Cheap Date Ideas: The Ultimate Resource
Just because you are living on a shoestring budget and don’t have a lot of money, it doesn’t mean you still can’t have fun. Dating can be expensive, especially when you want to impress the person you are out with. Yet how do you achieve that without breaking the bank? Well believe it or not, but often enough all it takes is imagination and some of the most romantic dates are the ones that cost the least.
Seriously, it is a misconstrued notion that dating means going to fancy, expensive places, where you might at times even feel out of place, which does nothing to make it an enjoyable experience. For some people, going out on a date can be a bit nerve-wrecking, because they want to give a good first impression; they want it to be perfect, but sometimes in their endeavor to trying too hard to impress, and it all turns out to be a total disaster.
It is very important to do things or go places where you are comfortable and where you know your date would feel more or less the same way.
When planning a date, it really doesn’t have to take a whole lot of preparation. However you should be willing to consider ideas beyond the usual dinner or movie date and opt for something that is different and more fun, while still being affordable.
Most of us take the beauty of nature for granted. Now would be a good time to go on a date to the beach to watch the sunset or the sunrise or take a walk through the forest and it costs you nothing. Can anything be more romantic than appreciating and discovering the boundless beauty of nature together?
You do remember those lazy days you spent by the beach? Well, if you live on the coast or near a beach, indulge in some volleyball, walk along the shore, look for seashells, make a sand castle and see who makes a better one. It costs you nothing, yet imagine the quality time you gained and the overall fun of doing such simple things together.
If both are you are inclined towards sports, there are so many activities you can do together, like play tennis, badminton, toss a Frisbee or go jogging. Just imagine how wonderful it is to share common interests, while in each others company and work towards burning calories too.
Everyone loves a picnic and you can really have it in your own backyard or the park and by packing up the goodies yourself, you can be on a moderate budget and still have fun. Of course there is nothing like giving it a romantic touch, by bringing along a red rose, some wine and chocolates, to make it more special.
Then again, if one of you is not necessarily an outdoor person, have an indoor picnic. Pack a picnic basket, spread out a blanket in your living room, put on your favorite music and you are all set! It is like bringing the outdoors inside, without the hassle of insects to bother you.
Have you actually visited all the historical sites in your area? Well maybe this is an opportunity for you to make a date out of it and visit these places of interest. Some of them don’t have any fees or they are minimal, so this is a great idea for a date, while giving you the opportunity to learn more about the city you live in.
Going out for dinner is really an expensive affair, but you could try cooking a meal at home and give your date a surprise. Alternatively it would also be fun to share the cooking experience, because it gives you quality time together. After dinner, you could play board games or cuddle up and watch a movie together. Definitely beats the cost of going outside and more cozy too.
The idea behind a date is to get to know the other person better and to some extent hopefully create a good impression. It doesn’t always have to be about going to the movies, candle light dinners at a restaurant or going to the theatre. It can be simple, like a picnic by the beach or watching the sunset together. Its all about spending quality time and if both of you enjoy that time, then that would definitely be considered a good date.
It can be hard to come up with something different to do every time, so it is always good to have a few ideas up your sleeve. Irrespective of whether you are creative or not, sometimes, throwing in a few ideas together can help create a romantic, low cost and memorable date.
Have you ever thought about visiting your local zoo together? It will bring back childhood memories which you both can share with each other and is sure to bring lots of laughs too. Sharing memories of an unforgettable incident that occurred, or how you fed the chimpanzees, or the fear you felt being so close to the reptile cages, will definitely bring you closer together, while learning about each other too.
You can also try visiting the museums, many of which are free to the public. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon of discovery together. Then again, if the museum is really not something you find interesting enough, go window shopping, visit antique stores, or used book stores. There will be something of interest for both of you too and yet you are not compelled to buy anything either.
Another idea would be for each of you to bring your favorite DVD’s which you can spend watching all night in each other’s company. Just being able to share such moments, makes it a great date, without even having to spend a dime. As an alternative, you could just borrow a movie from the local library and watch it, while eating homemade popcorn and a soda.
There really is a lot one can do on a limited budget, as long as you are ready to experiment with new ideas and see how it works out.
Sometimes there is nothing like a long romantic drive, with your favorite songs playing in the background. You could stop by at a coffee shop for some donuts or simply stop a while and walk hand in hand.
If you are in a mood for adventure, why not drive to a town you have never been to before and simply walk around and discover what it has to offer.
It is these kinds of casual dates that help you find out a lot about each other. These are valuable insights especially if you would like the date to be a long term commitment. We are always on our best behavior during initial dates, when each one is seemingly ‘checking out’ the other person. Being together for a few hours, for a movie or dinner isn’t enough to get to know the ‘real you’. However, with casual dates, ones guard is eventually down and it can be a valuable eye opener for both people.
