The following is a guest post from Andrew of JoeShopping.com. These date ideas can be for both singles and for those date nights with your spouse!
The economic recession may have put a kink in your wallet, but there’s no need to let it get in theway of your love life. In the past, you may have been able to display your affection for your date withexpensive dinners and fancy presents, but now’s the time to replace money with thoughtfulness. Sure,there are the tried and true standards like a picnic in the park or a walk on the beach. But your date willbe expecting those, right? Instead, here are some creative date ideas that won’t break the bank andalso won’t make you look like a big ol’ cheapskate.
Take your date out to the ballgame! You don’t have to hit the big leagues to have a great time; check out your local little league, high school and minor league teams for game schedules and then step up to the plate. Don’t know who to root for? Let your date pick, and then cheer away!
Spend the day learning together at a museum. If you’re not the artsy type, check out a children’s museum. They tend to have a lot of fun activities two people can do together. Also, some museums can be pricey, but they tend to offer a lot of discounts. You might get in for free if you’re a student or work for certain companies; sometimes even your bank has deals set up! Plus, check with your local library; they often have free museum passes that you can borrow!
If you and your date are outdoorsy types, go on an adventure! Hiking is always a safe bet, but for something a little different, try river-tubing or kite-flying. For a really adventurous (and extended) date, go camping! You can stay at state and national parks and forests for as little as $10-20 a night. Tents for two are available for as low as $20, or borrow one from a friend. All in all, it’s still cheaper than a hotel getaway and likely more memorable.
Test you and your date’s humor compatibility by taking them to an improv comedy show. They’re often cheaper than a movie and guaranteed to be a unique experience (and hopefully full of laughs!). Most major cities have a few improv theaters, and improv troupes tend to flourish at colleges and universities. Shows are often as cheap as $5, or even free!
Find your local Bingo hall and stamp away with your date. You can play, chat, and if you’re lucky, little old ladies will comment on how adorable the two of you are together.
You may not know this, but drive-in theaters are still around. They’re not everywhere, but if you’re fortunate enough to live near one, take advantage of it. You can watch two movies for less than the cost of one in a traditional theater, and depending on the line-up, the evening can be funny, romantic, action-packed or a little bit of everything! You can find the drive-in closest to you at Drive-Ins.com, or just do a web search for “drive-in theater” and your town or county.
If you or your date has some sort of video gaming system, make an evening of it! Find out your date’s gaming preferences and then plan a night filled with head-to-head battles. Winner gets dibs on the last slice of pizza.
Do the zoo! While larger zoos can be a tad on the expensive side, smaller zoos are a great bargain! Take your time gazing at the creatures, ’cause if your partner happens to see something adorable happen, they’ll likely snuggle up to you to share the cuteness.
Many local governments have an ongoing variety of free events, especially during the summer. Check your local government’s website and look for outdoor concerts or movies in the park, and take your date out for an entertainment-filled night under the stars!
Dinner and a movie at your house is always a nice, intimate date, but make it a little more interesting by including a theme. Rent Goodfellas and make spaghetti; watch Waitress and bring home a pie; pick up a copy of Sideways and a bottle of wine, and have a blast! Bonus Tip:
Want to surprise your date with flowers but can’t sacrifice the moolah? Take up origami! You can find simple flower folding instructions on the Internet, and a pack of origami paper is much cheaper than a bouquet of roses. Plus, it really is the thought that counts.
BIO: Andrew Kardon is the president and co-founder of JoeShopping.com. The social shopping site is dedicated to saving money through coupons, hot deals, price comparisons, product reviews, shopping blogs and more.
Our Conversation:
Thanks so much for the opportunity to post on your site! Hope these tips come in handy.