A (Cheap) Fun Date: How to Enjoy Someone Without Having to Take Out a Loan

Oh my! She said yes. And I didn't even have to bribe her! Those, of course, are the thoughts that run through the head of any male who has a girl say yes to going out on a date. Then the scond thought, is, of course, "I can't eat for a week", because, quite frankly, dates are expensive! So now the question becomes, what can I do that will be fun, and romantic, but won't cost me my future child's college fund? Well, the answers are simple. And they come in "Frugal" and "Cheap" . These dates are from my own personal expierence only, and as a college aged male, they should be taken as such. If you're forty and reading this, and feel like dating your date to an "MC Lars" Show, be my guest. But the results will vary.

FRUGAL
You're frugal, you save ketchup packets and you abide by the "If it's brown, flush it down" principal. How do you maintain your finanical status while still having a great time? Well, there are a few ideas.

Picnic: Sure, it's a little corny. Sure, if it's night time maybe it's a little creepy too. But if you think you know what this girl would like/not like, this is perhaps a good idea. Bring sandwhichs, a blanket. and just sit and talk. The entire point of going on a date is to get to know eachother, so why waste your time in a dark theater.

Movie(That you own): If you're date is someone you know moderately well, Invite them over for a movie. It's cheap, you own it, and you know where all the good parts are so you'll be prepared for when she jumps into your arms as the scary stuff goes down. This is more of a date for someone who is looking to take "The step" between friends and "Good" Friends.

Board Game: Yeah, it may seem boring, but pick something a little competitive. If you think your girl is smart, scrabble. Competitive, Monopoly, Dumb as a board? Sorry(the game, not the apology). This kind of date can be quite adventagous, as you can see how she would react under various forms of duress. Does she get frustrated when she doesn't have any vowels in scrabble? She's easily annoyed, tread lightly. If she dominates you in Monoply, let her run your finances. As cheap as you are, she's better. Beats you in Sorry? Well..uh. Sorry?

CHEAP
Alright, you understand how to save a few dollars, and you don't want to shower the world upon this girl, so you want to do something, but don't want to spend and upwards of twenty dollars.

Pool: Seriously, again, competition within a date is a fantastic idea, as you get all the elements of a relationship. You get triumph, defeat, teasing and celebration among others. If she can't handle losing in pool, she likely can't handle lifes other challenges. However, Pool is unique in the sense that it doesn't really require a lot to understand the rules and to play well.

Candlepin Bowling: Similar in a sense to Pool that you'll get all sorts of looks into your girls inner soul, it's also a way for you show your ability to physically impress her. Plus, if you, or her, gets a strike, that's bonus points in your pocket, because when something good happens, it's totally you're doing, if only by proxy.

Arcade: Think Dave and Busters. For about ten dollars between the two of you you can play all manner of games, including claw games (win her a prize) trivia games (win tickets to get her a prize) racing games (let her win), and others. It's a fun time, it's cheap, and it's really a unique dating expierence.

So there you have it. Six ideas that won't break the bank. They work for me. I should hope they work for you, as well. Your judgement is your best bet here. If your girl doesn't seem like the kind of girl who would see through "Picnic" as a money saving manuever, don't take her to a picnic. It's really a matter of perception. If you make it seem like you're trying to save money, it will (duh) seem that way. Have a good time, and remember, You can't put a price on love.