So what’s wrong with being a cheap date . . . in the best sense of the word, of course! With hard times upon us all, it’s still important to have fun!
Date nights, even for old married couples, don’t have to break the bank. A date doesn’t even have to cost a dime. All you have to do is get creative and go for it.
When planning a date night, you have two options. You can hang with the familiar and know you’ll have fun, or you can do something off the wall with no guarantees. Life’s an adventure!
Don’t forget about double-dating either – your friends probably want cheap dates too.
Let’s talk about babysitters for the kids, which doesn’t necessarily equate with cheap. In many areas, sitters are ten bucks an hour – yikes! If you don’t have relatives nearby, start a babysitting co-op and do it soon. If you just can’t get away from the kids, cheap dates can take place right at home after the kids go to bed. Just watching the stars with your favorite person can be worth a million bucks.
So, what to do that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Try these suggestions:
· Plan a picnic in your own backyard or nearby park. You have to eat anyway so there’s no extra expense there.
· Find a few couples and double-date for a progressive dinner. You’ll only have to prepare one part of the feast and will enjoy visiting your friends’ homes too.
· Catch a Little League game. They’re free and your cute neighbor kid will love you forever when you take a seat in the cheering section.
· Grab a DVD and watch a movie on your living room couch. Don’t forget the popcorn. Maybe plan the evening’s meal around the movie theme.
· Check out your local library for free lectures or book discussions. You’ll look quite intellectual and might even learn something.
· Volunteer to usher at a community theater. You’ll be helping a good cause and see the show for nothing.
· Go bowling. It’s not totally free, but you’ll get a lot of laughs for the money.
· Wander around window shopping and try on outrageously expensive clothing, just to see how you’ll look. Toast your great taste with a cheap bottle of wine after your adventure.
· Explore neighborhoods you’ve never seen before. Maybe decide to travel five miles in a certain direction. When you arrive at the mile marker, park your car, and then check out the scenery.
· Pretend. This can be as crazy as you want it to be. One couple I know once stood on a corner and took a survey comparing soda pop. It was just for their personal knowledge, but nobody suspected a thing. They had a ball!
The whole idea is to make good times for you and your significant other. Of course there might be challenges, but making and taking the effort will be well worth it. No excuses!
