5 Ways to Save $100 on Your Next Date While Having Way More Fun
Naweko San-Joyz
May 11, 2007
One of the most common complaints I hear about the dating scene- next to misleading on-line photos- is the ridiculous costs of going out. Here in San Diego, courting soirées could come at $150-$200 an outing. But that’s just because bachelors and bachelorettes lapse into mundane and expensive dating standbys instead of venturing into the offbeat and free venues located right in their own community.
Not only are dating clichés like “diner and a movie” nauseatingly BOR-RING, they really don’t give you a chance to get to know your date. Not to mention, if you don’t ever want to see your date again, you’re going to totally think that you wasted your cash on the typical dating miscellany.
So, to skip these dating pitfalls and bank-breakers, take advantage of the cheap and exciting dating options available in your own neighborhood.
1. Go to a free, local hands-on class
When was the last time you made a ceramic salad bowl or practiced jujitsu on your first date? Community centers and colleges often offer free classes to the public. Scan your local community papers in the “Classes” section and you’re likely to find at least one or two offbeat, but hands-on classes that would make for a fun first date. I’ve seen free classes on topics like meditation, modern California cooking, Polynesian dancing and Reiki. Pick a class and call it an “edu-date”.
2. Go to a local art or entertainment show
If in 2007, you can say, “I’m not into art”, I’m afraid you’ve yet to realize how the art world has mushroomed into a sphere of all-encompassing creativity in the past decades. Nowadays, “art” does not mean purely paintings or sculptures. Art shows could involve a troupe using their body to re-interpret the migration of Monarchs. This week in San Diego, you can even handle human organs at the museum. How’s that for an art exhibition! If that’s not your style, you can check out car shows, fashion shows, food tasting contests or wine tasting festivals.
To find these cool diversions, go to your local art council and ask for a brochure of upcoming shows, or better yet scan the community bulletin in your local coffee shop for fliers about upcoming art shows. For more dating outlets, you can skim the “Events” section of your local newspaper or snatch a copy of the free community events newsletter that is typically located at the front of grocery stores.
3. Pack a dinner
This is my favorite idea for saving money on a date because I think cooking food for another person is an act of love. Anyway, when you cook the meal for your date, and pack it along for your outing, you have an instant conversation piece. You get to explain why you chose the dish, how you prepared it and what other dishes you enjoy.
The way you cook gives huge insight into your character, which makes it a fabulous way to animate an otherwise potentially vanilla date. And you save time and money by by-passing restaurant fare.
4. Play a game at the local park
A good portion of your tax money goes to maintaining community parks. This is an awesome investment so why not take advantage of it. You can play one-on-one games like Frisbee, football, hacky-sack, volleyball, tennis or even catch at you local park. If you have a pet, why not bring along your fury-friend best.
5. Make it a mobile date
Care to add a new dimension to your tryst? Turn your date into a mobile rendezvous by riding bikes, skating or hiking. Your local parks and recreation office most likely has brochures that list hiking paths and biking paths that you can enjoy with your date.
In a nutshell, there are countless ways to save money on your next date, all you need to do is take a few minutes to find the activities that most intrigue you. Your local library, grocery stores, art council and local Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) all publicize free community events.
Plus, you can find dating venues on-line at sites like backpage.com and craigslist.org. Even if you don’t use these outlets for dating, they could be tantalizing occasions for finding new dates. Good luck Venus and Valentine.
Not only are dating clichés like “diner and a movie” nauseatingly BOR-RING, they really don’t give you a chance to get to know your date. Not to mention, if you don’t ever want to see your date again, you’re going to totally think that you wasted your cash on the typical dating miscellany.
So, to skip these dating pitfalls and bank-breakers, take advantage of the cheap and exciting dating options available in your own neighborhood.
1. Go to a free, local hands-on class
When was the last time you made a ceramic salad bowl or practiced jujitsu on your first date? Community centers and colleges often offer free classes to the public. Scan your local community papers in the “Classes” section and you’re likely to find at least one or two offbeat, but hands-on classes that would make for a fun first date. I’ve seen free classes on topics like meditation, modern California cooking, Polynesian dancing and Reiki. Pick a class and call it an “edu-date”.
2. Go to a local art or entertainment show
If in 2007, you can say, “I’m not into art”, I’m afraid you’ve yet to realize how the art world has mushroomed into a sphere of all-encompassing creativity in the past decades. Nowadays, “art” does not mean purely paintings or sculptures. Art shows could involve a troupe using their body to re-interpret the migration of Monarchs. This week in San Diego, you can even handle human organs at the museum. How’s that for an art exhibition! If that’s not your style, you can check out car shows, fashion shows, food tasting contests or wine tasting festivals.
To find these cool diversions, go to your local art council and ask for a brochure of upcoming shows, or better yet scan the community bulletin in your local coffee shop for fliers about upcoming art shows. For more dating outlets, you can skim the “Events” section of your local newspaper or snatch a copy of the free community events newsletter that is typically located at the front of grocery stores.
3. Pack a dinner
This is my favorite idea for saving money on a date because I think cooking food for another person is an act of love. Anyway, when you cook the meal for your date, and pack it along for your outing, you have an instant conversation piece. You get to explain why you chose the dish, how you prepared it and what other dishes you enjoy.
The way you cook gives huge insight into your character, which makes it a fabulous way to animate an otherwise potentially vanilla date. And you save time and money by by-passing restaurant fare.
4. Play a game at the local park
A good portion of your tax money goes to maintaining community parks. This is an awesome investment so why not take advantage of it. You can play one-on-one games like Frisbee, football, hacky-sack, volleyball, tennis or even catch at you local park. If you have a pet, why not bring along your fury-friend best.
5. Make it a mobile date
Care to add a new dimension to your tryst? Turn your date into a mobile rendezvous by riding bikes, skating or hiking. Your local parks and recreation office most likely has brochures that list hiking paths and biking paths that you can enjoy with your date.
In a nutshell, there are countless ways to save money on your next date, all you need to do is take a few minutes to find the activities that most intrigue you. Your local library, grocery stores, art council and local Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) all publicize free community events.
Plus, you can find dating venues on-line at sites like backpage.com and craigslist.org. Even if you don’t use these outlets for dating, they could be tantalizing occasions for finding new dates. Good luck Venus and Valentine.
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