This is a guest post from Gerald Mather.
Have you been asked on date by the girl of your dreams? Maybe you asked her and she finally said yes for a change. Only problem is that you?re so broke you can’t afford a $20 trip to McDonald’s never mind a nice $100 dinner. Well don’t worry – we?ve got you covered. Most of these dates are under $20 and some are free so read on. Don?t let the recession put the brakes on your love life!
Here are our top 5 date ideas when you?re broke.
5. Movie Marathon ($0 – $20)
The at-home movie marathon is an easy and almost free date. This is a great get-together if the female has already expressed an interest in movies. Ask her to bring over a couple of her favorites and mesh that in with some favorites of your own. The only cost involved here is renting some movies if you don?t currently own any good ones. You?ll also need to pick up some munchies and beverages if you?re out. For movies I suggest romantic comedy. There are some good light romantic comedies that will keep the mood amorous but also a little funny so that it?s not to over the top mushy.
The setup for this date is very simple. You?ll want to start on the early side, since you?ll be watching several movies. Make sure your DVD player TV and surround sound (if you have it), is all set up and ready to go. Remember that your date will be judging your living habits when she comes over, so make sure the house is clean and the washroom is spotless. Also have some of her favorite movie snack foods around and something for her to drink. Ask ahead of time what she likes and in this case only get alcohol if she requests it.
Clothing for this date is simple as well. Just put on some of your nicest lounging clothes, comfortable jeans and a clean t-shirt. You could try wearing a dab of cologne on both shoulders so she gets a nice whiff while cuddling. Also make sure to keep some gum around to keep your breath fresh.
If all your preparation has been done properly this date should go very well. Make sure to watch the movies she brought and after each movie spend some time talking about what you liked and what you didn’t like. Offer her drinks, make her popcorn and show her where the washroom is. Now all you have to do is figure out the best time to make your move (lol).
4. Walking, Rollerblading or Biking Trip. ($0 – $10)
Another easy and extremely cheap date is the walking, rollerblading or biking trip. Simply talk to her ahead of time and ask her if she has rollerblades or a bike, then go from there. It’s easy and simple and you will really get to know each other because there is a lot of time to talk.
The setup for this date is easy. Find a nice park with a decent path or a nice hiking spot in your area (beach, pier, trails, park). Make sure your rollerblades or bike are well maintained, then just bring a few sandwiches and a couple bottles of water in a backpack and you?re ready to go.
Clothing will be very casual – dress for the weather and make sure you are comfortable. Don’t dress for a night on the town but don’t show up in dirty clothes either (in fact, it?s safe to say you shouldn?t show up in dirty clothes for pretty much any date unless you?re playing paintball).
Your day should go off without any problems. This date does involve a lot of talking, so make sure you think of some topics ahead of time and be prepared to answer a lot of questions and if all goes well she wont even realize you?re broke because all she will remember is all the fun she had.
3. Play a Sport ($0)
This is a great date if you’re with an athletic type of girl. Simply find out what some of her favorite sports to play are and challenge her to a game. Basketball, hockey, soccer – whatever. The most fun about this date is you get to be competitive and show off your athletic ability.
Ask her what sports she is talented at and then issue the challenge. Find a local spot where you can play her sport for free, bring a couple bottles of water and maybe a sweat towel or a change of shirt depending on the sport. Remember to also bring any equipment you may need.
The clothing for this date is very simple – gym clothes, so dress to get sweaty. Make sure you wear a good pair of running shoes or cross trainers.
Your day should go very well with little or no problems, lots of competition but very little actual conversation. You wont learn a lot about her on this date, but it?s free and she doesn’t even know how broke you are. For another date, go for a rematch but this time you pick the sport.
(click “Page 2″ at the bottom of the page to read more)
May 9th, 2009 at 2:31 am
And where would 2 and 1 be?
May 9th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Sorry – with our new layout, it’s a little hard to see the “Page 2″ link at the bottom of the first page. Here’s the URL for page 2: http://www.justaguything.com/top-5-dates-when-youre-broke/2/. We’ll work on fixing the formatting to make it clearer.
May 9th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Great article! Loads of fantastic ideas for when you’re broke and need to impress; would never have thought of the ‘Picture Day’ suggestion!
Another good idea for an inexpensive date is attending a street festival. They’re vibrant, full of activity and there’s no entry-fee. Also, you’re surrounded by plenty of live music and lots of cheap food vendors are available for when you both get hungry.
May 9th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Street festival is a good idea! There’s lot of things to keep you occupied while you get to know each other. Now that the weather’s warming up, there will be plenty of opportunities to explore the fairs.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:27 am
No! Don’t do these! The girl will tell everyone she knows and you will get a reputation as a cheapskate that you will be trying to shake off for decades. You are better off staying out of the dating scene until you get your finances in order.
July 16th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
You will definitely weed out gold diggers.
July 17th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Buttsecks?