Dating on a Budget

[melodys]

I could use some help with ideas for dating on a budget. Fortunately my new gentleman friend and I are on the same page about not overspending. It was easy when the weather was better, but things are getting harder now that the rain and dark days have set in. I could use some ideas for fun and reasonably inexpensive things to go out and do. Keep in mind we are a couple of low-key introverts, but we still like our fun

[sunshine]

Indoor picnic! Toss a blanket on the floor, and have a picnic - set up lots of bright lights, show a movie on the TV . . .

Board game night- many games can be played with just two players, or invite another couple over to play your favorite games. Have them bring a dish to share and their favorite game too!

Borrow a movie from the library (I SOOOO wish we had a library here). or rent a movie from redbox (watch for codes for free nights rental)

Volunteer at a charity - work at a bread line/soup kitchen, go read and visit at a nursing home, etc.

[khaski]

Speaking of libraries- don't forget many offer 'passes' to local museums or attractions that make admission free/reduced. Went went to an 'Armory' as a family last winter for my son's 5th birthday and spent the day checking out weaponry and clothing from history, for nothing more but the cost of gas. The kids LOVED it!

[MTS04]

Do you have a local coffee house or cafe that's relaxed? My hub and I do this: We have a local coffee house that is pretty laid back and hip. We pack up the dominos and a board game or cribbage and have a cup of coffee or tea and play games for an hour or 2. Usually we spend about 5-10 dollars and it's a fun night out.
Here's a picture from a cribbage night. (The stuffies are our traveling mascots)

[MissSeetonFan]

Some of the first dates I "went on" with my husband were simple things like putting together puzzles together, making a homemade kite (which we tried to fly on the first good day), card game parties with friends.

Maybe games like "Would You Rather" and "Loaded Questions" can be fun even though if it is just the two of you, it will be easy to guess who in "Loaded Questions". You could invite more friends over and just have a fun time with it. Just playing classic board games together could be fun.

You could also do dinners together. Make them together. Share favorite meals.

Maybe find a museum that has free or reduced price days and go there. Even if you don't like art or natural history or whatever the museum is about, you could come up with some way to enjoy it, like make some sort of scavenger hunt for various types of things you might find there.

I've lived in a college town for quite some time and I've seen some very interesting free/reduced price types of dates that can be a lot of fun. I'll chime in again if I can think of some more.

[krbshappy71]

If you are wanting to stay active, try Mall Walking. Pick a mall, leave your wallets at home, and WALK FAST. Use your surroundings to strike up conversations whether its decorations, toys in the windows, the way people that you passed by are dressed, etc. but pick up the pace, walk FAST, it gives that rush of exercise. Not too fast that you can't talk but faster than boring meandering as if you have no place to go. Make it your exercise session.

Ice Skating is fairly cheap around here, don't know if you would be into that, here we have an outdoor rink at the outdoor mall and then you could get a hot chocolate which is cheaper than dinner, then head home and eat at home.

Bundle up and still go for a walk, take a travel mug of hot chocolate (from home! save money!) with you for that BRR-Cold Oooh-Warm affect as you talk and sip it. Go to a local park and just sit on the swings holding your coffee/hot chocolate and talk about your favorite outdoor games as kids.

Go to the library for a free movie, if you check the schedule they may have one playing on the weekends. Its different scenery than the theater, cheap or free, and usually older stuff that you may have seen before but not with your new love. Bring your own snacks if they allow it.

Personally I prefer home over out and about so the above is pretty low-key because I'm low-key socially. I love a rented movie, blanket, and my honey on the sofa, bring on the rain and snow outside as long as I'm safe and warm inside.

[melodys]

Thanks! I really appreciate the ideas.

[zakity]

I was going to suggest that you cook for each other (you two could alternate who was the chef), do the dishes up together, pop up some popcorn, and then watch a rented or borrowed movie (or it could be an old favorite that one of you already own). (I know that people suggested the movie, but I don't remember if they suggested cooking for each other beforehand.)

Find out if there is a place where you can go park and watch the airplanes take off and land near where you are. Bring a blanket and a thermos of hot chocolate.

The game night is a good idea also. You could do the dinner thing and then play a game or two. Actually, it would be fun to take turns planning out a night and surprise the other one on if it would be a game or a movie night.

Go out for dessert. McDonald's has dollar sundaes. Taco Bell has carmel apple enpenadas. Some of the other places have cheap desserts too.