Some other date options that won’t burn a hole in your pocket would be to have a date with the stars while lying down together on a blanket. Seriously, can anything be more romantic than an evening under the stars?
Do you remember the times you have driven past a wealthy neighborhood and wondered how it looked from the inside? Well, why not make it a date and visit open houses in the area. It can be a lot of fun being together and imagining buying one of them. It doesn’t cost to dream does it?
Planning a date but the weather is hot and getting you down? Go swimming! It is a great way to cool off, have fun in the water and feel totally refreshed. Alternatively, you could go bike riding, rollerblading or even visit a garden and take pictures of the flowers in their blooming glory. Along with the summer are opportunities to attend low cost festivals or free music and movie programs through the season. Can you get a better cheap date than that!
Remember what fun kite flying used to be? Why not re-live those fun days, by both of you flying kites and see who can outsmart the other? If that doesn’t get you both in splits of laughter and lift your spirits, what else will!
Visit the farmers market with its variety of stalls, pick up some fruit and eat it on the way. If you have some ‘special offer’ coupons for pizza, stop by and share one.
If you think about it, the ‘child’ in us, never really disappears. So why not go to one of the playgrounds and re-live the memories of your childhood together while playing on the swings and slides and it is all free. Round it off with a couple of ice-creams and it could be a great afternoon of fun.
If you both are pet lovers, there is nothing more appealing than visiting a pet store and looking at the different birds and animals and similarly if you have a common hobby, you could spend time together indulging in it.
Just when you think you are running out of ideas, consider strolling in the mall, going to the airport to watch the planes take off, or watch people arrive or depart and tell stories about the people you see, while you sip your coffee or grab a snack.
Sometimes a leisurely stroll in the park or around the neighborhood is another option. You could end it off with an iced drink or hot cocoa, depending on the weather.
For a change why not capture your day together in your camera. Take photos of each other in crazy poses, have some taken by others of the two of you together. You could then frame them or add them to each of your own collection. It is over the years sure to bring back sweet memories, irrespective of whether you two are still together or not.
Alternatively, you could stop by at a coffee shop, one that provides free re-fills would be ideal because then you could be there for a couple of hours, getting to know each other better and not worrying about how many cups you might end up paying for.
Sometimes it is fun to be together and yet be part of a group and arrange for each person to bring one dish and have a potluck meal. It adds variety, while still keeping you within your limited budget. You could also have board games just for two of for groups of people. You could also consider driving around your hometown, if it is not too far away and show your date where you grew up and went to school.
A real fun date is having a snowball fight when it is snowing or building a snowman which is a great way to make the most of a winter afternoon. Then again, if it is really way too cold to go outside, why not put together a large puzzle, while sitting by the fireside? It can be hours of fun. Playing charades, dancing, going to a concert, for which you might have been lucky enough to win free tickets, attending various free events that are arranged at college campuses, there’s lots to do. You just need to check out the newspapers to see what is going on where and make a date of it. For a change why not take the focus off yourself and volunteer at a local charity. It can be a fulfilling experience, giving of your time and yet doing it together. After having tried so many different types of dating adventures, it would be a good idea to have what could be referred to, as an appreciation date, where you both take the time to talk about how the whole experience of such dates has been. Remember to appreciate the efforts taken and include the inner and outer qualities about each other, that you find matter to you the most. Going out on a date is all about having fun with the person who means a lot to you. Then again, there is no rule for success and there are going to be times when the date turns out to be a total fiasco, irrespective of whether it is a cheap date or an expensive one. But that is part and parcel of life, just like there can be no sunshine without rain, so there will be good days and bad. You just need to take it in your stride and not let it get you down. You just need to work on making the most of your time together and it is important to simply be yourself. You are really wasting your time trying to be someone you are not, because eventually your true colors will come through. The outcome of that could be to your disadvantage, especially if you are looking for a long term commitment. Having enough money to spend on dates is a problem most people face, but when it comes to finding ways to impress your date, without stretching your wallet, there are lots of options to consider, to ensure the date can be cheap and an enjoyable evening too. Overall there is nothing like variety and while at times you can opt for cheap date options, for some occasions you would need to consider a better budget, otherwise it really doesn’t give the other person a great impression about you. Make the most of those cheap dates and make each one as memorable and fun as possible, but just don’t make them a regular affair. Life is all about living, so live it well and share the moments you have with someone special, someone who makes you happy, makes you come alive. While having money can go a long way towards making your outings fun, lack of it shouldn’t make you feel shortchanged. With so many ideas, such a variety of choices that are fun and inexpensive, all you need is to get started. Hopefully with all the fun you have dreaming up your ideas, your date will be nothing short of a blast. So what are you waiting for?