Active Relationship

Posts Tagged ‘Budget’

Having to spend a night at home with your partner doesn't always sound very romantic or entertaining, especially if you have to do it because your funds don't stretch to a meal at a restaurant or night at the cinema, but if it's done right, your financially reduced date might just become a favorite event!

The key to any financially restricted project is planning.  Many dates involve eating and/or drinking as well as entertainment.  This is where it becomes expensive.  By planning the date in advance, you can take care of the food/drink issues and so reduce the cost of your date.  Another expense issue is often admission fees.  Think about the places you can go where this isn't going to create a burden on your budget.

1. You could stay home.  A date at home mightn't sound very romantic - but consider this.  A candle-lit picnic on a blanket on your living room floor.  Now that sounds as if it's got potential right?  Ok, once you know when this is happening, set it up during the day.  You need to organize what you're going to eat, drink, and what you're going to do.  You may also need to physically rearrange your living room to accommodate your idea.

Select food that you can prepare in advance, which isn't too messy and that can be eaten with your fingers.  If you want to serve wine, then it's probably better that you become creative with cheaper food and use the main part of your budget on a good bottle of wine.  Find a nice throw or blanket, spread it on the floor and pile cushions up around it.  Place candles around the living room in places where they aren't likely to catch fire and generally tidy up anything that looks out of place.  If you're planning on watching a video/DVD, then this should be checked to see if it's working before your partner arrives.  If you just want to listen to romantic music, organize this also in advance.

When your partner arrives, the lights should be dim or candle-lit only, the food should be warm and ready to eat, and the wine chilled, ready to drink.  All that remains is for you both to kick off your shoes, put on the entertainment and enjoy your romantic picnic on a budget.

2. Going to the movies and theater is expensive, but there are ways around this.
Check out the various movie theaters for special offers.  Some theaters will offer you two tickets for the price of one on certain nights, or for certain times.  Others will give discounted prices for unpopular times.  Theaters often give discounted tickets for new musicals etc so not only do you get a good price, but you get to see the show before it becomes too popular.  Get a ticket for a late or early show, and organize to eat before or after the movie.  If you eat at home you can perhaps tie in your menu with the movie you're going to see!   Instead of going out for a meal afterwards, consider an ice cream.  You could sit in a restaurant and eat this, or if the weather is nice, why not buy an ice cream to take out and have a romantic walk whilst you eat it.

3. Fresh air is free!  This is the perfect budget date.  Find a nice place to take a walk, perhaps see something different like a national park or monument.  Take some sandwiches and coffee out to a nearby lake and just enjoy being together - don't forget to take some extra bread for the hungry ducks and chipmunks that might be hoping to be invited to your picnic.  If you have rollerblades, why not have a rollerblading date?  Or skateboard?  Or swim in the lake?  If you're outside, make use of what's available to make the date memorable.

4. What are you and your partner interested in?  Find places to go that will allow you to pursue these interests without exceeding your budget.  Museums for example usually have low entry fees (some are even free), although high profile sports events are expensive to attend, find some lower league team to support and have a great night watching a game live - don't forget to take your coffee and snacks with you!

5. Take up a new hobby together.  Find something new that you can both get interested in and attend a class to learn it together.

The most important part of any date is that you spend quality time together.  The focus of the date isn't so important.  Make sure that you plan something that you know you'll both enjoy and it doesn't matter if it's not dinner and dancing at the top night spot in town.  If you spend the evening laughing - and loving - even a shared soda and hotdog in the car park can be a romantic date!

Impressing your date doesn't have to diminish your wallet.  With a little resourcefulness and imagination you can plan dates that are a lot of fun and also very inexpensive.  Not only will you be saving a load of money but your date will be impressed with your creativity.  Inexpensive date ideas can include coffee houses, outdoor activities, theater and the arts, cooking and other fun activities.

A trip to a coffee house is an excellent inexpensive date idea if you are dating on a budget.  The price of a couple of cups of coffee and a dessert to share is next to nothing compared to dinner for two at an expensive restaurant.  You and your date could spend a few hours sipping coffee and enjoying your dessert while getting to know each other through casual conversation.  A coffee house is a great place to bring a date because the atmosphere is very relaxed and you can sit and chat for hours without interruption.

Another date idea which is very inexpensive is to take a trip to a local park.  On a nice day you and your date can spend the day walking, rollerblading, playing Frisbee or just people watching.   Also, pack a picnic and set up a blanket and enjoy your lunch on the grass in the park.  After lunch lay back and watch the clouds for awhile.  You will be surprised how often the clouds change and take on new shapes.  If the park has a lake, you may even be able to rent a canoe or paddle boat for a very small fee.  Spending the day outdoors and engaging in relaxing and enjoyable activities is an excellent inexpensive date idea for those who are dating on a budget.

While the theater and the arts are generally thought of as being expensive activities you can even turn these activities into inexpensive date ideas if you are dating on a budget.  Most cities have local theater companies that perform their own renditions of Broadway plays.  For a fraction of what you would pay to see a play performed by a major production company, you can sit front and center in a small theater.  Another inexpensive date idea is to visit your city's local art museum.  You can spend the day viewing the different pieces of artwork together and talking about what you like best about each piece.  Even movie theaters can be great inexpensive date ideas.  Second run movie theaters often show movies a little later then their release date but the ticket prices are usually very reasonable.  These theaters often offer ticket prices that are even less than matinee prices.  With a little creativity even the theater can be a great date idea for those on a budget.

Cooking is another inexpensive date idea for those dating on a budget.  You and your date could plan a romantic meal, shop for the necessary ingredients and spend the night cooking and eating the meal you create.  This is an excellent date idea because it is a great way for you and your date to spend quality time together.  If you take your time preparing the meal, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the company of your date.  The two of you will also be working together as a team which fosters a bond between you.  Taking a cooking class together can also be a great inexpensive date idea.  Many colleges offer cooking classes that are very affordable.  You and your date could sign up for an exotic cooking class together and look forward to learning enough to create some of your favorite dishes.

Yet another tip for dating on a budget is to spend the night playing board games in your very own living room.  Choose a few games from your collection and challenge your date to some friendly competition.  You will be surprised at how much fun you have playing some of the games from your childhood.  Not only are these game a lot of fun but they can also be an excellent way to get to know each other better.  Playing games that require you to use your creative side instead of just relying on luck give you a chance to really show your date who you are.

Dating on a budget is not impossible and it doesn't have to be boring.  Often some of the most inexpensive date ideas are also some of the best ways to really get to know your date.  The relaxed atmosphere that these date ideas provide allows a couple to be themselves and enjoy their time together.