Take Her Out Without Overspending!

When a birthday, holiday, or anniversary rolls around you want to celebrate it in a special way. Doing something outside of the norm sets the day aside from others and makes it more memorable. You may not have the cash to take her to a fancy restaurant or out to a movie. That's just fine. There are plenty of other places you can go to enjoy your day in a special way. Do something different this year!

If you don't have the money to go to a nice restaurant, eat out on a budget. Let her pick a casual dining restaurant, buffet, or fast food joint. She'll enjoy the break from cooking and the chance to get out of the house. And hey, if she wants to dress up to go to the China Buffet, she can! You don't have to spend a wad to have a good meal made for you.

You don't even have to take her out for a whole meal. Take her out just for ice cream. Share a banana split and a root beer float. You could also go out for a few drinks--as in, one or two each. Drink them slowly, and shoot some pool or dance together. Sit around shooting the breeze if you like. If you don't drink, go out for coffee.

If you're really pressed for cash, don't spend any at all! Make some of her favorite dishes for dinner, and serve them on the good plates. Why not pack up a picnic and take it to the park or beach? There is nothing more romantic than a candlelit dinner in the moonlight. Almost any place can be turned into a beautiful setting with a little planning and creativity.

When you can't afford to go to the movies, bring the movies home with you. Rent a movie in advance through the internet. Or make a trip to the video store together to pick something out. If you have a DVD collection, pick one you haven't seen in a while to watch. Order a movie on PPV just this once. Watch home videos of your wedding or of your children to remind yourselves of your history together.

The zoo and the aquarium may be a little too expensive, but the national park doesn't cost much. You can enjoy wildlife there and each other's company. You might even be able to go fishing, and then you don't have to worry about the cost of dinner. Just going for a walk outside can give you a refreshing taste of nature.

Go bowling. You can play just for fun, goofing off all the while. Or you can have a friendly competition! Take your time playing, and have some serious conversation. Make each other laugh while you play. Why not program the monitor with your pet names for each other? Going out to shoot pool is also good, inexpensive fun.

Go to the arcade. Take ten dollars, and spend it all playing games together. You may be lucky enough to have a Nickel-A-Play, where each game costs only 5 cents after you pay a small admission fee. Have a Skeeball tournament. Kill zombies together. Shoot some hoops. There are hundreds of games to chose from. You'll have lots of fun.

Spend the day at the beach or lake. Lay out in the sun. Pack a picnic. Walk along the shore holding hands. Cuddle in the water, or have a splash fight. Do you have a public pool? It doesn't cost much to go swimming there. It sure beats sitting at home on the sofa!

Get to know your town. Get in the car and drive around, talking. Visit stores you never knew were there or that you always wanted to snoop in. Be a tourist for a day. I've been living here in Colorado Springs for four years, and I have yet to go see the waterfall or the cave. No matter where you live there is a 'tourist attraction.' Have you seen all of the historic sites in your city yet? When was the last time you spent the day walking around downtown, admiring the beautiful architecture?

No matter where you are, there is something to do that won't cost you an arm and a leg. You can have a romantic dinner and cuddling session. You can get to know each other's innermost desires again, just sitting and talking. You can even cut loose and have a little fun. Whether you're low on cash or flat broke, you can have an enjoyable outing that will remain a special memory for years to come.