cheap date?

**Sara Noel** · 05-18-2007, 11:01 AM

Were you a cheap date? lol What do you think is acceptable as a "cheap" date and what do you think is tacky? Any suggestions on cheap dates?

Do you have a fond memory of a "date" that was either free or inexpensive?

If your date whipped out a coupon on the first date, is that tacky? How about if they make a meal at home vs. going out? etc

**kabin63** · 05-18-2007, 11:19 AM

For me it would depend on who it is. When I was younger, I'll admit that if a guy had whipped out a coupon I would have been totally turned off. Now I wouldn't mind so much.
I don't think I was a really expensive date. I knew lots of girls that wanted their guys to spend, spend, spend on them. I was usually happy with McDonalds and a movie, or a long walk to get to know one another. I prefer that kind of thing, although in high school my BF would often take me to concerts when he could. I didn't always ask for it though.
Cheap date ideas were going to home shows, to dream about the future of course, and they were free then.
I haven't dated in years, since my Dh and I have been married 16 years now. Even now we don't go out much just because I don't feel we can afford it. And I don't really mind. Once in a while we go to something that is related to his job and they provide dinner for us for free, so that's always nice.

**Emerald_Mommy** · 05-18-2007, 11:22 AM

Philip was in college when we were dating and neither of us had any money. I remember that we'd go to a movie the first weekend of the month and then come up with frugal ideas the rest of the month.

~ We rented movies with friends
~ We at at Waffle House (seriously!) You could talk for hours in there and they wouldn't mind.
~ We went for drives (this was when gas cost much less than now)
~ We went to church events
~ We went out to eat at lunch instead of supper
~ We cooked meals at his apartment for us and his roomates
~ We did things with my family (museums, cook-outs, etc)

I guess you could say we were both cheap dates. If he would have taken out a coupon on one of our first dates that would have sealed the deal for me.

He also wrote me poems instead of bringing me flowers or whatever. I still treasure the poems but any flowers have long faded/disintegrated.

**tigo** · 05-18-2007, 11:30 AM

I have change a lot since high school. Then I was still a relatively cheap date, but I wanted to hit the fast food place, a movie and either go-carts or something like that - every weekend. Now, SO and I use coupons/entertainment card or hit the lunch specials. We rent movies or go to the $2 theatre. We spend a ton of time at home just playing together on the computer instead of going out on weekends.

**miss_thrifty** · 05-18-2007, 11:54 AM

a cheap date for me and hubby is going to Tim Hortons for under $5, thats 2 soups, 2 ww rolls, and glass of water. Then going to have a coffee later with friends.

**Jerseygirl** · 05-18-2007, 11:54 AM

In high school I was an expensive date - but the guys I dated could afford it!
After college I was much more agreeable to home cooked meals, rented movies and simple walks on the boardwalk etc.
Honestly, now I am back to be a pricey date (dh agrees), if I'm going to bother making all the arrangments needed to get out of here, or even make the time for, a date, it better be worth it!

**tervsforme** · 05-18-2007, 12:39 PM

One of my favorite cheap dates is Miniature Golf and then stopping to get an ice cream cone afterwards. Especially here in Michigan, there are miniature golf places all over!

**geckoace** · 05-18-2007, 12:52 PM

these days going to a movie with the gift cards my aunt always gives us for Christmas is the best date around! people usually give us giftcards for holidays and i portion them out throughout the years so our cheap dates are all but free.

but ive always been a movie or bowling kind of girl, i do like to eat but we're talking bob evans or Fridays not ruth chris steakhouse here

**gmjinok** · 05-18-2007, 02:12 PM

Our cheap dates consist of picnics at various local parks and a nearby federal wildlife refuge. They used to include long drives in the country but, with the cost of gas, those are going to be limited. We also like to go to the drive-in theater once or twice a summer.

**Michelle68** · 05-18-2007, 07:05 PM

Let's see, mine and my DH's first date was to his old high school's football game. I think I'm a pretty cheap date (but not sure if I should be proud of that

) simply because I think it's more fun to do casual, fun, inexpensive things than to be taken to a stuffy, expensive restaurant.

Now I do think it would be really tacky to ask someone out on a date and "forget" one's wallet or money and expect the date to pay for it. That would be cheap AND tacky.

--Michelle

**nuisance26** · 05-20-2007, 10:07 PM

~I don't know if I'd be offended or thrilled if my date whipped out a coupon...depends on how he did it I guess. Free nature stuff would be the best date for me. A 7am bike ride, nature walk or hike accompinied by homemeade muffins or trail mix would be incredibly cheap and fun. I also love community events, county fairs, school plays, church events and browsing antique stores. ~

**ewokgirl** · 05-21-2007, 07:47 PM

I've always been a homebody, so cheap dates were always fine with me. I was often happiest when my boyfriend and I picked up fast food and watched a rented movie together. Now, that's not to say I didn't enjoy the more expensive outings, but for regular dates, I was fine with inexpensive. IMO, homecooked meals are more intimate, and therefore, not cheap or tacky. Time and effort speaks volumes to me.

**DJ1972** · 05-21-2007, 09:26 PM

I was/am a cheap date. I didn't have much extra money growing up and came from a small town, so all of my friends did cheap stuff too. We did alot of mudding in 4x4's and riding 4 wheelers or just hanging out watching rented movies.
So, lucky for DH, I didn't have a taste for expensive things when he met me, lol. Our first day....we went bass fishing and took a cooler with sodas and sandwiches...loved it. Tubing down the river, fishing, hanging out on a pond in a row boat...those are my ideas of fun and cheap. And I think those kinds of dates help you get to know each other better, you're more relaxed.

**Leahmom** · 05-27-2007, 03:53 PM

Wow.
Did I laugh when I read this thread. One of my first "dates" with DH was a wildlife preserve where I spotted my first vulture. My DH was eager to impress so he was reeling off scavenger facts that were not only eeuw but ick as well. Then the bird noticed us and turned and my DH jostled me in better position to "see" beak and the d**n thing puked. (Seems they don't go potty they instead vomit it back up). thus ended my DH illustrious career as a wildlife commentator. Now we laugh like crazy...
BTW our next date was in a coffee house with a deck of cards..I made SURE of that..
Married 14 years now..

**Neeley** · 05-27-2007, 04:19 PM

I was never one to really go out on a "date". Most of the time we all just went out in groups. Everyone would just get together in a parking lot, hang out and talk. Sometimes we would all go to someone's house for a party or out in the backwoods for a bon fire. The only time I ever did a "normal" guy picks up the girl and pays date was for things like prom, homecoming or the like. DH and I have been together since I was 16, but I always had my own car and money. I would just meet up with him in town and we hung out.
For the day to day going out thing I guess I was a less expensive(I hate to use the word "cheap") date. But for formals I was a very expensive date. I would spend between $300-$500 on my formal gowns, shoes and purse and Chris always made sure everything on his end was nice, including our dinner reservations, my coursage, etc...