Photo by Tony Alter
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Do you have a special someone in your life who is draining your funds? Or are single because you are afraid you can’t afford a relationship? Here are a few tips to save your love triangle between you, the special someone and your money.
Deals for Date Nights
There’s this great new thing where you can ask it anything and it will answer all your questions! …It’s called the internet… The internet, especially Google, should be your wing man when looking for a deal on your next date night. I guarantee that you can find at least one coupon to a restaurant or event.
Don’t know where to start? Start by signing up for Groupon and Living Social. You will find deals to restaurants, wine tastings, movies; you can even find a romantic weekend get away!
If that doesn’t work for you search for your local museums, aquarium, event halls, tourist attractions, etc. They’re bound to have specific hours where they have a significant discount or “suggested donations”.
There are so many resources out there you just have to take the time to use them. There are plenty of apps you can download – just search coupons and date night. If you’re in a city check out Time Out and Meet Up to see if you’re city is on the list. These two sites will provide you with events going on in the city.
Romancing for Free
If the deals don’t work for you and you need to get cheaper… nothing is better than FREE! Free! Who doesn’t love free? If you do free sloppy and without any care, then your boyfriend or girlfriend will be the one who doesn’t like free.
Instead of using your wallet to make up for your creativity, use your loving creative brain to save your wallet. Here are some date ideas you can try:
- Cook dinner together at home
- Have a romantic evening by the fireplace complete with a snugly blanket, wine and marshmallows!
- Go on a picnic.
- Go hiking!
- Have a beach day before the summer is over.
- Have a stay in night to play board games!
Yes, some of you are probably thinking that you’re going to have to buy the food or the gas for some of these ideas. I’m sorry the ideas are not 100% free. BUT, I have to point out that you most likely will have to buy all those things anyways.
Another great idea for free dates is getting your significant other involved in the planning process. See what he/she wants to do. Go grocery shopping together. Maybe if you look around your houses together you can find enough stuff to use and not have to buy anything! Working together can pay off in more than just a financial way.
Penny Pincher Presents
For all you penny pinchers out there who are worried about spending too much on a gift, you might want to consider making your present. The more touching presents come from the heart anyways.
First you can try making your own cards. All you need is construction paper and markers or a word document and your office’s printer… who wants to pay for your own ink now a days anyways?
Another popular crafty idea is a coupon booklet. In this coupon booklet you would include different options to be pulled out at any time. For example, one coupon might be for a back massage. Your significant other is allowed to use this coupon at any time. The best coupon booklets are made by carefully listening ahead of time and are not great for last minute gifts. You should be paying attention to any signals your significant other gives prior to gifting day.
If you don’t fancy yourself a DIY person, or don’t even know what DIY means, try searching for a gift on amazon. Groupon and living social have gifts too, but it’s easier to search on amazon. You’re more likely to find a cheaper gift online than at the mall.
I have to admit that my favorite gift takes a combination of planning and love. The surprise scavenger hunt with simple dinner and dessert at the end would make me melt. The amount of time and effort you put into a gift shows, so whatever you do, ladies and gentlemen, put as much time into picking out your gift as you do fixing your finances.
These are just a few ideas I’ve come up with off the top of my head. See what you can find and share with the rest of us!
Author Bio: Katie Robinson is a Production Assistant at Sesame Workshop and runs an advice blog called Ask the Young Professional where she gives advice to succeed, in and outside of work as a savvy twentysomething. In her passion for film/video production and event planning Katie has produced over 10 independent shorts, headed a two-night $100,000 college concert series and was an Assistant Stage Manager for a Sesame Workshop Gala. When Katie isn’t working behind the scenes she is traveling to visit family and friends or discovering unique places in her new home town, New York City. Contact Katie directly at asktheyoungprofessional (at) gmail (dot) com or via LinkedIn. Follow her story and advice on Ask the Young Professional, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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Nice post Kaite! I agree that nothing will really truly be 100% free but hey you get pretty darn close. Some of those work great if you have dated the person for a little while. I doubt however a woman would want to come to you house on the first date though. Other than that I like the beach and the picnic as top choices. Groupon and LivingSocial do tend to offer really good deals.
YourDailyFin Thanks for sharing the post on twitter! I’m glad you liked my ideas. Yes, maybe not all of these are best for first dates, but you definitely don’t need to empty your wallet just because its a first date. There’s plenty of creative alternative. The creative idea might even be more impressive as a first date!
Cool ideas Katie! Why drain out your wallet when you can romance for free? I liked your ideas of hiking and beach day. Yes if you do some internet research you can grab some good deals for that perfect date well within your budget
Samgill The internet is such a valuable resource. Plus it’s kind of fun to do some dating research together! Thanks for commenting!
Some of the best dates I’ve been on have been largely free. In the end, it should be about spending time with the other person. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to do that, and in fact finding something creative and different to share can really be a great way to strengthen the bond.
Matt @ Mom and Dad Money I totally agree! It shouldn’t be about the money. The experience is what is making the long lasting memories and bringing you closer together, not the money. There’s plenty of creative ways to show your interest. Thanks for commenting!
You don’t have to spend a big amount of money to have a good time, really it is all about the company more than the money spent.
Love the photo by the way :)
MonsterPiggyBank It really is about the person you’re with. That’s a great way to put it. They always say, “it’s the thought that counts” and I believe in that. The more thought you put into the date, the more meaning it will have. Being creative can change things up!
