Cheap Date Ideas

Tough financial times shouldn't take away from your ability to woo.

The Classic with a Twist: Dinner and a Movie At Home

With the ever-escalating price of restaurant fare and movie tickets, you will be lucky to escape dinner and a movie for two for under $100. A less expensive, yet more impressive, alternative is to invite your special someone over for a home-cooked meal and your favorite flick. With a little bit of forethought, you can plan a delicious meal for two for no more than $30. Add to that a movie rental for about $5 and you have yourself a fun date that’s easy on your wallet.

Take a Hike

Nature has everything the perfect date should have: flowers, ambient music, and, assuming it’s sunny, romantic lighting. As an added bonus, nature tends to be free. Check your state’s travel and recreation site for information about public parks and hiking trails best suited for your athletic abilities. Remember to pack your camera, a snack and plenty of water.

You, Me, and Julien Dupre

According to First Lady Michelle Obama, she and President Barack Obama went to the Art Institute of Chicago on their first date. “He really impressed me with his knowledge of art,” she once said in an interview with CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux. Undoubtedly, President Obama, then a first-year student at Harvard Law, saved some money. Generally, art museums offer free or discounted rates for students. Many museums also offer free general admission one night of the week. Some museums, such as the Smithsonian, offer free admission to all people, all of the time. Whatever the admission price, a trip to a museum promises intriguing and scintillating conversation.

Just Desserts

How often does it happen that you finish an exquisite meal at your favorite restaurant only to discover that you have no room for the molten chocolate cake or crème caramel? Or, worse, it is your credit card that cannot accommodate these sweet confections? You can solve either problem by inviting your date out for dessert instead: it’s just as romantic, it’s just as delicious, but it’s also considerably less expensive.