How to Plan a Cheap Date

Guide Note

You've got five days to go until your next paycheck, and a date with the person of your dreams tonight. This page will tell you how to have a fabulous date on a very tight budget. Learn how to plan a cheap date here!

Mahalo Daily: How to Plan a Cheap Date

Before anything else: Do your research

Photo by Jeremiah Curran
Photo by Jeremiah Curran
  • There are probably free or cheap activities available in your town that you don't know about. The following resources will help you find events that are inexpensive, interesting, and fun!
  1. Ask your date the kind of things they're interested in. An outdoor hike might not be the best thing if your date prefers air conditioning to bug spray. If your date is on a diet, that perfect ice cream sundae you've prepared might be less than impressive. If your date is an art history major, that free night at the museum might be just the ticket!
  2. Look in the events section of local newspapers to find out about free lectures, tours, and other events. If your city has an arts and entertainment newspaper (many do), these are especially good resources.
  3. If you live in a major city, try web resources such as Flavorpill, MyOpenBar.com (a great resource for art events) and Metroblogging for information on free and inexpensive events.

Cheap Dates For Food Lovers

Dinner in can be more romantic. (Photo by Gary Scott)
Dinner in can be more romantic. (Photo by Gary Scott)
  • Just because your date loves great food doesn't mean you have to break the bank. Here's some creative options for great, cheap dates.
  1. Wine shops often have free or cheap tastings on certain nights.
  2. Wineries are opening up all over the country, and many of them have inexpensive tastings. Check to see if there is one in your area.
  3. Find out your date's favorite meal, and cook it yourself. Dinner in is much cheaper than dinner out. Don't forget to light candles and put out flowers!
  4. Go out for dessert and coffee. It's less expensive than buying dinner, but with the same ambiance.

Cheap Dates for Culture Lovers

  • Looking for a date that will stimulate your brain? A trip to Broadway or the opera might be pricey, but there are cheaper options available.
  1. Many venues have inexpensive tickets, if you're willing to sit in back. Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl, for example, often has $6 tickets available on the date of a weekday show, and even cheaper tickets are available if you plan ahead.
  2. Call local museums and historic sites to find out about free tours and events.
  3. Historical and architectural societies often offer downtown tours.
  4. Many museums and zoos have one night or day a week that is free. Call for details.
  5. If you live near a college or university, they often have interesting lectures, films, and other events that are open to the public. Call or check their website for information.
  6. Many colleges - and even some high schools! - have an observatory. Go and check out the stars!
    • Photo by David Curran
      Photo by David Curran
  7. Tickets for community theater productions are often inexpensive. If it's terrible, it will give you something to talk about!
  8. Many cafes have open mic nights.
  9. Libraries often have free lectures, sometimes with the author.
  10. Large bookstores often have authors visit to give readings and talks. It may cost money to buy the book, but listening to the author is generally free.
  11. Have your own film festival. Rent classic films or scary movies, wherever your date's tastes lie. Then make a big bowl of popcorn and prepare to snuggle.

Cheap Dates for Sports Lovers

Dating on the cheap can still include great games, (Photo by Justin Taylor)
Dating on the cheap can still include great games, (Photo by Justin Taylor)
  • Think outside the box to find great sports dates that won't break your budget.
  1. Many sports venues have cheap seats. For the 2007 season, even the New York Yankees have $5 tickets for certain games, and the Atlanta Braves sell two tickets for $8 for Tuesday home games.
  2. Is there a minor-league team near you? Baseball's farm teams and basketball's development teams are just two of the sports that have great games going, at lower prices than the big leagues.
  3. You don't have to see a professional game to have a great night out. Check out high school and college games near you. Even watching the local softball league can be fun!

Cheap Dates for Outdoors Lovers

Photo by Sandy Hemingway
Photo by Sandy Hemingway
  • Outdoor dates are a nice change from the usual evening dinner-and-a-movie event.
  1. If the weather is good, have a picnic. Do it low-key with cheese and crackers to save even more money. (If the weather turns, an indoor picnic on the living room floor can be fun, too!)
  2. Go out on a day hike. GORP has a great directory of North American hiking trails, from beginning to expert. World Hiking also has great links to local trail directories and guides. (You can combine this with the picnic above!)
  3. If you live in an area with snow, take advantage! Go sledding, build a snowman or have a snowball fight.
  4. Take a walk on the beach. Even in cool weather, you can appreciate the views and the ambiance.
  5. Visit a playground. Try out the swings and seesaw together.
  6. Many universities and public spaces have botanic gardens that are low-cost or free to visit. Take a long walk. (You may also want to take an antihistamine if you have hay fever - nothing ruins a romantic moment like a sneeze!)
    • Look at a sunset together. (Photo by Fleur Suijten)
      Look at a sunset together. (Photo by Fleur Suijten)
  7. Nature sanctuaries often have nature walks or animal-sighting hikes.
  8. Watch the sun set together.
  9. If you already have the equipment for it, go camping together. Being alone in the woods can be one of the more romantic settings you'll experience on a date.
  10. For an even more romantic outdoors date, plan to go star-gazing. Try to identify constellations together. You can also check Space.com's nightsky report or your local paper to see if there will be a meteor shower you can watch together.

Cheap Dates for the Adventurous

Photo by Joe Zlomek
Photo by Joe Zlomek
  • If you're willing to try something really different, here's some ideas.
  1. Take out a map of your area, close your eyes, and plant your finger on the map. Go to that spot, wherever it is, and explore the area. (It's usually best if it's a drive of an hour or less.)
  2. Go on a coin-flip date. After meeting downtown or on main street, you and your date decide whether to go right (heads) or left (tails) by flipping a coin. Every time you stop, flip the coin again to determine the next direction.
  3. If you already have a GPS, try geocaching. It's a combination of a hike and a treasure hunt. Get the coordinates of where the cache is hidden, then go to those coordinates and try to find it (many of them are very tricky!) Sites like Geocaching, Terracaching and Navicache have searchable directories of geocaches.
  4. If you don't have a GPS, letterboxing is similar but relies on detailed directions instead of a global positioning system.
  5. Old cemeteries can be another cheap date locale. Visit and do grave rubbings together.

Resources for How to Plan a Cheap Date