Believe it or not, your near-empty bank account is a gift in the dating world.
Scratch fancy restaurant dinners and over-priced tickets to the movies– how dull, unoriginal, and expensive. An excessive amount of money makes it altogether too easy to use elaborate, meaningless gestures to try and “woo” someone. As it turns out, what you lack in money you can make up for (and then some) in thoughtfulness and creativity.
Ideas to wake up your (cheap) inner romantic:
- Get lost in a records store. Sharing music together is always a memorable experience. Most music stores have a means for listening to the music for free, so enjoy the vast possibilities of the music selection. Show him/her some of your favorites, listen to some of theirs, and then find new music you both like together. This is a great date for getting to know each other, because typically you can tell a lot by someone’s taste in music. Plus, take note of their favorite bands/artists for the days when you have a slightly bigger bank account and can afford to take your date out to a concert– always a winner for the music-lover. As for ideas that fit with a budget, you can make the memory last longer by making a classic “mixed tape” or CD with all the songs you already own that you noticed they liked when you showed them at the store.
- Go for a personal picnic. First, figure out your date’s ideal location. Is it a lookout spot with a view of the mountains or the city? A big quiet field? A charming park? Also, pay attention to his/her favorite snacks and drinks and bring them with. Peach Snapple Ice Tea? Hot apple cider? Dr. Pepper? Chocolate chip cookies? Pita bread and humus? Strawberries? It’s easy to get snacks and drinks for two for cheap. Noticing the details shows you care and makes the date much more than a cliche picnic.
- Explore the arts. A lot of cities have days where you can visit galleries and museums for free. I know that both Portland and Seattle do this every first Thursday of the month. Research things like this that your city has to offer– local events like art walks, craft markets, food fairs, concerts in the park… Usually local events are cheap and unique to the town/city they’re in, which makes for a fun time that’s different from a typical date.
- Teach together, learn together. What does your date like to do for fun? What do you like to do for fun? Have days dedicated to showing the other a piece of your world. If you like photography, take your date out shooting pictures with you. Introduce him/her to the basics and let them give it a try. If your date likes soccer, go to a soccer game together or play a little one-on-one and let them teach you a thing or two. By developing an appreciate for each others’ interests and hobbies, you’ll grow closer and find many more activities to enjoy together.
Remember, it really is the thought that counts.
Mixed tapes and picnics have all been done many, many times before. The key to making these inexpensive options special and memorable is by personalizing them to fit your date. This means all these suggestions are a starting place to get you thinking, but you’ll have to take each one and personalize it with the things you know your date likes and you’re good to go.
