Dating on a Budget

You think you may have met the person of your dreams. He or she is funny, intelligent, kind, good looking and has made a great impression with your friends. There is just one problem-dating can get expensive. After all, you want to make a good impression, and you certainly want to be able to have fun together. At the same time, you need to be able to do so on a limited budget. The good news is, it is possible to date without breaking the bank.

• Cook a meal together. If the individual you are dating is truly "the one," and is the individual you end up spending the rest of your life with, it is unlikely that your life will involve eating at restaurants every night of the week. Cooking a meal together can also give you a great opportunity to spend time together, have fun and get a glimpse of your future together...and do it all inexpensively.
• Go to the discount movies. While it is true that the price of movies has definitely gone up in recent years, many cities still have theaters that show older, but still current, movies at a discounted rate. This way you can go to the movies, and afford snacks.

• Enjoy nature. Hiking, taking a walk on the beach, spelunking or just taking a scenic walk in the park or through your downtown area can be a great way to relax and get to know one another.

• Spend time with friends. If you have friends in common, or if each of you would like your friends to get to know each other better, hosting an inexpensive gathering can help you get to know the important people in each other's lives, which will help you really understand the person you are dating. Getting together with friends is also a great way to date on a budget. Having a barbecue, watching a movie or playing games are inexpensive activities that nearly everyone can enjoy.
• Learn a skill or start a hobby together. Building relationships is all about common ground. Similar likes and dislikes, as well as common values and goals, can have a positive impact on a relationship. Learning something together is a great way to build common ground between the two of you. It could be a practical skill that you both have an interest in, or could be a hobby to pass the time. Either way, years down the road, this could be a shared activity that keeps you close.

Being on a budget does not mean that you have to settle for boring, fun-deprived dates. With a little planning, you and your partner can get to know each other, and still have fun, while dating on a budget.