Just because you are living on a budget, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to have a little romance in your life. There are some ways to keep costs down and still enjoy some dinner dates.
Pick the Place
One of the best ways to make sure you don’t bust your budget on a date is to take control. Whether you are the ask-er or ask-ee, offer to pick the restaurant. This way you can make sure the bill won’t be so high that even half of it can leave you without a way to pay the rent.
Do a little research to find a place that’s fun with a good vibe but without the high prices. You can really save if you pick a BYOB restaurant. Ask ahead of time what your date likes to drink and swing by a liquor store before the date. You bring the alcohol so you get to drink what you want and avoid the markup.
Think Like It’s Valentine’s Day
I’m not saying you have to act mushy or declare your love. But be creative. Many people try to avoid being cheesy on Valentine’s Day so they think of other options for a date. Do the same on an ordinary day – try to think of some fun, unexpected outings. You may end up impressing your date by going a non-traditional route. Consider an activity where dinner is a minor part of the date so the pressure isn’t on to spend a lot. Change the focus to remain frugal.
Make It a Game
Be honest that you are excited to hang out with the person but also concerned about keeping to a budget. Offer to see who can plan the most fun date with the fewest costs. In this race to be a cheap date, you can really learn about the other person- what they like to do, how creative they are and how much fun they can be. Plus you already have built-in plans if there’s a second date.
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Image: iStock
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