Read a book to each other (especially something like James and the Giant Peach or some other fun kids book). Swap after each page or chapter. This is especially good on a blustery day snuggled on the couch under a comfy blanket. Don't forget the large cups of cocoa with a big marshmellow (or a few small ones) melting on top. Actually, this is good for a series of dates because you probably won't be able to read the whole book in a sitting.

Do a scavenger hunt at the local mall. You visit the mall beforehand and make a list of things for the person to "find". The list can either be just a list or it can be riddles or descriptions or locations or just a set of clues. Then, you go together and let the person do the hunt. Or, invite another couple to go with you and they do a list for you and your Honey to find and they have to find your list. If you do the list swapping thing, it is a few dates because you go to the mall to pick the make the list of items to find, then meet up again to write the clues or decide on the order to find things, etc, and then another date to do the hunt.

What about high school plays or musicals or holiday programs?

Driving around and looking as xmas decorations (well, this one will need to wait for a few weeks). Take a thermos of hot chocolate and pop up some popcorn to eat while you are driving around.

Is there a downtown area where there are lots of stores? You could plan a day to walk around and look at their decorations. You can also do this at a mall if it is just too cold to be outside.

[frugal.lass]

*sigh* I feel for you!! I'm back to the dating world and finding it very frustrating. I get enough interest from guys (actually, I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment!! lol) but am not having much luck finding someone who "gets" my frugality. When I talk about some of the choices I've made, they all seem to think I do it because I'm broke ("Don't worry, the economy will get better, things will improve!!).

My friends joke that I'm dating using the "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks approach" to dating (that is, if you ask me, unless I know you well enough to be sure it wouldn't work, I'll give a first date a try) but its very tiring. I always find dating is hard on my self-esteem and makes me feel like I'm "too unconventional" to ever find someone that really understands me.

There were some great date ideas posted...we'll see if I can convince someone to give them a try with me!

[cheryl65]

Lots of great ideas already.

Just wanted to add in you can usually go to an early morning or afternoon movie fairly affordable. You can always pack your own popcorn/snacks/beverage in a purse if you don't want to pay expensive concession prices and my local theatre has a rewards program where we get a free pop/popcorn, or something similar every few visits.

If you are sports fan look up your local high school and check out the schedule. My husband and I love to go to football games at the high school he went to.

Here is a site with a few more ideas. 15 Inexpensive Dating Ideas - Frugal, Cheap Dates

[momof42003]

My hubby and I like to go out to resturaunts for a "date", but can't afford the meals, drink and so forth. So we go to Applebee's when the appetizers are half price--after 3pm I think, order bbq wings, side salad, and a drink. With tip it is less than $20.00, and we feel like we splurged. Our local movie theater has a "cheap" theater where movies are 2.00, just don't give into the concession stand food. We love to go watch planes take off and land at our airport as well. The very least we do is go out for a drive and each get a coffee-that just takes a little gas and about 8.00 for the coffee.

[shoiji]

Keep watching the newspaper. With the holidays your town or town near you maybe having different types of free holiday events going on. Sure you might need to bundle up but the events are usually free and festive.

If you enjoy going to art events keep an eye out for art openings. Many times they are free and you get some cheese and crackers while you are there.

Look in the paper to see if there are any clubs you might want to join. Such as a book reading club, knitting club, movie club, etc. Something inexpense the two of you would enjoy.

Another option is to see what type of classes your local adult night school may have. The classes are usually inexpensive and the two of you can learn a new skill.

[melodys]

Tonight we are meeting for coffee and I am going to surprise my gentleman friend by bringing my cribbage board. Don't know if he knows how to play, but it would be fun to help him learn. I will ask if he likes chess because that can be quite entertaining for two people.

I did some online research and found that my local community college and the nearby university have drama and music performances. Also, I remembered that I can get discounts to some local museums and restaurants through my work.

The mall scavenger hunt, reading books out loud, and indoor picnics are all very clever ideas that sound fun in different ways.

I am definitely going to refer back to this thread to remind myself of all the great ideas here.

[frugal is fun]

I've been dating a guy since early October and so far so good.

It came out rather early in our dating life that I'm broke. When I say I'm broke, I mean there is little cash flow for "spending". I came right out and said to him "yes, I have money issues, but not because I'm a dead beat or have thousands in debt. its because I'm being responsible with my money and saving for retirement, college and a rainy day".

Thankfully he understands completely. He's never married, no kids, rents an apt so his cash flow is definitely different than mine. He has embraced the lets pack a picnic or just cuddle in front of the fire suggestions whole heartily.

In the beginning he started buying me things because he felt bad. I told him right up front, thank you but please stop. I have accepted my financial situation and he needed to also. again so far so good.

good luck, it is a very scary world out there.