Regardless of what’s going on in the economy, life must go on. Dating included. If your money is tight, don’t be so quick to throw in the towel. There’s hope. So whether you’re single or taken, we all want to go out with our special someone. Problem is a shoestring budget doesn’t necessarily encourage that. Well, I think I’ve got some suggestions that’ll help you save money and keep your dating life exciting. These ideas of course ladies should be suggested and then executed by your lovely date.
How do I know these “cheap” dates will be worthwhile?
Don’t put so much emphasis on how much money is being spent. Or better yet, NOT being spent. It’s about the time being spent. A date should have the four I’s.
It should have IMAGINATION. Get creative and think outside the box. Customize the date to your liking, interests and location. Stay away from being generic.
Make sure that it’s IMPRESSIVE. It is a date. It should make both people feel special to a certain extent.
Make it INTERESTING. It will probably be something you’ll have to do for at least an hour. So make sure it keeps both parties entertained and generates something to talk about.
Last but not least, INEXPENSIVE. Hence, being a date on a budget.
Examples?
In case you can’t come up with any ideas on your own, there are tons of resources. Marie Claire magazine has a great list of cheap date options on their website. But as I mentioned before, customizing the date to a person is always key. Cooking someone their favorite meal and then having a picnic is always a treat. Find something to do in the city is always a good idea. A lot of times, in the summer especially, you can find some great free music shows. Sometimes just walking the city alone can be a treat. On a date once I went on a tour of the ridgeline they’re building here in the city. It was free, I learned things I didn’t know about Atlanta and it made for great pics. Always remember the great…FREE…outdoors. The beach and camping are all options for budget friendly lovers. Be sure to check out Bankrate for tons of great ideas.
What happens if I run out of ideas?
Honestly, you shouldn’t run out of ideas. If you do, then you’re not trying hard enough. If you’ve just started dating the person, then the possibilities are endless. If you’ve been with the person for a while then collaborate on ideas. Even if you end up doing something you’ve already done you can tweak it where it’s a little different yet still enjoyable. Onlinedater.com has 67 date ideas for the recession. So even if you went on a date once a week, you would still have about a dozen things on that list you haven’t done yet. Besides, we won’t be in a recession forever. But even then, don’t assume. Always investigate for a cheaper option!
There’s tons of pressure on dating alone, let alone in today’s economy. What are you doing on your dates? I wanna know.
Share your budget dating tips with me at mattie@mattieologie.com.
