake cover band isn’t the best atmosphere for conversation. Besides, when your date feasts her eyes upon fake David Coverdale’s crotch sock get-up, she might decide to turn isnta-groupie and leave you swinging in the wind. There you go again on your own…and all that mess.
For seasoned couples, however, you don’t want to hear each other talk anyway. You just want to be moved by the passions of glam rock before drinking yourself silly and waking up naked on the kitchen floor.