Hi readers,
Running out of ideas for low-cost date nights?
Here is a guest post from one of my favorite money-saving sites, TheDollarStretcher.com, also known as stretcher.com. Gary Foreman, a former financial planner is the founder of the popular site. Below, he shares his tips on how to save on date night.
With prices going up everywhere, we all can use as his valuable information. Enjoy!
-Christy
What’s the essence of a date? It’s probably a little different for each of us. But most of us want to share an experience with someone that we like. Hopefully something that will help us to know more about them and our relationship.
Traditionally when we think of dates we gravitate to restaurants movies and clubs. Often the temptation is to show off for our date. We like to put ourselves in a setting where we can show how much we know about wine or how much we can afford to pay for it.
But perhaps a little reflection will remind us that type of behavior actually makes it harder to share life with a mate. Let’s discover some dating ideas that will help you to know your date better without having you searching for the nearest ATM.
1. Amateur productions. Many places have amateur theater companies, colleges and high schools that put on a few shows each year. Tickets are affordable. Venues are small so virtually every seat is a good one.
2. Sporting events. Everything from minor league baseball to soccer leagues in your local park. Not only is it fun watching the contest, watching the parents of the kids competing can be just as entertaining.
3. Local concerts. They may not ever appear on American Idol, but they still can provide a pleasant date experience. Many towns have a concert series. And, schools always have student concerts during the year.
4. Art exhibits/shops. You don’t need tickets, just a desire to window shop. And, don’t limit yourself to high-end art shops.
5. Your local historical society. Most areas of the country have some historical landmarks nearby. Many are free or have a small charge. Any of them will spark an interesting conversation with your date.
6. Your local paper. Check for local events. Fairs, concerts, club events, etc. Sooner or later you’ll find something for every taste.
7. Look for obscure shops. Most larger cities have some shops that are, well, a little unique. They might specialize in dollhouses or old phonograph records. Think hobby, souvenir or magic shops. Wandering around one of these shops could create some interesting discussions for you and your date.
8. Look for unusual places. Like horror movies? Then maybe a visit to an old cemetery might be interesting. A tour of a harbor or airport could be interesting.
9. People watch at the mall or park. Guess the profession of people passing by. Or their names. You’re sure to trigger some laughs.
10. Visit a flea market. Bring $10 and decide as a couple what you want to spend it on.
11. Visit a farmers’ market. Buy the ingredients for dinner and then head back to your kitchen for a home cooked repast. Candlelight earns you bonus points.
12. A drive in the country. Even with $4 gas, you can afford a short ride. Add a picnic lunch or an inexpensive bottle of wine while you star-gaze.
13. Take a hike. If you’re both into nature, find a trail to hike. Make sure you include plenty of rest breaks. Not that you need them, but they provide an excellent time to chat with your date.
14. Geocaching. A great couple’s activity that will challenge your intellect. If you’re not familiar with geocaching, google it.
15. Create a scavenger hunt for two. Scavenger hunts don’t need to be competitive. Each of you can pick three or four items that you’d like to find. Then set off together to see if you can get a picture of each item. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourselves. The crazier the item the more likely that you’ll end up laughing at your efforts to find it.
16. Discover a classic movie. You don’t need to buy $8 tickets and $6 popcorn to enjoy a movie. Discover one of the classics available free in your library or as part of your Netflix account. Your screen might be smaller than the multiplex-12, but not by much. Plus you won’t be bothered by other viewers cell phones.
Gary Foreman and his college sweetheart have been married for 37 years. He’s a former financial planner who founded The Dollar Stretcher.com website. The site features thousands of articles on saving time and money including more information on cheap dates and family activities.
Follow Gary on Twitter and TheDollarStretcher.com on Facebook.
