Cheap Date Not Cheap-Skate

March 09, 2011

Is the economy sinking your love life? With prices getting higher and money getting scarce, it's becoming hard to go out and have fun without taking out a loan. With that in mind, I surveyed a range of people to get the best ideas for creative dating. If these ideas don't help, there are lots of books at the library on dating and on financial planning. This one could be written for me, Financial Planning for the Utterly Confused by Joel Lerner.

Here's the challenge: A $30 or under date. Not cheap, just creative, or as I like to think of it, romance for the real world! 

Donna: "I'll get back to you on that." I'm sure she will.

Marge: Pick up Garrozos-to-go and buy a bottle of cheap wine. Go home. (No cooking involved and a romantic night) Or in the summer, go to Shakespeare in the park.

Bob: Go to the library and check out a free movie! (Smart guy) Then, perhaps bowling or roller skating. After that, it's back to Bob's house where he'll play guitar for her. Cost:under $30

Jean: Buy steaks at the store, take them home, and grill them. Candlelight dinner in the backyard for two.

Donna got back to me with: Weekdays at AMC, movie tickets are $5. With the rest of the money go for ice cream at Dairy Queen.

Kathryn: Buy bait. Go fishing. Save the rest for self. ;-)

Chris: When he pulled out his calculator. I knew he'd done this before. His first idea: Buy a Chipolte burrito for $6.50 each, follow up with a movie, $7.50 each. Finish the night with junior banana splits at Sonic for $1 each. Cost: $30, exactly. His second idea was Buck Night at the Royals. Get two cheap tickets for $9 each, and then you have $12 left for the dollar hotdogs, drinks, and peanuts. That's a score!

Rox P.
North Independence Branch