When you start dating someone it’s all about getting to know them and no one said it requires an $80 dinner to do so.
What people may forget is there are plenty of things to do on a date that don’t involve spending a lot of money. Skip the conventional dinner and a movie and try something different. With a little bit of creativity, there are many ways you can make dating fun and affordable.
One of the best ways to get to know someone is over a cup of coffee. This may sound cheesy, but it’s a great way to enjoy your date’s company in a relaxed setting. To add a twist to the coffee date, go somewhere near the beach. You can sit outside and enjoy the calming view of the ocean while getting to know each other.
For most people, the best part of the meal is dessert, so why not skip dinner and go straight to the good stuff? Make plans for a late night date, around 9 p.m., and head over to a caf’eacute; where you can sit close and enjoy a decadent dessert for two.
If the person you’re dating is turning out to be someone really special and you want to do something great for him or her, how about a picnic? It’s a sweet and thoughtful gesture that will show your date how much they mean to you.
For the picnic, get a basket from a craft store. An easy menu would be homemade sandwiches, a garden salad, a couple of cookies for dessert and drinks of your choice. Don’t forget utensils and a big blanket and you’re ready for your picnic date.
But if you and your date want to stick with the conventional and want to enjoy a long dinner with endless conversation, you don’t have to go the expensive, chain restaurants. This is the perfect opportunity to try a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in your neighborhood. A hole-in-the-wall restaurant is unlike chain restaurants, because the prices are reasonable and the flavor is high in quality. Be adventurous and try it, you two might end up liking it so much that it could become a regular destination.
Once you and your significant other have passed the awkward stage of waiting by the phone and have gotten to know each other’s interests, it’s time to explore them. Plan the unconventional date with your newfound love interest in mind.
There’s probably not a person out there who doesn’t like going to the movies, but it’s hard to find someone who likes checking out films that aren’t on most people’s radar. If your date is a film junkie, then plan a night at the movies. Forgo the local chain movie theater and opt for the small, community theater that showcases independent films.
One way to understand someone’s personality is through the kind of music they listen to. If the person you’re seeing has the same, or different, taste in music as you, it could be fun to explore.Keeping with the theme of unconventional dates, ask your special someone to go shopping at a second-hand record store. The two of you can sift through the old and the new, selecting one of your own favorite albums for the other to listen to. This way, the two of you will not only be exposed to a new artist, but understand each other a little better.
The following unconventional date idea is for the lovers of the literary world. I can’t find anything more wonderful than spending countless hours at a bookstore. What’s even better than a regular bookstore is a used bookstore, filled with treasures ready to be rediscovered. If your significant other has a deep appreciation for books, then surprise them with a trip to a local used bookstore. Show them that not only are you aware of their interests, but you care enough to explore it with them.
The numerous options I’ve given here are just a fragment of all the different kinds of things you can do on a date. All you need is to step out of the box of conventional thinking and take that extra leap to make the crazy world of dating creative and exciting.