Great was flat ass broke when we started dating so we had to date on a budget. But, looking back, that was probably the best and most exciting time in our relationship. We didn’t need money to have fun!
Holly at ClubThrifty That’s great! Money shouldn’t define or limit a relationship or your life, in my opinion. Getting creative can be fun and working together can strengthen your relationship. Thanks for commenting!
Great ideas Katie! My wife and I dated long distance and because flying was always so expensive, we’d commonly do many of the free things you suggest. It really didn’t matter what we were doing, we were just happy to be able to spend time together.
FrugalRules I had a long distance relationship too, although I didn’t have to fly. Still, travel costs can add up. That’s great you found alternative ways to cherish your time together. Thanks for commenting!
Great Katie!!! Dating doesn’t have to be a costly experience. With some planning and creativity, dating can be relatively inexpensive, without losing the romantic touch.
suburban_finance I completely agree! And more often than not, the creative ideas you come up with are more fun and memorable!
My husband and I were pretty broke when we met, but we did lots of outdoors things and slept on people’s couches for road trips. I don’t think I’d go back to that , but it made some cool memories.
Eyesonthedollar struggling to save money together can be a great bonding experience. I know a lot of couple who say that the struggle at the beginning of their relationship made their relationship stronger.
All great ideas Katie. I love activity dates so hiking, biking, volleyball are all great ways to get to know someone (and stay fit) :)
Beachbudget oh volleyball! That’s a fun one I wouldn’t think of! Glad you liked it and thanks for sharing your ideas!
Lately, the things that we have been loving to do are more outdoorish. I wouldn’t have it any other way!
SenseofCents I love the idea of getting outside for dates. It gets you outside of the norm and keeps you active! There’s so many cheap ideas to do outside that can be way more fun than the typical dinner and a movie.
I love these ideas! We ALWAYS use Groupon and Living Social for dinner and look for happy hour deals too. Meetup is a great idea for singles too.
Monicaonmoney I love Groupon and Living Social. I use them all the time. I’m glad I have another supported for these sites and Meetup too! Thanks for commenting!
Great ideas! I really like the idea of a hiking for a cheap date. Not only does it cost little, but if it’s something you enjoy doing, it’s a great way to find out fast if a person is not a right fit for you!
Tara Zee Thank you! I think hiking and other outdoor activities are underrated. They can be quickly forgotten or over looked.
Nice tips Katie! These are must-know tips not just for dating, but for married life too!
ayoungpro Thanks, Nick! I’m glad you liked them. I hope married and unmarried couples can find these tips helpful.
I like the wine and fireplace idea. Sounds really romantic and cheap. Great suggestions.
MonaSez Thanks! I’m hoping to personally try it one day! :)
I love your list under romancing for free. Going on a picnic or cooking dinner together, esp when you first start dating, can be so much fun and so romantic. My thoughts are that dates do not need to be expensive, they just need to be lots of fun. Money doesn’t bring people closer together, but sharing good times and good adventures definitely brings people closer together.
TacklingOurDebt You took the words right out of my mouth! I completely agree with you. I love thinking outside of the box and doing something different. It keeps things fun and avoid there terrifying “rut” couples can get in.
Cooking dinner and watching netflix is one of my all time favorite “date night” activities. You definitely need to be at a certain point in the relationship for that, but when you get there, you never want to leave :)
brokeandbeau It’s such a simple idea but a great one! I agree. :) Thanks for commenting!
All great ideas, but maybe you shouldn’t do them on the first few dates otherwise you could give off a bad impression as being too much of a cheapskate!!
PFUtopia I agree, not all of these are great for the first date, but you definitely don’t need to overspend either. Groupon and Living Social can give great discounts. And if someone took me bike riding or on a trip to the boardwalk for our first date, I don’t think I’d hate it. It’s all about being creative and making the other person feel comfortable.
Katie! Hiking is our fave and it yields such an abundance of items for discussion! It has always been worth the cost of gas to drive out to the trail head too;) Have a marvy one!!
cjrenzi I’m so glad you liked it! It seems like hiking is a lot of people’s favorite. That’s great! Thanks for commenting! :)
Thanks for the tips. Always good to see how you can save money on romance. It can get pretty expensive at times.
DebtandtheGirl True. I’m just glad it doesn’t have to be. I’m glad you like my ideas. Thanks for the comment!
I love the idea of a coupon book. I’m a huge fan of coupons and I think a coupon book for massages, dinner etc. is a super sweet idea. I would melt if bf made me one.
StudentDebtSurvivor it can be a very sweet gesture if done with care, the danger is when you do it last minute because then it’s more of a sloppy gesture than a loving and caring one.
What I noticed was that in the beginning of a relationship, I tend to spend a lot more money on drinks, dinners, etc. because I want to look like someone who is able to spoil people I care about. Later on, when I get comfortable around the person, I gradually introduce my frugal lifestyle, trying to cook more at home, using coupons, etc. But still, dating can be, and it inevitably is, pretty expensive. I liked this post, thanks!
I really liked the comment about giving each other coupons for things like back massages. Things like that are really good ways to improve bonds and connections between couples. I know that I would love to do things like things like this again. I haven’t done anything like this since I was dating in college. That was really a great time in my life, sometimes I wish life was the way it was back then, just without the classes.
http://www.studio7ss.com/#!massage/cy5g